Beyond being “I'm fine, thanks”
It’s a familiar answer to a familiar question.
But when did you last give yourself a little space to consider how you’re actually feeling?
How are you? It’s a question we probably ask, and answer, all the time.
“Fine, thanks.” “Good.” “Busy!”
But how often do we actually stop long enough to consider the answer?
Life has a habit of carrying us along. There’s work, family, relationships, responsibilities and the endless list of things that need doing.
Sometimes it isn’t until things slow down, or become particularly difficult, that we realise we haven’t really checked in with ourselves for quite some time.
As we move out of summer and back into familiar routines, it might be a good opportunity to do just that.
A little time for reflection
You don't need a journal, a worksheet or an hour of uninterrupted time. Perhaps just a quiet few minutes and a little curiosity.
You might ask yourself:
How am I feeling at the moment - really?
What has been taking up most of my emotional energy lately?
Is there something I've been pushing aside because I haven't had the time or space to think about it?
What feels good in my life at the moment?
What feels difficult, draining or out of balance?
What do I need a little more of (or perhaps a little less) of?
There doesn't necessarily need to be an immediate solution.
Sometimes simply noticing;
“I'm struggling more than I realised”,
“I've been putting everyone else first”,
“something needs to change”, or even, “actually, I'm doing better than I thought” can be valuable.
You don't have to wait until things are really difficult
Therapy is often something people return to during a crisis or particularly difficult period, but it doesn't have to be.
Sometimes we need somewhere to make sense of a change, understand an old pattern that has resurfaced, work through a decision, reconnect with ourselves or simply have a space that is entirely our own.
And if we've worked together previously, coming back to therapy doesn't mean you're back at the beginning or that the work you did before somehow hasn't “worked”.
Life changes. Relationships change. We change.
Sometimes returning with everything you've learnt and experienced since can allow the work to begin from somewhere completely different.
So, for now, perhaps just take a moment to ask yourself: How am I, and what might I need right now?
And if the answer tells you that you could do with a little support, you're always welcome to get in touch.
If you’d like to discuss how counselling could support you or your business, I’d be happy to hear from you.
📞 Call me on 07805 756 132
📧 Email me at marie@mfcounselling.co.uk
Providing counselling and psychotherapy for individuals and businesses - in Cardiff and online across the UK.
