The Wellbeing 5 Project
Dr. Ian D. Brooks
Intention
The Mental Wellbeing 5
5 Simple Questions to help with mental wellbeing with answers from Experts, Thought Leaders, Campaigners & Advocates
Dr. Ian D. Brooks
Dr. Brooks is a coach, clinical psychologist, author and the founder & CEO of Rhodes Smith Consulting. He holds a a PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and a Masters’s in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Brooks cherishes helping people move incrementally toward sustained achievements, with a special focus on technical transformations, coaching leaders and individuals to develop capabilities to realize change.
Dr Brooks’ company, Rhodes Smith Consulting, helps others transform themselves and realize their capabilities.
Dr Brooks’ book “Intention: Building Capabilities to Transform Your Story” offers the foundation to adapt, grow and operate in a new way of being. It explores the essence of you and your narrative, as well as rescues toward taking action to improve your story.
Find out more about Dr. Brooks here
The Mental Wellbeing 5 with Dr. Ian D. Brooks
1. What is your favourite quote, anecdote, proverb or experience that helps with mental wellbeing?
Dr. Brooks: There are two quotes – from two different sources but have aligned messaging – that resonate with me for mental wellbeing. The first is:
- “For men in general judge more by the eyes than by the hands, for everyone can see but very few have to feel.” by Niccolò Machiavelli
The second captures the follow up to this quote is:
- “Crazy how your spirit knows something is off before you physically see it” – by Unknown
Both quotes address the emotional and mental side of wellbeing that is often lost. There is a tendency focus solely on what we see, rather than what we feel and inherently know. This results in misalignment between perceptions versus our thoughts. It’s easier to judge by our sights as they can be reinforced by others and from our own expectations. Conversely, our spirit and thoughts require a peace to have our authentic selves come out. In a way, the reliance on sight creates noise (most notably from our environments) when pausing and getting lost in our thought is required.
Our mental wellbeing is more than what we see, it is what we think and feel. Without judgement.
2. What is your top piece of advice for mental wellbeing?
Dr. Brooks: Pause, Process, and Reflect.
Pausing, processing, and reflecting brings enlightenment to the information you read or your experiences in the moment. The intent is to create self-awareness of your thoughts and bringing focus of your purpose. It is a time to be- come attuned with your thoughts, what you’ve planned, what you imagine you want to be , and how the environment may be influencing you. The practice is a follow:
»Pause Your Time. Simply stop. Give yourself space to minimize noise, increase your quiet and become attuned with yourself.
» Process and Hone In. Allow yourself to be in the moment and think through what emotions are sparked. Allow your thoughts to guide your answers, without judgment.
» Reflect for Self-Awareness. Reflect on your answers and the assumptions
behind each. This will uncover details that could help or hinder your path forward.
3. What is the one change in the world that you would like to see? (in your area of wellbeing or in the world in general or both)
Dr. Brooks: One change I would like to see in the world is people being more authentic. Our society is trapped by click bait and “likes”. Caught in a cycle of being unique, only to fight for validation and being similar to others. Thus results in many living curated lives that miss true authenticity.
4. Which resources (books / websites / videos etc) for wellbeing would you recommend?
Dr. Brooks: Aside from my own book (Intention: Building Capabilities to Transform Your Story where I speak about Pausing, Processing, and Reflecting), I use guided meditation recordings found on the Equinox+ App. Each meditation offers an opportunity to settle my thoughts and find centering in short durations that I can use throughout the day.
5. What’s the one thing that always makes you smile?
Dr. Brooks: One thing that makes me smile is the memory of my college roommate mistakenly placing a hand dish detergent into the dishwasher. After several minutes, this caused the detergent sudds to come flowing out of the dishwasher, build up over the floor of the entire kitchen, and seep out of the kitchen doorway onto the dining room floor. He is now a medical doctor.
It reminds me that even the best of us and with the best of intentions, are human. Sometimes we just have to laugh!
Bonus Question! Is there anything else pertinent you would like to add to the conversation?
Dr. Brooks: Our mental wellbeing extends beyond our immediate thoughts, but also towards our environment (those people, places, or things in our life). Each offer meaning that needs to increase our mental wellbeing. Don’t be afraid to reset the influences around you.
Further Exploration - Dr. Ian D. Brooks
Website: Rhode Smith Consulting
Dr. Brooks' company website containing information about him, the coaching he offers, his book, news and press information and the Intention Blog
Book: Intention: Building Capabilities to Transform Your Story
Dr Brooks' book offering the foundation to adapt, grow and operate in a new way of being. It explores the essence of you and your narrative, as well as rescues toward taking action to improve your story.
Podcasts: Various
Multiple podcasts featuring Dr Brooks including; The Radically Honest Podcast, Heart Blend Podcast, The Journey Podcast and Inside Personal Growth
Social Media - Follow Dr. Brooks Below
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With answers from experts, thought leaders, advocates and campaigners to help with mental wellbeing