The Wellbeing 5 Project
Nathan Smith
My Brain's Not Broken
The Mental Wellbeing 5
5 Simple Questions to help with mental wellbeing with answers from Experts, Thought Leaders, Campaigners & Advocates
Nathan Smith
Nathan is a mental wellbeing blogger & advocate and the creator of “My Brain’s Not Broken” (MBNB). His own personal journey led him to create MBNB in order to further the discussion around mental health & by talking about it, lessen the power it has over us. MBNB’s tagline is “Reducing the stigma on mental illness and promoting mental wellness”
MBNB contains posts on subjects including Coping with COVID-19, Anxiety, Depression, Therapy, Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, Mental Health Awareness & Out of the Darkness Community Walks.
Find out more Nathan here
The Mental Wellbeing 5 with Nathan Smith
1. What is your favourite quote, anecdote, proverb or experience that helps with mental wellbeing?
Nathan: I am obsessed with words and quotes, so I have a TON of favorite quotes that I lean on at different points of my mental health journey. The one I end up leaning on time and time again is from the wisdom of Winnie the Pooh (written by A.A. Milne): “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” When I am going through a rough bout of mental illness, that quote helps bring me back and remind me that what I think about myself isn’t what the world sees; in a roundabout way, it reminds me that the world thinks I deserve to be here, and that is comforting.
2. What is your top piece of advice for mental wellbeing?
Nathan: My top piece of advice for mental wellbeing is a reminder that, in my opinion, can’t be shared enough: we are not alone in this! Mental health impacts everyone, and many more people deal with mental illness and mental health disorders than you think. If you have that knowledge, having conversations about mental wellness can be easier to start, and it’s those conversations that can help you improve your mental wellbeing.
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)
Nathan: I know I’m not alone in saying this, but one change I’d like to see in the world is that I’d like to see the stigma of invisible struggles disappear completely. Whether it’s mental illness, other invisible illnesses or just someone having a bad day, there is an enormous stigma around struggles that people can’t see or touch, and that stigma makes peoples’ lives so much more difficult. A world without stigma, with more empathy, would be a beautiful place.
4. Which resources (books / websites / videos etc) for wellbeing would you recommend?
Nathan: My favorite resources when it comes to mental wellbeing are videos and podcasts. I read plenty of articles from other mental health bloggers and online resources, but being able to search the vast library of videos and podcasts where people discuss mental health is my go-to. Lately, I’ve been finding meditation videos on YouTube and listening to the Hilarious World of Depression podcast! And of course, you can follow my own journey living with anxiety and depression at My Brain’s Not Broken!
5. What’s the one thing that always makes you smile?
Nathan: Seeing other people enjoying moments of pure joy or happiness always makes me smile. There’s nothing I enjoy more than seeing someone else find a moment of bliss, and it fills me up every single time!
Bonus Question! Is there anything else pertinent you would like to add to the conversation?
Nathan: I just want to take this space to remind anyone reading this – YOU MATTER. Your words matter, your actions matter, YOU matter. Even when things get difficult or unbearable, you have worth, you have heart, you have soul, and you can persevere. I honestly can’t say it enough, and those words should be part of every significant conversation surrounding mental health and mental wellbeing.
Further Exploration - Nathan Smith
Website: My Brain's Not Broken
Nathan's blog containing a wealth of information and posts around mental illness and promoting mental wellness, information about him and how to get in contact.
Profile: Be Kind & Co
Nathan's profile on Be Kind & Co including information about him and posts written for the site
Social Media - Follow Nathan & My Brain's Not Broken below
More Mental Wellbeing 5 Interviews Below
More Mental Wellbeing 5 Interviews
With answers from experts, thought leaders, advocates and campaigners to help with mental wellbeing