Never Give Up | It Does Get Better

0:01 Hello and welcome to real men. Feel, this is your host, Andy Grant. I'm also an author coach and healer. You can visit v&e Grant.com to learn more about that. Last November 20 21, I stopped doing pretty much all positive things in my life. I consciously chose to dive straight into my own depression Solitude and misery. I stopped doing this podcast. I stopped bleeding men's groups. I stopped being open to new coaching clients. I stopped exercising, I stopped paying attention to what I ate. I stopped every positive daily ritual that I've developed over the years.

0:44 I did not buy a single gift last Christmas. And last December the week before Christmas. I took a trip to San Francisco for Metallica's 40th anniversary. Now I had bought the tickets six months prior when I was actually excited to go to the show to be alive but as the concert rolled around, I had no interest in going and I would have just said fuck it and stay home if not for the friend who was going to meet me there and who's tickets I had That was really an early clue as to what mattered it, what my path out of. My darkness might be, but I'll come back to that. Now the exact circumstances of what started this dark period for me Isn't important because there's always something that we can focus on to our detriment.

1:36 You know this life can be Heaven or Hell, really comes down to us. Me, you my Outlook, my perception, my thinking, and my judgments and actions. I took minimal action for months. I wanted to share this with you to remind you and to remind myself, where I was a year ago because of the rapid change resilience, support, and positive energy, that is available to all of us. But not until we are willing to accept it. Only seven months ago.

2:21 I attempted to buy euthanasia drugs online. Now today that that sounds like a bad joke to me. I really can't imagine going that far but I did There's a phrase. I first heard in AA. I was sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. So once I decided that enough was enough for depression and hiding out, I started to say yes to the offers of help. I started saying yes to helping others, as well to being of service to better, self-care the ultimate service.

3:01 In July, I started weekly therapy. I began monthly energy, healing sessions. I got active in a new men's group as a participant. Not as a leader, I began daily exercise. Again, did an outstanding diet program called wild fit. I took part in my first fundraising campaign, the Covenant House, sleep out, which was the prior episode of real men field. Back to that, December trip to California to see, Metallica that I just didn't give a shit about any more. I went because I had promised a friend that I'd be there. I was more concerned for him than myself and sometimes that's a good thing.

3:41 Whenever you find yourself feeling like absolute shit. If you are under siege by your own thoughts saying that you should check out of life early. Do something for somebody else. Make some sort of effort to be of service to another human being. I find that always changes my mood and my Outlook Today, I'm stronger fitter, healthier more grateful, and happier than ever. I love my work. My job, my client, my guests, my listeners, my future, my present. I've lost all but five pounds of all the weight that I gained, in my months of self-loathing, I'm going to start Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the New Year.

4:35 I'm planning a trip to London and and all good things cycle right back to Metallica for me as this. Week I excitedly, but tickets for their world tour. I've got shows in 2023 and 2024 Life is good. You are good. Please allow the truth of that to sink in. If you need some daily reminders to be of service to share yourself and better your mood. I recently discovered do good, December a monthly calendar of simple things you can do to spread love and kindness.

5:22 I've posted it to the real men feel Facebook page and Instagram page. I'll make sure it's part of this. Episode's post on room and feel that org. So if you want to track it down, go there. Forever, you are discovering real men, feel please, like subscribe, follow comment, and share. And until next time be good to yourself by being good, to others. Be well. Be well.