Growth in 2024

Ending the year seems to always act as a natural time of reflection for the year that has passed, as well as a time to set our hopes for the year to come. It’s important that wherever you find yourself this year, you remember that you’re where you’re supposed to be. If you didn’t achieve the milestones you hoped for, if the plans you made didn’t go as planned or if you find yourself being down on yourself for not being in the place you hoped for, that’s okay. There are no dates on the calendar that can take away from the growth you have made – whether that be big leaps or baby steps. Growth, healing and goals are not linear, and life is unpredictable. We hope that you can be proud of yourself for the ways you have survived, the resilience you’ve shown and the courage you’ve needed to continue to show up, live your life and be who you are. 

Thanks for Being Part of mindyourmind 

As the year comes to a close, it’s a perfect time for mindyourmind to reflect on our experiences over the past year. We have had the honour of collaborating with many incredible organizations and we are always so inspired by the passionate advocates working in Canada. We are especially grateful to our parent organization, ConnexOntario, and all the donors, partners and grantors who help to fund our initiatives; without you, we wouldn’t be able to provide our free mental health resources or continue to develop new solutions to support youth. Most importantly, we send out the biggest thank you to the youth and young adults who volunteer and share their stories on our site, create in our Design Labs, and engage with mindyourmind.ca by learning, playing, and supporting their mental health. Thank you for being part of our community!

mindyourmind Reflections

On the topic of growth, our mindyourmind team took some time to reflect on how we have each grown in the last year.

Heather – While scrolling on TikTok, I came across a video of Mel Robbins discussing her new book, “The Let Them Theory.” She talked about a practice that can help shift our mindset and let go of feeling responsible for other people’s reactions or behaviours. This message resonated with me and I’ve been making a conscious effort lately to think about it regularly. I think the concept of “Let Them” promotes healthy boundaries and is a reminder that we are not responsible for managing or controlling what others are doing.  Instead of trying to control outcomes, let them, and then set your boundaries according to the behaviours that you find acceptable.  

Michelle – I’ve spent the last few years leaning into a desire I’ve had for a long time – travelling. I’ve gone on cruises, stayed at resorts and pushed myself out of my comfort zone. Along the way I’ve travelled solo and found that I love being able to do what I want to do. This past year I went on 3 separate trips and I’ve grown in my desire to take vacations, recognizing how important it is to have balance in my life and take time away from work.

Gana – Last year was about cherishing my loved ones and having a realization that not all friends are best friends. People grow and change along the journey of life, and I’ve learned that it is okay to let them go. The ones who truly care will find their way back to you, no matter where they are. Narrowing down my close circle wasn’t easy, but it helped me see who truly mattered. I am grateful for those two pillars, who stayed by my side through thick and thin. 

Valentina – Over the past few months, I have been very mindful of how I show up in the world. I have tried to remain true to myself, speak my truth, and share my perspectives and insights. As someone who tends to please others, this has been a significant and vulnerable step for me. Gathering the courage to speak up and show everyone who I truly am has not been easy, but it has been incredibly rewarding. Little by little, I am taking off my “I’m okay” mask and embracing my true self <3

Jill – This year, I committed to eliminating the word “should” from my vocabulary to reduce the expectations I place on myself. I could talk endlessly about how this change has transformed my relationship with myself and allowed me to embrace openness throughout the year. As a result, I’ve grown in courage and resolve. I have made decisions, created plans, and engaged in hard conversations because I’m able to notice that these actions are beneficial for my overall well-being and happiness.