Do I need support for wellbeing?

Written by Simi Alabi

Has this question ever crossed your mind or is wellbeing a topic you’ve never bothered to explore? My intent today is to share my journey of discovering wellbeing and hopefully help you answer this question for yourself. 

What then is well-being? Oxford English Dictionary defines wellbeing as the state of being comfortable, healthy or happy. To me, wellbeing is simply what makes me feel better when I don’t really feel good (hopefully that makes some sense!). This is obviously not a permanent state, therefore wellbeing may not always be a destination but a journey . For instance, I can feel great today but that could change tomorrow or sometimes vary more than once in a day. 

Less than a year ago pursuing wellbeing wasn’t on my list of things to do. I already had an endless to-do list with being new in the country, I was also a student with two small children and a partner that lives away from us. My mind was far from settled, yet I didn’t think I needed any wellbeing support or help. 

However, I did need affordable food and when I heard about the Community Grocery where I could buy 12 items for £4, I visited the place (it’s £5 now, but still amazing value!). That was my first contact with Acts Trust. 

Acts Trust offers support through various projects aiming to empower people to end poverty of material things and poverty of the mind and soul. I have benefited greatly from the support provided by the Restore Programme which offers free courses at Acts Trust. I heard about their courses from the Community Grocery and registered on the Job Club course to get some help with my job search. The Job Club brought me into a community of people that had similar struggles as mine and all of a sudden I didn’t feel so alone anymore! It also motivated me to continue my search for the right job for me. I got so much value from the experience that I didn’t want to leave, so I thought that I would like to be part of providing this solution and I joined Acts Trust as a volunteer on the Restore Programme.

As a Restore volunteer, I was asked to support the tutor of a life skills course. I ordinarily wouldn’t attend this course because I didn’t think I needed any wellbeing support. However, this is where my journey began. On the course I learnt to listen to my feelings and I was empowered to make changes that could help me develop positive feelings about myself and others. After this course, I have attended a number of other wellbeing courses and I’m now an advocate for seeking wellbeing support because you may not be aware you need it until you give yourself the opportunity to dig deeper. On every course, I keep learning from both the course content and the shared experiences of others on the course. The process of bringing your feelings to the surface may sometimes be painful but it’s usually liberating when you find that healing. Most importantly for me, it’s empowering to understand my feelings better and find ways to help myself and others on the same journey!

It’s about a year since my first contact with Acts Trust and I can boldly say that I’m not the same person that walked into the community grocery that very first time! My exposure to wellbeing support has taught me a few lessons:

• There’s a reason I don’t feel right, I should at least try to find out why.
• I can do something about my state of wellbeing today, even if it’s only to stop and acknowledge my feelings.
• I have some value to offer, no matter how little it is now. I’ll find an opportunity to render some help or give what I have.
• I’ll talk to someone or seek help if I’m unable to attain wellness on my own.
• I’ll never give up on my wellness journey!

Beyond my need for affordable food or a job, was a deeper need for fulfillment and self affirmation; simply knowing that I have some worth or value to offer. I don’t know if this need is the same for everyone, but whatever the yearning of your heart you can begin to take steps towards it. I encourage you to take one step everyday, hoping to contribute a small piece to your wellbeing puzzle because attaining wellbeing may not be a destination but a journey that could lead to finding great joy and fulfillment! Acts Trust offers wellbeing and mental health support through our Restore courses and Night Light Cafes.

Interestingly, the support that I have enjoyed on the Restore Programme are similar to the steps that the NHS prescribes as leading to mental health. They include connecting with other people, learning new skills and acts of giving and kindness. Others are mindfulness and being physically active. 

The Bible has a verse that could help us on this journey too: we are not disappointed when we have hope because we love others as we have been loved by God! (Romans 5:5 paraphrased)

As you progress on your wellbeing journey, you may want to consider giving back in your own little way. I have found volunteering to be a safe and accessible way to serve others and find a purpose that is larger than yourself. You can join Acts Trust on our mission to end poverty. 

We believe that poverty exists in the form of broken relationships with the earth, ourselves, others or God. Our vision to support people to mend their broken relationships is driven through various projects that Acts Trust runs within the city of Lincoln. Our projects include the Community Grocery, food banks, Alive Cafe – daytime free coffee and friendly chat, Restore Programme – free wellbeing and practical skills courses, Night Light Cafes – safe spaces to chat about your mental health (evenings), Energize – youth support and the International cafe – English language support. Some of these projects are executed in partnership with some Christian charities (CAP – Christians Against Poverty, Trussell Trust, The Message Trust) and Alive Church, with the help of many volunteers and donors. We invite you to partner with us by making a donation or volunteering on any of our projects today!