Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:00 Welcome to the, give yourself the chat podcast. I'm your host, Peter Lewis. And this is the show dedicated to unlocking human potential and living a life
Speaker 1 00:00:08 Performance. <inaudible>
Speaker 0 00:00:16 Welcome everyone. Welcome to give yourself a chat podcast and another episode, another fabulous guest. I've got a friend of mine, Rob Shenton with me. Um, Rob and I, um, we're both ex military, but our military careers didn't cross over that much, even though we served in the, in the same core, they're all electrical mechanical engineers, and I've just been chatting with Rob off air. And, um, Rob, I'm going to kind of kick off here. You said you had recently the opportunity to accord, a single with John well, with, with Bon Jovi at Abbey road. Um, that we're going to jump off on that with Bob. Um, hello, nice to see, but tell me about what was going on there. I, um, yeah, that was, that was really random. So I'm in the Invictus games choir, which is also the health heroes choir. It's a choir for the Invictus games, ran by help for heroes.
Speaker 0 00:01:04 And, um, we do several things. It's a recovery activity actually for people who've been discharged or still serving in the military who are wounded, injured and sick, which might come into that category, which I'm sure we might later. And, um, uh, and, and know we do, we sing for as part of our recovery. And I must say singing is probably one of the best things I've done. Um, outside of running and physical activity is just such an emotional release. And anyhow, so many things happen. We, we sang last year at the Invictus games, trials, opening ceremony in Sheffield with people like habits, small <inaudible> writes a lovely offers. She's beautiful. And, um, and, um, and I know this year there was something, it was, it was viewed as top secret in the Invictus calendar. And I was looking cause it was during the week, but let's see I work.
Speaker 0 00:02:02 And, um, I just, well, I can't afford the time for this and I don't know what it is. So I don't know whether it's going to be worth sacrificing leave or whatever. And, uh, just so I turned it down and then just a few weeks before or before they said, this is what it is. And it was, it was singing a song called them broken for the Invictus games foundation, which Jon Bon Jovi had written and it was Abbey road and I fought, crikey, I've really messed up there. I should have done that. It was amazing. I mean, the, the stuff, the feedback from the choir, what they did. I mean, you just, I mean, we're all one family, the choir family, and even though many of us were next, there's only a small portion. They got 60, probably about 20 people. Um, yeah, it was amazing. And Bon Jovi, totally amazing bloke. Um, his parents were both, uh, U S Marines, um, strong connection, strong connection with the
Speaker 2 00:03:00 Military community. Then I know you've been heavily involved, um, with help for heroes and Invictus. Didn't you go for a, a trial for the Invictus
Speaker 0 00:03:08 Just games. Um, yeah. So, um, so I'm a runner. Um, I, I, I almost a reluctant runner, but, um, I moved into ultramarathons um, many years ago, um, because, uh, I was trying to set myself a target cause my father unfortunately passed away from lung cancer. And, um, and I said, look, when I'm breathless, I'll make my breast count and I will raise money for charity. So I pick, I'm sure we'll touch on that later, but yeah, a bit higher. And Paul, his foot races in the world, um, however, you know, um, an offer came along that said, would you like to relate the Invictus games? Cause I qualify for it. And uh, I thought, yeah, okay, I'll do that. And the longest distance they run, it's 1500 meters. So I went from ultra distance down to the track and literally it was like a seven minute sprint when I started out, I was thinking I'll never do this.
Speaker 0 00:04:03 Yeah. I have to say, um, through the English athletic, let it burped and their room at talk things movement for mental health and the way the coaches work. And this is grassroots sports. I've really enjoyed it. So I run it, the Invictus games trials last year, I would say, unfortunately I wasn't selected, but actually the, even though I came second in the 1500 meter, my, my category, um, uh, the selection is based on what you will get out of it, part of your recovery journey. And so really it's probably because I already got quite a lot out of sport. And so it was limited in what they could give me, but there was more far deserving people who, but that was again at the Invictus games choir the night before, and then the next day on the track. And it was just full of emotions and an amazing would say probably the best two days in one night.
Speaker 2 00:05:01 Amazing. And just the impact that Invictus has had, uh, in, in people's recovery, um, not only, you know, your recovery, but the recovery of the other athletes is absolute inspiration. You, so, uh, you mentioned Rob, um, the sort of terms wounded injured or sick and, and how you fall under that category. Um, as much as you're willing to, would you mind sort of sharing the story behind that with us?
Speaker 0 00:05:30 Uh, yeah, sure. So, um, I spent 25 years in the army, uh, 21 years in the regular army and in the same cap badges as yourself. Um, and before that four years in the reserves and I, um, kept to secrets early on in my career, um, from around about 2000, I was having problems with my mental health. So I initially got quiet about it, but this is personal makeup and things, these problems, cats on recurring. So every few years I'd have to go see a doctor and see a specialist and get some treatment of some sort. It really came to a head in, um, towards the end of my military career. And I ended up, uh, in a, uh, a mental hospital as a result. Um, and so from that, um, I ended up being medically discharged a few years later, number 26. Um, and basically my diagnosis is I have recurrent depression and B the issue of recurrent depression is obviously a recur.
Speaker 0 00:06:34 So I have to really monitor my wellbeing in terms of the basics in my life that helped me. So food, physical activities, art, and, uh, numerous other things. And then if I, if I get those wrong, I can have a lapse and lapses fine. I just look at myself and say, okay, what do you not do? Right. Pick myself and then adjust it and carry on. But a relapse is more where we have to ring line or even at worst nine, nine, nine, and get me some rapid help. Um, it's essentially like living with a time bomb. And certainly there's been two significant relapses in the last few years, but again, I just keep on and I'm able to, to carry on with the sort of like the ideas and the support that I have of looking at our social, what it's worked, it's worked very well.
Speaker 2 00:07:25 So, I mean, thank you very much for sharing this. So the, as somebody who suffers with depression, um, to a degree myself, but it sounds not, not necessarily to the severity you do, I'm always interested. Well, one, you know, having the courage to talk about things, things I know help see now, and we've engaged on this conversation, uh, before, but you strike me what the evidence suggests you do far more than just talking about it, which that is part of some of your activities. I know you do a lot of presentations with this, and I actually remember getting you into one of my clients in, in the games industry and, and talking during sort of mental health week, but, um, offer how you refer to yourself. And, and I think in a sort of self deprecating way as a mental health ambassador, but, um, there was, uh, a little bit of embarrassment about that term. What, what was, what was going on there is that, do you see yourself, do you see yourself as an ambassador as, and as you see your means of paying it forward a way of, of helping yourself as what as others?
Speaker 0 00:08:28 Yeah, most certainly. I mean, I do see myself as an ambassador initially, um, healthcare has asked me to be an ambassador at charity and with, with the way they help me and they help all people who are leaving the military, who are, um, in medically discharged, uh, they step in and, and all those who are serving who have medical issues, they'll they'll help as well. So first of all, I was an ambassador for those, but then when I started in my role, um, outside the military, I, I realized, well, very early on, I even did it in the military, but then actually talking about it really helped. And it helped me obviously helps me, but also the way I convey it and get it right in terms of trying to get across certain principle to how I look after myself, that might help, helped me understand myself.
Speaker 0 00:09:18 And, you know, Einstein said, these can't be achieved by force. It can only be achieved by understanding. And I'm a massively strong, strong believer in not saying so what I did at work was in order to gain some traction initially, um, I said, look, I'm for where I work. I said, look, I'm the mental health ambassador, I'm a mental health champion. Um, and, um, and, and that stuck and, and luckily that the senior, uh, policy people and human resources, people at work have latched onto that. And now I go around different departments and do presentations and I can do it in work time, which is great because they see the benefit of it. And so in a way I feel I am paying it forward, but I feel it's an obligation to do that because I simply don't want anyone else to go through this.
Speaker 0 00:10:09 And, and, you know, we, we, we touched on the military and actually the truth is when, when we joined the military, the values and standards are embedded into us when we join, but also there's elements, which are, we stick with us, which is why we got selected to do the roles that we did and the motto it's under, which served to lead. And I strongly believe in that I strongly believe that as someone who's been a leader, someone who's led people, soldiers, military, civilian, then it's my, it's my need my requirements to stand up and open up about certain things, because I have to set the example and not trying to be big headed about that book. It's, it's, it's embedded in me and they believe,
Speaker 2 00:10:55 Yeah. And I think the demonstration of your own vulnerability actually is one of the sort of greatest strengths a leader can have because it takes courage to do that. But, but in doing so, there's the invitation for others to talk about their struggles as well, and for them to have the courage to talk about it. So it's, I think it's what you're doing is very much allied to that serve to need others, but you're going first in demonstrating you're vulnerable enough, but courageous enough to talk about your own struggles and in doing so then invite others to do likewise. And there's certainly over the last few years, and you're close to this than I am, but this acceptance or the, the willingness to talk about this, um, and displayed at the, at the highest level is, you know, I know you've been involved with Invictus community and, you know, the members of particularly Prince Harry kind of leading the way on that and sharing actually it is okay to talk about this. But, uh, and I, and I know from my own struggle was that talking about it certainly helps, but you've also found that your running and your pursuit of running has helped you sort of, I'd really like to talk about some of the strategies that you've used to help yourself, which you then form the basis of your talks around that. Let's go to kind of the love and running and well, what is it about running or the pursuit of, of running that has helped you?
Speaker 0 00:12:25 I think the main thing is initially, as I mentioned before, I, I sat out when my father passed away of, of doing the toughest highest and coldest places in the world. And, and, and those, although I think there's much debate about if they are the toughest highest coldest. The ones that I did were at the marathon dissolves the 155 miles across the desert, six days, carrying all your kit, the Everest marathon, where you'd start at 5,000, 200 meters and sea level. And then finally the North pole marathon that we, which certainly isn't the coldest. But I figured when I finished, I'd be on top of the world. So why not be on top of the world when you're doing it? And, and each of those taught me something about myself and the first one was, was the marathon dishonest because the sheer training and time, as you know, from doing iron man, the sheer training and time to commit to something that large is phenomenal.
Speaker 0 00:13:21 Typically if you've got a family and you've got a life, life outside training and a job and things like that. And so I learned early on with that one that I have to work out what I need is a human being to a desk. And so that one was basically simple and it's almost Muslim. It was food is physical activity and sleep. I had to get the balance, right. I have to eat the right foods. I have to sleep enough and I have to do an the right amount is about destroying myself. Yes. So that was from the one from the marathon disarms, then each of the other marathons. Um, I got another three texts from each of them really. And, but it took a lot of searching to get that way
Speaker 2 00:14:02 And, and hats, I mean, being an ex soldier, you know, it's, it's part and parcel of our, our makeup and our, our day job to keep ourselves fit. But did, did depression bring you to running or was it something that was always there that you, that you pursued, but you just then found a, uh, a different outlet for it?
Speaker 0 00:14:27 Yeah. Ruth ruining has always been there like, like in the military, you know, we, we, we have to stay fit and, and, you know, it's really admit this, but I still say being in the army for me was the best job in the world. Um, and, um, and they fit and it's such a variety, but the fit running was always in the backdrop. However, I really lost my love running, um, around about 2016. And by that time I'd done the marathon disarms and the avarice marathon, and I had one more challenge left. I hadn't really focused on it or even looked at it on it. Um, and a friend of mine said, and this was just after I left the army, cause I I'd really hit a low. And he said ruined every day for 30 days, just try that. And I did and I didn't stop.
Speaker 0 00:15:15 Um, and now I'm up to about 1,300 plus date and I still run every day. I know that's ludicrous when you think of professional grade or sensible training levels, but I'm listening to my body. So I'm understanding myself well, you know, I know if I've had a tough run the day before, which in some cases could be a 56 mile run, um, because I've done an event or something the next day, I'm probably going to jog 30. I'm probably going to jog for half a mile or a mile at that. Just, just rid of the aches and the pains. And, um, so, so that for me has really increased my love of running. And I think, you know, there's two of us, it's two of the things that I learned from running, which I'll briefly mention. Um, so the first one was on the Everest marathon.
Speaker 0 00:16:06 The Everest marathon was just after I came out of, um, well, a few months after I came out of hospital and I will openly admit, I tried to save my life. Um, and I worked closely with the doctors then, and the one thing to drop out of it was I wasn't looking after my emotional regulation system and the three print that, and that's where our lives are constantly run in the threat drive level. And we very rarely look after ourselves on ever. It's taking that long bath, not necessarily running, but having that cup of tea and focus in and just re reflecting on what you've done and, and taking time out to do what you like. Um, and the final thing there was on the North pole marathon. And that's because I to Bailey and started a new job, and I really danced in my confidence.
Speaker 0 00:16:56 And, and when I do that, when I get into that level of rumination, it's so difficult with, I was there's something called think feel do. And if you think you rubbish, you're going to feel rubbish. Then you're going to confirm that and do things just to confirm that. So I probably deliberately sabotage myself and not ruin or something like that. So they're the three things, but, but running has given me so much, and I'm so grateful that I can still run. And now it's just a matter of preserving the running into longevity. Yeah. And yeah, that, that the,
Speaker 2 00:17:30 The number of days that you consistently run, it's I take my hat off to, because as we're recording this episode, I'm sat here fitting. So I'm a former self with a bit of an injury, which means I'm going out walking, but not running. So I know how precious the ability to do that every day. But that that think feel, do sort of is, is an interesting one. I'd like to kind of dig into a little bit further there because it strikes me that yeah. That if you're thinking it and doing it reinforces either negative behavior, but equally you can use that same cycle to reinforce positive behavior. So it's about how much do you sort of catch yourself doing it and being aware in the moment of what's going on when you talked about previously about lapses and relapses, and you know, that on the, on one level, you know, there's a bit of a lapse, you'd give yourself the chance almost, and it can dig yourself out of it, but then if you're had to go too long and it could dangerously go, go the other way. So how much of it is about really understanding the triggers for, for, for you, and then managing that? That's kind of unpack that a little bit. Well, please.
Speaker 0 00:18:37 Yeah, that's, that's a really good question. Um, and something that has been in my mind a long time for the most, for quite awhile. Um, so the triggers are really important to me. And, um, so I've been in therapy on and off since 2000 and actually for the last eight years through the military, the NHS and civilian side and charity side, I've been in therapy sorta constantly for years. And although I'll never be cured or fixed depression is the wrong word, but depression is going to be part of my life. And I need to be aware of it or mental illness. It's going to be part of my life. I've done a lot of work to try and move away from those therapists therapists understand my triggers. So I have a little sheets now that he's rapidly looking around his office, trying to find, um, and, um, this little sheet is, is basically what I do and I I've, I've labeled it in the basics, the bank and the human and the basics, as I mentioned, the food and sleep, and I'm aware of a Fitbit or a wearable, and I monitor my sleep.
Speaker 0 00:19:45 I mean, anyone who's, who does any form of exercise or fitness and take it vaguely, seriously, we'll have something like that. And they will be looking at that pool and all my average pulse tracers. So I look at that as well. And it's like, if you warning, if you real as well, because you know, as much as me that, you know, if your pulse rate is high one day, you're about to get a cold, or you're probably about to come down with some. So that says, right, I probably can still train, but I need to ease off. Maybe not. And so for me, the basics that the food business leader I've mentioned, the bank side is that the threat private it's even, I need to look at my tree there. So how am I feeling at work? Am I working under threat? Because I'm in a new environment at the moment or something like that, or new people in, and they're really good and really keen.
Speaker 0 00:20:35 So it's making me up my game aim, which is great and find it natural. And then the drive, you know, am I pushing myself because I want that promotion, or I want that recognition. And then what am I doing to replenish those friends? I've banks, how am I looking at myself and stuff? And then finally I'm thinking of the human side again. And, and, and it's sorry. Thankful do, and how am I actually? So that's where you reflect and you go, what am I actually, am I thinking I'm rubbish? How is as likely as you touched on what is my confidence? Am I confident at the moment? Am I not confident? If I'm not confident I'm going, why am I not confident? Well, okay, this is happening. And if I'm not confident, I'm probably gonna start ruminating and feeling not confident. And therefore I'm going to say, well, I don't want to do this at work, or I don't want to do that because I don't think I'm good in it.
Speaker 0 00:21:28 But actually the truth is you taught yourself up as any good coach. Um, you know, and that's why I say I learned a lot because I have a running coach now, English resilient, and as grassroots stuff, you know, it costs you two. Um, they talk you up and, and that improves your confidence. And we learn, we can learn so much from sports. Um, you know, I can't it, Mike, my coach on who from South tech athletics is absolutely super he's. He's one of the top people, uh, that I've met and, and really talks you up. And he has about 30 athletes. Yeah. Yeah. During one session pre COVID, he would talk to every single one of them during a session could be for a few minutes and you can almost see them lifting up after they spoken to you. You said something, you said that was really good. Your form was good. So focusing on the positives and that's one thing we forget with depression, we don't, you know, we, if I'm one of my things, one of my basic things on depression is positive people. You're in a negative environment, you're a depressive to change is not going to help you. Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:22:45 Yes. That's an interesting one. There's that? Yeah. Surrounding yourself with people that can support you and lift you, but there's also the element in what you're talking about there of just becoming aware and using either that checklist or words or phrases that, that kind of help kind of give a, give a level of abstraction from what you're feeling at the time in order to then sort of make a, make a choice. So I find that whenever I have a sort of lapse, I find myself almost like I've gone too far into it. And I know when it's at its worst. So I'm, I'm starting at the kitchen table with my head in my hands, thinking, I know if I went for a run, I would feel so much better, but I can't even be bothered to go for a run. And that's the perverse thing about depression is that, you know exactly what would work, but you're so far into it that you can't even bring yourself to do what you know will work.
Speaker 2 00:23:39 And it's a real, real kind of challenge there. So what I've found is that for me, it's, it's less about a sort of checklist, but it's more about the daily routines I have. And, and if I go for a day or two without putting that routine, and when I talk about routine, it's just, you know, rising to do more stretching. And my, my journaling and whatever, if I have missed out for a couple of days, then I know it's going to land me in bother. So now I've got things that I know if I'm doing this every day, I've got a better than average chance of keeping it at Bay. Um, but I think we, we need, we need to find things that allow us to do that. And you've got your words, your checklists and everything else like this. It could be a coach that positive people, but I think there needs to be things external to ourself because trying to manage this all internally, hence back to that piece, around talking about it, you know, you're gonna struggle and it's not an impossible, I feel.
Speaker 0 00:24:36 Yeah. I mean, you're spot on, I mean, with the military or the cap badge, but we're very similar in that respect routine is important during lockdown routine. Save me. Um, I'm not saying I was in a bad way, actually read lockdown has been really good for me because it's got rid of that chaff from my life. Whether that be commuting on a train to London, I don't need to do that. I can do, I can work from home. So I'm straight in and the time during the day, the laptop closed and right, I, I have to travel and I spend two hours on a train now, and I've got more time to train more time to cook or whatever, which is great, but the routine is important in a way. You know, I feel for you, when you say you, you, you, you know, if you go out for running your heads in your hands, now I've been in the position where it's taken an hour or two just to put my running socks on.
Speaker 0 00:25:25 And yet I know when I do that, so routine always tricks me because if I know the first thing I do when I get up is have a cup of tea and then go for a run. Then by the time my body's actually woken up, I've done the run. And so that's out of the way and done worry about that. But I realized I had, um, had quite serious lapse in March. Um, and, and I, what I'd done was I, I was, I woke up one morning in busy all week doing the best I could with, with what I was doing. And, um, I've been busy all week. I woke up and I was dog tired and I ignored it. And two hours later, I was, I was an absolute wreck in my car, crying, wishing I wasn't in the world. And, uh, and it was like, like, what did I do wrong?
Speaker 0 00:26:11 This was a sentence was relapsed. This was a serious lapse. Wasn't quite as bad, but it was awful. Um, and, and what did they do wrong? And I looked at my fit, my Fitbit, and I realized I hadn't been sleeping very well. And I'm thinking what you idiot, you should have stayed in bed written the day off because my employers are very good and they'll go if I ring them up and say, just need to take this day off, leave or whatever. And they'll, they'll work for it because they know that's how I can work and how they get the best out. Um, but it was just not paying attention, just let in that lap number.
Speaker 2 00:26:53 And I, um, that, that just paying attention to it. A lot of these things sound really kind of small or insignificant in and of themselves, but that the habit around paying attention to the indicators, be it your Fitbit or whatever it might be or mean skipping the routine actually really, really helps. And it's really small thing. That's really helped me and my coach. Um, during lockdown, we were talking about a particular episode. I had a few weeks back where, you know, had a good run of mental health form if you like. And then it all came crashing down for four days. He said, you know, how about this as just a little idea to latch onto every morning is that as soon as you wake up, just lie there and be grateful for the fact that you woke up this morning, because there's many people in this world that don't, and it sounded such a silly thing, but consistently now for the last four weeks, I've woken up.
Speaker 2 00:27:52 And the very first thought initially I had to remind myself to think, or I'm grateful for literally waking up, but now I do it because it's a habit automatically, and it's the most wonderful way to wake up. And yet it's the most simple thing you can do. And little things like that, just pattern interrupt, any folk that you might wake up into, and it gives you that the doors then a jar to make a choice about how we feel and well, how we think, and then how we feel, and then what we do. So, yeah, I'm a big one at that one, but I think you have to, you have to almost like develop habits around this to spot the triggers and then intervene. And I think self intervention is, is key because, you know, you're the first person that's going to realize that. And whilst others around us can help, it really is how can we self help? And so I was really struck by this notion that you you're, you're never so cured in inverted commerce. You're going to live with this for the rest of your life. That's, that's an interesting, I'd never really kind of pondered that. Um, I mean, I presume you believe that's true. Is, is that sort of clinically true or is it just something that we have to,
Speaker 0 00:29:05 I don't know that it's clinically true, but, um, I think, you know, I'm not, I'm not upset that I've, I have had have depression to varying degrees. I'm not upset about having a mental illness. Um, I now, well, I was upset, but now I think that's part of my life and part of what it's made me. And, and I think also, you know, you read books about church or how to depression and he called it the black dog. You're always with him and it was always following him around. And I think, I don't think there's a black dog following me around, I think it's way off in the distance. But I think if I call it would probably come to me, I'm sure it had a dog, it wouldn't be as obedient. Um, but I, I just parked it on the head all the time.
Speaker 0 00:29:51 Um, but, um, but I do think, um, do you think it's something that we just have to keep at Bay? I think we, we've all got, we've all got some something inside of us to do, to do with mental health and wellbeing, and it's just how we manage our wellbeing, um, inc. Um, but that's why I think it's so important to look after yourself and give yourself the time, you know, we all need to be loved. And even in the first thing you've got to learn is love yourself. Um, and if you don't love yourself, um, then, and there's no one else who else is going to do it. I know it sounds a bit deep, but it's, it's you look after yourself first. It's like the principles are first aid and become a casualty, you know, make, to make sure you're safe before you go on the scene sort of thing. And it's the same thing with yourself. Now, look after yourself with wellbeing, so to speak.
Speaker 2 00:30:48 Yeah. And, and I'm struck by the fact that actually all of us, all of us have mental health it's to what degree do we struggle with health like physical health? You know, we all have a health, but so many of us are healthier, more vibrant than others physically then. And so I think we have to accept that mental health is what we all have and therefore being guardian of that and preserving that and nurturing it as best we can. Um, I think is really important. I think the fact that you've just raised this idea of looking after ourselves, again, the greatest service that we can do, not only ourselves, but others, if we're leaders or if we're in a team environment is as I've used this metaphor in this podcast before you put your oxygen mask on first, before helping others. Because if you are not able to, to look after yourself or help yourself, then you're never going to be of service to others. So I think that the greatest service to self and to others is in, in looking after ourselves and, and, and for, for many of us, that's talking about it. It's for many of us it's habits or routines, but I think all of us have a duty to self to, to, to preserve this, this, this very fragile thing, which is health in the round, but particularly around mental health.
Speaker 0 00:32:07 I totally agree. I mean, one of the reasons which drove me to own a, I had a problem with my mental health, which was actually mental illness. I think there is a divide between both everybody has mental health. Fortunately, some people spend into a recognized mental illness, but I think it's, my attitude was look, I I'm a leader of people. And as it being in the military as an officer and I fall, I can't afford to have a problem. I need to be at the top of my game. So I need to try and this fixed. And it's almost as if you know, these hands are in charge of a lot of things and a lot of people need hands, calf. And so I had to do it because I love the people I commanded. Um, it sounds a bit odd, but I will latch onto that.
Speaker 0 00:32:56 Love your soul. Um, and, and I think the other thing that you mentioned is about mental health. And I think we should be turning the conversation on mental health in the same way that we do about physical fitness. And we should call it physical, mental fitness. If we are in the start line of race or a training session, and people say, how is it? Or we'll easily go, Oh, it's all my car last week. And I think I had a bit of physio on it and sort of thing. And we need to start thinking about mental fitness in terms of, you know, what am I doing? It's okay. If you've got a physical injury to go see a doctor, it's okay to get physio, it's okay to get therapy. So we need to make it okay. That if we've got a mental health issue that we go see a doctor, we can see a spec going down some therapy line, but also how we maintain that in ourselves and doing the self help first, before we get into that prevents us getting into our stage. So I'm a strong believer in calling it mental fitness and not necessarily mental health is that will hopefully change the attitude to it. And we all thought about physical injuries. So I think we should be talking about mental fitness, mental injuries.
Speaker 2 00:34:16 No, I, I, I totally agree with you. And if, if anything, that this podcast is all about mental fitness and the ability to, to, to live at a, at a level of vibrancy and health and service as best we can. So yeah, absolutely. Uh, taking away, it's almost like I'd say the stigma's removed from is being removed from mental health, but actually calling it mental fitness. It is a core component of the, of the pillars of health alongside physical and dietary. And, and, and, you know, this element of being at peace with ourselves is, is, is, is a pillar of health and, and calling it mental fitness. I, I love that. Um, it, it's absolutely bang on the money as far as what we're trying to do here on give yourself the chat. Um, what, what we've, we're coming to the end of our time.
Speaker 2 00:35:02 Now, I just wanna, I know, I think w we'll we'll chat again at some point down the road, um, uh, on this subject, because there's, there's so much, I'd love to explore with you around, uh, your, your marathon exploits and the next thing coming up. Um, but I just want to thank you very much for your time today, uh, and just bringing a level of honesty and candor to, um, to our chats. And, uh, and hopefully you're not going to live with too much regret, not having met Jon Bon Jovi and Abby would that side.
Speaker 0 00:35:33 Yeah, that's true. And thank you for what you do. I think this podcast is it is, is greater
Speaker 2 00:35:38 And really as a shining example in a back room, thank you, Bob.
Speaker 1 00:35:43 <inaudible> really enjoyed this episode,
Speaker 2 00:35:53 Loved chatting to Rob. I think he's got a great outlook on life and despite the challenges he's facing the service and paying it forward as an ambassador for mental fitness. And I just love that term. It's, it's, it's so much better than mental health, which I think still has a stigma about it, even though it is being removed, but talking about fitness, it is a core component of our health. And I have to say that, um, when we recorded this episode a few weeks back, the very next day, Rob was involved in a bicycle accident. He suffered multiple fractures to his upper and thoracic spine and has been hospitalized since, and I know Rob, you're listening to this. So, uh, myself and listeners send you all the best of your recovery. I know you are recovering well, you're itching to get out there and back out and running, but even from your hospital bed, you're providing a source of inspiration to those that you are in the service of. So, so thank you very much, but, um, make a speedy recovery. And we'll certainly have you back on this podcast to perhaps talk about the accident and how you're dealing with it from a mental standpoint, um, for those of you that are interested in picking up the conversation further, please check out my website, Peter Lewis, coaching.com, get in touch, um, suggested topics or guests that you would like to feature on this podcast for the time being. Thanks for listening.
Speaker 1 00:37:14 We'll see you on the next one.
