A story of hope for January

January can be a hard month for so many reasons: the wet, uninviting weather, the comedown after the Christmas season, and the feeling that it’s time to start setting goals for the future.

We generally bring the new year in with a bang, and it’s common to feel the pressure to set resolutions as flashy as our fireworks. But while new year’s resolutions may be inspiring to some, not all of us feel like that. If you’re just taking things day-by-day, it may be stressful to think about all the life-changing goals you ‘should’ be working towards.

We want to reframe this ‘new year new me!’ thought process. So, we’re sharing this inspirational story from Jo, a peer volunteer in our Next Steps team, about finding hope for the future, even when facing severe mental health problems.

Jo’s story reminds us in this wintery January that:

  • It’s okay if 2021 wasn’t ‘your year’
  • It’s okay not to have huge goals for 2022
  • It’s okay not to know exactly what the future’s going to look like

Finding hope for the future – Jo’s story

Jo is a peer volunteer with Next Steps and supports people in Somerset as they make the move from hospital back into the community.

She often talks about her life with her clients – how things used to be and how they are now – to show that life can open up again after severe mental illness, even if you can’t imagine things getting better just now.

Watch Jo’s story below:

Do you have a story to share with us?

We’d love to hear about what gives you hope during this difficult time of year. Share your stories of #HopeandCourage with us on Twitter or Instagram @wearesecondstep.


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