Positive experiences of support

It’s coming up to a year since myself and my fellow Changing Faces colleagues have been working from home and it’s had me reflecting on the value of connection and feeling supported. It’s been a tough year for many, but I think it would have been even harder without the support I’ve experienced from family, friends and colleagues whilst we’ve tried to find ways to stay connected. Things like virtual coffee breaks or the random work threads where people share jokes or pictures of their pets can seem small but can make such a difference in feeling like you’re not alone

With that in mind what are your positive experiences of support? This can be support from anywhere, it doesn’t have to be from professionals, it could be support from your family or friends or even online spaces like this that have helped you feel connected to others?

[younique]

Great perspective! I don't know necessarily what I consider support, isn't that strange? Maybe it's being accepted, maybe it's being encouraged, maybe it's letting us vent without being told we are wrong. I think there are times that tough love in the form of not enabling troublesome behaviors could also be considered support. I don't know though. What does support mean to you Hidden ?

[Hidden in reply to younique]

I think all of those things can be forms of support younique . I agree that tough love can also be considered support, it reminds me of being younger and disagreeing with my parents about certain decisions but can now look back as an adult and appreciate their "tough love" which didn't necessarily feel like support at the time but in hindsight does. Does that make sense? Support for me has been being listened to and feeling heard, sometimes being challenged as well but with good intentions.

[younique in reply to Hidden]

I know exactly what you mean I wish I weren't so careless when I was young. I was just really frustrated and didn't know how to manage those emotions. So yes I guess that's another form of support, having people help us through our difficult thoughts and feelings. You're right there are a lot of ways that people can give and receive support in obvious and not so obvious ways. Thanks for helping bring this into focus, I'm going to be more observant of those sometimes subtle ways people show their support. 🙏