A couple of days ago I submitted a blog proposal to a well-known site. I’d like to be one of that site’s many bloggers, mainly to increase my audience. Whether the idea gets accepted or not, the pitch I presented describes where I want to take my blogging. It may never get beyond WillSpirit, but the idea is to start focusing on pragmatic steps one can take to improve frame of mind. I’ve been philosophizing here for 15 months, but lately my opinions are feeling less important and less interesting. I think it’s because I’m trying to move away from over-reliance on verbal, analytical mind states. Opinion pieces are all about analysis, and I’d rather write in ways that will encourage me and others to adopt different approaches to life.

So here’s my proposal, a bit modified. At this turning point, any suggestions would be very, very welcome.

In recent weeks I’ve shifted the focus of my writing. It started with the piece I wrote about turning off the news. That was a turning point for me because rather than writing in a musing, philosophical way I offered a simple and concrete suggestion for improving mental health. All the recent entries on WillSpirit have done the same thing, with increasing clarity of purpose.

I propose to continue using this formula. The posts would run about 400 words, and would each focus on a single technique that one can employ in daily life to ease sadness, reduce anxiety, increase acceptance, achieve relaxation, etc. Some would be obvious, like physical activity or meditation, but would be presented with unique bits of information or interesting exercises. For instance, in one of my recent posts I suggested that those who were raised without much affection (like me) could visualize fictional happy childhood scenes as a way of bringing a sense of love into the heart. Some would be simple steps like the one about turning off the news. Others would discuss cognitive style, such as a post I recently wrote about maintaining perspective during low moods. Some will be more philosophical, perhaps reframing the way we view mental illness, but always with a well-defined and pragmatic ‘tip’ for improving balance.

In the course of my own mental health work, I’ve accumulated a vast collection of tricks to stay on track. It is this library of healthy practices that I want to share.

I’ve yet to come up with the ideal blog title, but working possibilities include:

‘Tips for Earth Visitors’; ‘Tips 4 Human Joy’; ‘How to Get the Most Out of Your Human Life’; ‘The Lunatic’s Guide to Human Happiness’

Maybe these titles aren’t so great, but they show where I’m headed (and I’m open to suggestions).

That’s it. Does it sound viable?

>> Share on Facebook
>>