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THINK LADDER

There’s always more than one way of looking at things, and whether I like to admit it or not, I don’t always adopt the ‘glass half full’ mentality (kudos to anyone who does).

2017 was the year I learnt it’s cool to be kind to yourself, and I was. Well, at least more so than I had been previously. It was a year that started in one of the worst ways possible, but from trauma came desire, and I figured that if I could make it through January, I could make it through just about anything.

Looking back, I did some pretty epic shit. I scored my first magazine cover, started a blog, fell in love (#cheesy #sorry), travelled to Bali, accepted a new job, moved out, finally conquered R&V and lived to tell the tale, all whilst meeting some of the most badass people, who are now among my nearest and dearest. It all comes down to what aspects we choose to focus on. Whether we wallow in our mistakes and relive disappointment, or revel in our successes and highlight the good. If we can strike the balance between learning from the past and progressing forward, we’re surely onto a winning combo.

2017 was also the year Think Ladder launched and it’s a pretty bloody cool invention. Technically speaking, Think Ladder is a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and meditation hybrid app, but I like to think of it as a hub of positivity and respite. Something that allows me to question the root cause of unhealthy considerations or simply slide into reverie.

Think Ladder presents us with common themes such as comparing yourself to others, correction and criticism, self-worth, people pleasing and perfectionism (FYI – more themes on the way), and then lists common symptoms we may experience as a result of this feeling. From here we can challenge unhelpful beliefs and transform these into positive insights, forming healthier pathways.

Let’s say I pick self-worth (easily my biggest downfall). A listed symptom that resonated with me was, I often feel inadequate and just not good enough. In discovering the unhelpful beliefs that may be fuelling this I come across, if I don’t have a special talent then I am inferior and will never be a success. I decide to challenge this, as my god this is me to a tee! I’m then presented with a whole bunch of insights and I add to my gallery the one that resounds with me most: today’s culture prizes certain strengths and talents that provide entertainment and monetary gain. However, it the other, less-celebrated or recognised strengths and talent that offer the world meaning, wholeness and harmony.

I could waffle on and on about my findings, but trust that founders Mark and Katie Gatt, have really hit the nail on the head and provided a slick service that steps in where support may be lacking. As a collaboration between writers, therapists and creatives, it cuts down on the mumbo jumbo and focuses on succinct sentences made for REAL people.

Even if you don’t feel like delving into your own self awareness development, it’s a super handy tool to understand the way others think, and act as a result. For less than the price of your daily coffee, invest in an app that makes it worthwhile spending time on your phone.  

 

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Photographs by Brijana Cato for Think Ladder x

2 Comments
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    moss

    January 16, 2018 at 10:23 am Reply

    Great post thanks for the positivity! wishing you a happy 2018

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      Carla Hastie

      February 13, 2018 at 11:13 pm Reply

      A very happy ’18 to you too!

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