Our brains aren’t muscles, but they work like them - they tire when overused. Even racing thoughts that seem positive can be exhausting. Mindfulness offers rest: a way to soften the noise, pause, and return to the present with more clarity and ease.
As far back as I can remember, I’ve lived with anxiety. I didn’t realise that’s what it was until a few years ago. I believed this was how everyone felt - that it was just normal.
There have been three key losses in my life. At 25, I lost my father suddenly to a heart attack. He was my best friend and work colleague, and the loss was unbearable. In my thirties, I lost a close friend to suicide, leaving me feeling guilty that I hadn’t done enough. More recently, I lost my mum to vascular dementia. Mum sadly became unsettled, at times violent, and began seeing me as a stranger. It was heartbreaking. Each experience - both at the time and in what followed - had a lasting impact on my mental health.
As a younger man, I was brought up with the values to just get on with it. I still have those values, but I also recognise that it’s okay to ask for help. One day, after yet another crisis with Mum’s illness, I suddenly and without warning broke down on the kitchen floor. My mind had reached its limit - it simply couldn’t go on. Looking back, neither could the strain on those closest to me. That’s when it finally hit me: I couldn’t just “get on with it.” My brain was full.
I was lucky enough to find the most amazing counsellor. Her approach to support was different to my perceptions. Each session she taught me how our brains work and session by session I understood why I reacted to situations. She provided me with the tools to step back and cope.
The Little Box of Mindfulness was born from that place. Our mental health deeply affects our physical health, and both are equally important.
Even though awareness around mental health is improving, it can still feel difficult to approach someone - a friend, relative, colleague, neighbour, or even an acquaintance. My simple desire with The Little Box of Mindfulness is to give people a way to reach out: a meaningful way to say, “I see you. I care. I’m here.” Our boxes may fit through letterboxes, but they can open the door to someone who might be struggling.
Using my graphic design skills and the knowledge I’ve gained (and am still learning) about mental health, I aim to create beautifully curated little boxes that fit through the letterbox and are filled with useful tools to support and encourage mindfulness.
These boxes are more than just their contents. They tell the receiver that someone is thinking of them - not with clichés or quick fixes, but with genuine care and a willingness to help. They can open the door to conversations that are often hard to start.
Whoever you’re sending one to, even if it’s to yourself - thank you for allowing me to be part of that moment.
James
Founder, The Little Box of Mindfulness
