What would Ripley do?

Life can be pretty tough sometimes.

The news is telling us that the world is going to hell in a handbasket, prices for just about everything are going through the roof and job security feels worse than ever. Things can come out of nowhere that challenge us and feel overwhelming.

But there are people who are important to us, who inspire us in some way and give us strength in difficult times.

Often these are people who have changed the world in some way and made a difference, but it could be a family member we admire and who is important to us.

It could also be a fictional character, who in the world of film, tv or a book have inspired us; who have faced some horrible danger and survived, who have saved lives or been there for someone in pain.

One example of a fictional character who comes up a lot in these conversations in sessions is Sigourney Weaver's Ripley from the Alien franchise. Her competence, her bravery and her strength, to name just a few of those qualities. Another example is Patrick Stewart's Jean Luc Picard from Star Trek TNG, who within the show was always presented as considerate, wise and kind.

We each have our own heroes and it’s all very personal. What makes them important to us? We might find that they align with the kind of person we wish we could be under pressure. What qualities do they have that we admire?

It might be emotional intelligence.

It might be kindness.

It might be bravery and strength.

It might be a sense of humour and an ability to laugh things off.

When we’re in the thick of things and feeling overwhelmed, it can be helpful to draw strength from the people we admire. It might sound like a punchline, but it can be a useful trick. Putting them in our shoes and asking ourselves how they would respond can give us the strength to do what we need to do. Whether that’s making a difficult decision, going to a meeting or an event we're absolutely dreading or just putting one foot in front of the other.

So, unapologetically, “what would Ripley do?”

Who do you admire? Whether that’s someone from real life or from fiction. What inspiration can you take from them to help you through a challenging time?

While I'm useless at fighting anything you might pick up from LV-426, I can help you address any challenges you're having with your mental health. You can get in touch with me via the website or drop me a message directly at mckellarcbt@gmail.com