The Field Guide for Radical Living: A Six-Week Blog Series Part 1

The Field Guide for Radical Living: A Six-Week Blog Series

There is an art to living well, and even more so when living with depression, PTSD, or any other mental health condition. 

‍

This field guide is a six-week blog series for those who want to master that art. 

‍

Each “radical” is a practice. Together, they form a way of living. 

‍

This guide is designed to help out during the toughest times. Chances are, if things feel like they are falling apart, if it feels like life isn't going how we would like it too, one of the “radicals” in this series is going to speak to you and be a call to action. 

‍

Each “radical” is a little complex, a little nuanced. Some take a while to wrap your head around. Most of them contain within them a dialectic, or a need to hold two things true at once. 

‍

Week One: Grounding in Reality

These practices help people stop fighting, reduce suffering, and create internal safety.

Before you can change anything, you must see clearly and stay present.

‍

Radical Acceptance

You can't do anything, about anything, until you first accept it. 

You do not have to be ok with anything that is happening to accept it. Denial only compounds your suffering. You can cry, rage, grieve, and still accept.

Try this: Say to yourself, “This is the situation I am in. I don’t have to like it to accept it, maybe in time I will understand why this is happening but denying it any longer is only delaying me moving forward or finding some solution.”

‍

Radical Presence

Even when it hurts to be present with what is, we must be present with it.

Avoidance is understandable, and it’s a trap. We must increase our tolerance for challenging emotions. 

Try this: Say “But I am not in that moment. I am in this one, and I am strong enough to be present with this”

‍

Radical Honesty

Radical honesty means choosing to see and speak the full truth, especially when it’s uncomfortable. It’s not just about avoiding lies, it’s about refusing to hide from reality, even from yourself. 

Radical honesty starts with you. It means admitting difficult truths about your feelings, your actions, and your fears. It’s not about being harsh or critical, it’s about being real. The hardest lies to confront are often the ones you tell yourself. 

Try this: Journal prompt: Ask yourself, “What truth am I avoiding?” Let the truth come out, even if it’s uncomfortable.  

‍

Radical Curiosity

Radical curiosity is the choice to stay open, especially when it's hard. 

Wonder is the antidote to judgment. When we just can’t understand why someone is the way they are or believes something we just don’t get.

Try this: Next time you find yourself judging, yourself or someone else, pause.
Ask: “What pain might be beneath this?” Let that question guide you toward understanding.

‍

Radical Surrender

Radical surrender is the courageous act of letting go control, even in the most chaotic of times. 

The desire to control is deeply human… and deeply futile.
We cling to plans, to outcomes, to identities, like trying to grip the ocean with our bare hands. You can't control the waves of life, but you can learn to surf. 

Try this: Think back, can you remember a time that something turned out way different than you wanted it to, and it was a far better outcome overall. Use this memory to remind yourself that maybe you don't always know what is best for you in the grand scheme of things. 

‍

This is where the work begins, not with fixing, but with seeing. When you stop fighting reality, your nervous system gets its first taste of relief. Nothing has to change yet. You don’t have to know what comes next. You only have to stay with what is, long enough to learn that you can survive it. Clarity comes after presence. Peace follows truth. And from here, real movement becomes possible.

Stay tuned for part 2, coming next week!