How long bee-utiful people and welcome back to another episode of BU with Declan and words this week on the show. I'm interviewing the amazing Aaron Edwards. Now, I know what you're thinking same last name. Are we related? We're not however, we do have something in common Aaron and I both have a passion and an interest in how to help. Help people live happier and healthier lives not just physically but mentally and emotionally as well in this episode I talk to Aaron a lot about how he's histories and and struggles and difficulties with depression and with anxiety with his own mental health. We talked about how he began to recognize those and begin to overcome them, which is a long journey and we talked about how he's now using his platform and his Ways to be the voice for other people who may be going through some difficult times themselves. It's a very eye-opening. It's very honest and raw interview and I'm very proud to have it on this podcast and have it on the be your deck and Edwards podcast and very grateful to Aaron's coming in and sharing his story and being so honest and real with me during the interview. Don't forget that like all of our podcast episodes this episode is Is available for free on the wellness Library the wellness library is the free section of our pocket coach platform, which is an e-learning platform designed to help you thrive in life rather than just survive. So it's filled with hundreds of podcast episodes blog articles and videos that you can access for free in the wellness library to begin taking proactive practical and fun steps towards developing your Mindset and your overall well-being. I've left the link to the wellness library and to the full pot crunch platform in the show notes for today's episode. So make sure you check that out. Make sure you take those next steps forward and looking after well-being. And with that said, that's welcome Aaron on to the podcast. So mote. Thank you so much for coming in today. I really appreciate you taking time out of your day and your life. I know you're a busy man, and we'll just catching up about what you do on a day-to-day basis before going live on the podcast and recording everything. So it really does mean a lot to me the a you've taken out sometime and your day to come into studio and talk and share your story and really what drives you with our listeners, but I think if we look bigger than that, I think it matters a lot to me. The reason I asked you to come into the podcast. First place in matters about that you are starting conversations and sharing conversations and stories that really need to be had a lot more that's become much more apparent to me over the last 12 months as I know it has for you. But before we jump into that, I want to give you a chance to introduce yourself to our listeners and share a bit about your background and really what got you to where you are today and why you're doing what you're doing today? Yep. My name's Aaron. I have been a PT 4. Eighteen months now taken off quite quick, which is good. I guess. Yeah, but before that I was working shift work and just any job did a bit of travelling maybe six 10 months worth somewhere in there. We will all around Europe and did all that and come on got another job ended up working shift work and yeah just didn't turn out well. I ended up getting into fitness through Connor which I met so he sort of not really pushed me into it, but got me going on the right path to doing it. And yeah, that's I've been doing it ever since and it's helped a lot with how I feel and where I'm sort of I guess it's giving me a bit more purpose and Direction on what I'm doing. Yeah, because going from the last job, I sort of mental health went downhill and and everything was just yeah all on a slippery dip there wasn't to the point like I was into a serious point. But yeah, it was close everything up, you know something was and I mean now I'm the freedom lot happier really see ya and it's just something different that I guess I enjoy and like to wake up to every day at 3 a.m. I found out before we That's right most days. But yeah, so that's what I do at the moment and hopefully I can continue that on and keep going. Yeah, and I mean I definitely want to dive into that not only How It's Made and impacting your life physically mentally emotionally purpose and meaning you spoke about But made it for it to take off like it has an 18 months it obviously means you're making impact on other people's lives. Yeah, right, and that's everything that we stand for it be you and everything we do is to make an impact starting with self. I love to ask you what it's starting with self look like like how did you have to go through those changes first in order to help other people make them. Ben being vocal was the hardest part, I guess to start with there was a lot of hummin an iron. There was a couple people that knew that the situation I was in and and I guess what was going on, but it wasn't until I sort of took that leap and start to feel better about Where I was that yep to be out of start on this new path. So it all sort of transitioned around the same time, but it was just there. It was a long process to get to it. Definitely. But yeah. The way I the way I told most people is just a post on Facebook. But that was the only way I could tell everyone. Yeah. Why is that do you think? I couldn't really start it and just be like oh, hey. Yeah, I'm not right. Yeah, how do you bring it up in conversation? It's so high like even a book. The doctor's appointment went went to the doctors on my own and even in the doctors amount. I don't know I'm gonna talk about it or but thankfully I did. Yeah, and then yeah, I just it's just that making that initial. Oh, hey, I'm not. Okay. Yeah. It's so hard to poop. So once you saw it once you can get through. It's yeah the changes and it's a lot easier not it's not he's easiest but it's a lot easier to talk about it. Once you sort of get over that fear. Uh-huh. What do you think? The the fear was there like a honestly don't know yeah, it was just yes, it could be anxiety at sister everything plays on top of each other and ya know you're not meant to be like that. But yeah, you have these thoughts you do everything happened like this, but you just can't explain it. Hmm, and I want to thank you my birth something that you just brought to my attention there, which I've never thought of before obviously. We have a lot of initiatives in Australia. Like are you okay today? And you know, if you're on blue and all these organizations offering support, but there's only so So they can do if we're not having the conversations in the first place, right? And I think especially amongst Australian men that is such a big part of the struggle is being able to bring up a conversation to start with and you're right like it was that sense of on a high when you're like, how would I even bring that up in conversation? Yeah, like I did through Facebook post because how else am I meant to just walk me casually talking to a friend be like hey by the way, like it's just so hard. You just like it's not something you just bring up. Yeah. Someone eyes over what's wrong? He's out. Yeah, I'm all right, it's just how we are. It's it's yeah taking that extra step to be able to go. No, I'm not Hmm. This is why but breaking that wall down between knows it's ridiculously hard. Yeah. And do you have people now? I'm imagining through what you're doing. So for those listening, I mean a big reason that I reached out to our internal team on the podcast was I started seeing a lot of amazing posts from your very open and honest and You'll posts about hey. Yes. This is about your physical health. Yes. It's about exercise. And yes, it's about looking after yourself, but it's about much more than that as well. It's also about how do you feel mentally how you feel emotionally estate? It's about depressions about anxiety. It's about all of this plays together and the more you shared that story and spoke with that and I know shared a lot of your experience with that and showed your story. Do you now find that that's started creating opportunities for people to have a conversation with you. I've had a lot of people come up to me about it. And I just thank me or just said that I'm not in the right place not necessarily asking for help but just saying thank you for being a voice. Yes. There's a lot of it doesn't matter if it's male or female. It's I've had a lot of have come out and just yeah said thank you for doing this or that Yeah, I guess I'll you never really know what it does for someone. Hmm, even he get the things here and there or someone will say something about you never really know how far it will go. Yeah to reach someone and it could just be that one seed that one post. That one thing is he that does give them permission almost or support them or encourage them to as you said, maybe not even get to the point of asking for help. Yeah, but just to acknowledge. Yeah your hair actually. Feeling great right now. I'm not feeling right like something's going on here. Yeah, you mentioned it was a long time for you getting to that point game to a point where you're like, okay. Yeah, I got to talk about this. I'm imagining. It's either as long or along the process after that to begin working through it. Yeah, or is it fast that yeah, that's a what happens after that for you? Yeah, it's doing it still continued the downhill if it wasn't a fix. Uh, I was just acknowledgement of what was happening. Yeah, there's actually the I went to the doctors and that night. It was the night. I told my partner What I've Done why why do you want to the doctors? They even that I laid in bed with the lights off. I couldn't even face all the teller so It's not it's not a quick fix situation is still going through the phases of it now. Yep, and I honestly don't think it's something that'll ever go away. Yep, but I can something like a probably maintain and balance a bit better. Then the lower places that you get. Yeah. I know I saw I think you said something which was quite cool around acknowledging depression anxiety and Perfect on paper, but also acknowledging. Well, there's also things that we can put in place to give us a fighting chance yet to put us in a better situation than what we could have been otherwise, and I know exercise is such a massive part of that. I know what you're doing for work is a part of that. What have you found for yourself? Really gives you a fighting chance and put you in a better position, even when you are, you know, still going through and I'm really being affected by things like depression and anxiety. What are the things that you've have found make a difference? Atop a lifestyle. I guess I laid the I guess it's changed a lot. Now that I've had a baby everything's a bit different, of course. Congratulations as well. Right? It's I find that if I was just working in 95 working shift work. They actually said it all go. It's just compounding. I'm stuck in this routine type thing butcher. Whereas now I can sort of I can go to the daddy-daughter thing. Yeah and all that type of stuff and I still get that balance. Yep. Come out like a work early mornings, but then by the time they wake up I can go home and I've heard that balancing work life. Yeah, but I'm liking it at the moment. So it's just finding balances doing things a like. Yeah could be just watching a movie. Just chilling out. Yeah, just just got to find ways. Yeah, it does sound like Curry if I'm wrong finding things that have purpose and meaning for you. Oh, yeah, may still involve sacrifice. I mean raising a couple hundred percent, right? I don't want to sacrifice. Yeah, I've heard great things the other day which I'd love to get your thoughts on it said the purpose of life is finding something worth suffering for it's not about eliminating or suffering. Yeah, because we try and eliminate all suffering and we're putting ourselves on the back foot and it's not really how life works. And even if we were tribes out life tends to throw curve balls are not play our game. Yeah, that's it. How have you going around? Identifying those things for yourself. I mean obviously being a being a father is definitely one of them, but I know what you're doing with your clients and what you're doing in PT demands sacrifice. Yeah, and there's a devil bit of suffering to it. Especially when you're in the gym this house physical suffering and sleep suffering. Yeah, but yeah, but it's almost that trade for the meaning and purpose on the on the back end of it. Yeah, how have you gone about diving into that? I know you said you're introduced to it by Connor and you went through a bit of a transformational journey yourself that yep. What keeps you going with it? What gets you up in the morning? coming I guess that I guess. What gets me up? Every morning is my daughter? Yeah, my partner. Yeah, but just It's good to know when you when you see transformations of people and people you can tell that they are happier with what how they are. You know, I've said it once before sometimes I find helping other people self sort of helps mine. Yeah in a weird way. Uh-huh. Just when I see that they're getting better and happier. That's can help make me similar. It's just like feeding off positive. Top energy in top stuff like that. Yeah. So yeah, it's just Just recurring bouncing off each other type of stuff. Yeah, yeah. Just forget it ever that. Yeah. Yeah. I love that every idea of I think there's a lot to be said about when we when we help someone and we make an impact on other people's lives. It's not this transactional thing right of like you're gaining something and you're happier and healthier now and I've lost something like that happen. It's like no no both of us get something out of it. Yeah, both of us benefit. Both of us felt. They did a great study around they gave and I know they gave a college half. The college kids were given $20 and they said go spend this on yourself at some point. Right how happy you are for the next week? And then the other half is like he's $3 go spend it on someone else and just make them happy just do something unconditional someone else family friend partnered kids like stranger anything and write how happy you are seven days and you can probably guess what the results of that water. Yeah, of course people who helped others had this longer term happiness coming out of it. Both of them were very happy straight away. If you buy something nice for yourself or 20 bucks, so I don't know cause you're gonna be happy but it went down so far as no I do. see your stories and expression of that and how You know, you've gone through tough times and they continue to be tough times. It's part of life, but taking that and going how can I help others be it in a similar situation or even just in their own form of challenge. I'm imagining contributes a lot to you as well. Yeah, it does there's yeah. It's a similar similar as having caffeine. You have caffeine short-term fix. Yep the end of it you like girl. I need more pepper. Yeah, it's the same type of thing. Whereas, you know, you moderate and have a little amounts. You're obviously feel better for a long period of time. Yeah. Sounds just about yeah. Hoping hoping I was sort of like a low dose of caffeine I guess. Yeah, it's just a continuous. Yeah, quite a look at that slow burn and it's not something this isn't like this is a not a job I expected to do uh-huh and in life. But yeah, this is just where I've sort of landed. Yeah, and so I know for you as his head like looking at as more than just a job and and and home with a physical Obviously using your platform to have these conversations and open up about it as well. I know you share with me before we went on the podcast said when you write you tend to just right because it's easier to put up on Facebook. As you said the first time coming, you know, opening up and talking about it was easier to put a Facebook post up. Do you find that when you are writing your post and and those statuses and sharing the information have it starting the conversations on Facebook? Is it always from a place of whatever you're going through at the time? Is it just your sort of spilling your own mind and heart out on there or yes, and sometimes people people that know me like a lot of clients that stuff that not only are could tell I guess when I'm a bit off. Yep, but it's not necessarily always based on me. Uh-huh. What a post. Yeah. I could be super happy and super fine one day. Yeah, but still post about it's just Well, and I feel like that's an important thing to highlight for those listening as well. Yeah, because it sort of blows apart this idea that you can't have these conversations or talk about it unless you're in the middle of something or struggling with depression or anxiety. Yeah right to actually go. Well, you know at the moment I'm very relieved of think we still need to talk about this right. There's so many people out there struggling and you know, I don't know you didn't what are your hopes for? Opposed the future of Australia, especially coming Generations. What are your hopes for you? Daughter's generation coming through in terms of Mental Health. It's it's very very hard because everything's always changing. Hmm. They realize more connected obviously now than what they were 20 years ago. So everything's a lot more out there, but then there's a lot more sort of bottled up as well. Yeah. I'd like to see. Better programs, I guess around dealing with it, you know you can message. Like all of Charities and stuff for help. There's only so much help they could sort of do yeah, and then, you know basically got to go the hospital is your other things are just ways on the improving stuff like that would be would be great and having being able to teach the younger people how to cope with and how to speak about it. Before it gets to an issue. Yeah is also a good thing. Yeah. I had a great analogy around that of you don't teach a child how to get back on the bike once the like when they're on the ground crying because of hit the ground you're I like you don't wait till the kid falls off and then like well now we're going to learn how to get back on the bike and it's like we need to be teaching these coping mechanisms and resilience skills and things to help as you said before it hits. Yeah, you know that real Point yeah, no she down a break your arm. You wanna prevent it from happening to start with I'd love that. So let's go ahead and say it right and if something happens where it does end up being broken at least have some form of yet process around. Okay. Well, how do we get through this? How do we give ourselves the best chance of recovering from this? Yeah. I mean, it's the monkey had much the same. Yeah. So as far as what I'd love To ask him out for listening. How can the people listening to this whether they are going through something strong at the moment or whether they have been in the past or whether the never been but they know someone who is How do you feel people can begin making those almost grassroot changes like the obviously the idea is we have better organizations and better programs and things. What can people do to help now? What makes a difference for you like what do you want when you're in that? place of struggle it's it's hard. I remember there's times where You don't want anything you want everything all in one guy you don't understand up but you don't wanna sit down. Yeah, it ain't you don't want to lay down. It's very hard. Sort of yes what you want and how you want it sort of thing. And that's it's just the weirdest feeling when you don't know what can help but can't help until you sort of get through that period you just it's like you sound through as a ghost. Yeah. It's just so hard to say. Being it's just the only thing you can sort of help is acknowledging where you're at. It's a disease. It's just it's basically like having it's not the same as but it's For example, you've got cancer there is no treatment. How do you fix the cancer? There's you know, you've got this disease in your body, but you don't know how to fix it. You don't know where the you don't mind. I know where the causes are or what takes of awful stuff like that and it's just until we can sort of scale back and Work on even just the smallest bars as well as changes its yeah. There are still are still Parts it on lost that I'm still trying to work out what we can do and how it can be better. But I guess that's part of the learning definite just not going to I'm going to know. Straight up until yeah. Work on it. Mmm. Yeah, and it sounds like it's coming from almost one of the first things and you said they came back to the bear the fundamentals and the basics is just getting that awareness and and Clarity around. How am I actually going right now? Yeah, you're right. It's so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day of life and not take that time to go. Am I feeling okay right now? I might not like what's going on for me? Yeah now so I Struggle to talk to the people close to me. Uh-huh. Like I can. if they ask me, I'm Olivia or yeah, I don't know why I just can't more so a stranger. I guess like them which is I guess a little bit odd, but it's almost because they're closer to home. Like I mean, maybe it's just being sort of laid out more into someone who doesn't really know and you don't really know it might not necessarily. See you again. Yep type thing. yeah, it's just I don't know why I do it. That's just the way I do it huh going back to Facebook. I sort of feel the same. I can sort of put it out there without feeling like I'm talking directly to someone Mmm Yeah, and even that might be something there for people listening to me like okay if I just start with identifying, how am I feeling right now? And then maybe it is as you said the Tipping Point of View, you know, I just had to get it out there somehow. Yeah putting up a Facebook post was the way that I felt Definitely a regiment comfortable to Dylan but you know able to get to do it in face of the discomfort. I mean, it's been feel better. Sometimes when I've done. Yeah. I'm just to call it writing a book and throw it away. Yeah, I got yelling see what similar typing in a way that everyone else reads it obviously yeah. Yes. I sort of put it up forget about it and move on. Yeah, I guess that's sort of one of my coat and beans as well. All right. Yeah, and I'm imagining with any of the Cobra things. You've identified the become the been identified by trial and error imagine like give it a go to work tonight. Okay and imagine even then some days that will work some days. It won't and it's being okay with that. You know, there's no one perfect fix. It's a magic pill. Yeah. It's just working trying to do what works on that day that little time for that. Just be getting it. Yeah. Yeah, so if you were to I'm going to put you on the spot on this one. If you were to leave our listeners and our audience with any thought writing message either started asking the recently if you had five minutes to share a message with everyone in the world, what would it be? As light as a loan that you think you are, you're not, you know, everyone everyone has their own issues and problems and no one's perfect. But there is there is always that one. One Avenue where you think there's not that you're that is able to help, you know, whether your friend family doctor or whatever. There's always that. There's what yeah, there's always that like caring. Type figure that you can turn to like a stranger for me is always yeah, you don't need to be stuck in that hole. Oh. Fucking big pit of I'm not this is not right on. Okay. I'm all right. I'm okay. So there's always yeah always ways around and whatnot. Yeah. Yeah, mate. I want to yeah, thank you again and just recognize and appreciate liked your bravery and courage food. It sounds almost like saying that like I dream of a world where we Even have to say talking about mental health is a brave thing to do because it should be so we just another common and normal right s is like everyone's talking about it but in this day and age and this Society, unfortunately, it is a very brave thing to do to stand up and to be a voice for that and to be real and honest with people that how you feeling and I just want to recognize that and thank you again for coming in and sharing some of your story and sharing that with our listeners. He know that I appreciate it. once again, I just wanted to highlight recognize and thank Eric for coming in with just finished up this episode and I'm sitting here reflecting on it recognizing how much value was shared in there just from the perspective of Having that first person perspective in hearing Our Own Story really makes a difference as the as we spoke earlier. I know one that really stood out to me is these are conversations. We need to be having not just when we're struggling but also when with thriving and when we're feeling good because the more we have these conversations the more lives we can impact and change. So make sure you connect with our and go on to Facebook and search Sharon Edwards Fitness. We spoke about his posts a lot in this podcast episode he It does put out some amazing content that I think makes a huge difference and speaking of making an impact on people's lives. Remember that to make an impact it all must start with self. So make sure you're looking after yourself. Make sure you're investing back into yourself and you're taking proactive practical and fun steps forward in looking after your mindset and your well-being one way that you can do that. As I said earlier in the podcast is to check out the wellness Library. It's our free resource and free tool that's filled with Amazing amazing content to give you the knowledge the tools the tips the strategies that are needed to thrive in life. So follow the link in this week's show notes, you'll be able to sign up for free or also jump on the POC coach platform which includes all of that and some extra goodies that really make a difference. But until the next time we speak, you know, how we do this make an impact start with self and be you
In this week’s episode of the podcast I had the honour and privilege of sitting down with Aaron Edwards. I asked Aaron to come into the studio for his first ever podcast because I believe he is a shining example of someone who is standing up as a voice for conversations that need to be had more frequently in society. In the episode we dive into:  - Aaron’s struggles with depression, anxiety and mental health - Why these conversations need to be had not only when people are struggling but when they’re happy as well - And we discuss Aaron’s hopes for the future of mental health in Australia. Out of all the interviews I’ve done as part of this show this one stood out to me as one of the most raw and vulnerable. As always this episode is available, alongside 100s of other podcasts, articles and videos, in The Wellness Library on PocketCoach. The Wellness Library is like having a Netflix that’s filled with content that is actually good for your life rather than a distraction from it. You can access 100s of articles, videos and podcasts all designed to help you develop your mindset and wellbeing so you can truly thrive in life. And the best part is, it’s 100% free. 