Climb the Staircase of Wellbeing: Take Control of Your Life

Improving your mental wellbeing isn’t a one-time fix—it’s a journey. The Staircase of Wellbeing offers a practical, step-by-step model to help you build emotional resilience, take back control, and create lasting personal growth. In this post, we’ll explore the first two foundational steps that help you shift from resistance to empowerment.

What Is the Staircase of Wellbeing?

The Staircase of Wellbeing is a visual model that illustrates how individuals progress from emotional resistance to psychological empowerment. Each step represents a shift in mindset or behaviour that contributes to overall mental and emotional health. It's a visual tool that I created to make it easier for you to keep track of when you're experiencing improvements in your wellbeing, and when you're finding it harder to stay on top of. When we keep track of things in this way, it can be easier to notice when we need to make an adjustment. To try this exercise yourself, take the blank copies and fill them in with small signs (or big ones!) that you are experiencing a wellbeing shift.

Once you have that written down, you can start to apply actions that align with the two steps below!

Step 1: “I Don’t Want to Be Here” – Recognizing Resistance

Many people begin their wellbeing journey in discomfort. This might show up as:

• Feeling stuck in an unfulfilling job

• Struggling with anxiety or burnout

• Facing life changes you didn’t choose

At this stage, it’s easy to stay trapped in negative cycles. But simply acknowledging your feelings—saying “I don’t want to be here”—is an act of courage. It creates space for reflection and signals that you’re ready for change.

Step 2: “I Take Responsibility” – Reclaiming Your Power

Once you’ve acknowledged that something needs to change, the next step is taking ownership of your mindset and actions. This doesn't mean blaming yourself—it means realizing you have the power to choose your response. When you take responsibility, you shift from victimhood to empowerment. You stop waiting for things to improve and start asking, “What can I do differently?” This mindset is essential for lasting personal growth and mental wellbeing. It lays the groundwork for setting goals, creating boundaries, and building healthier relationships—with others and yourself.

Step 3: “I am in control” – Using Your Knowledge

As you begin to identify what brings you happiness and what causes dissatisfaction, and start making choices to alter the things within your control, you can start to balance both aspects. With your new insights into what makes you happy, you can continuously make adjustments to your life. Reflecting on the question "How do I maintain these positive feelings about my life?" will be beneficial during this phase.