Chief executive Robert Thompson reflects on the positive changes he has made to improve his health and wellbeing in order to deal with ‘the harder challenges’ in both his professional and personal life.
IT WAS the wake-up call that busy chief executive Robert Thompson needed. He was working flat out, he admits, when his body “just crashed”.
“I went to the doctors and they did blood tests but my body was shot. I could not get out of bed… my body was saying ‘Enough is enough’.”
It provided the motivation to make positive change in his working and personal life, though he admits it was a real challenge as he was impacted both mentally and physically.
“I was not able to do half the things I wanted to do and was trying hard to figure out how to fix myself, as my natural persona is to fix things but I felt I could not do this.”
Robert’s mental health struggles were also compounded by the news that his wife Katie was diagnosed with stage four cancer while he was away on business in the USA.
“The news of my wife’s cancer diagnosis was very traumatic but she was amazing in the approach she took. She embraced the diagnosis in a positive way and it was her approach that helped me significantly in terms of trying to understand what was wrong with my body.
“That is where my real journey began.”
Now Robert hopes that by sharing his story, others experiencing a similar situation will be inspired to seek out the help and support they need. His condition began when the pandemic hit.
“Automatically I questioned whether this was a by-product of Covid and I never really got to the bottom of it. At the time it was quite easy to put it all down to Covid but in reality, whether it was long Covid or not, my body was pretty much shutting down.”
On his route to recovery, Robert recognised that he needed to prioritise his mental and physical wellbeing. He gave up alcohol, now meditates and does regular exercise every day
“To function properly, you need to look after yourself. Through my own experiences, I soon realised that I also had to be more patient in order to improve and get healthy.
“I have four beautiful children and a wife and wanted to fully appreciate the simple things in life. Although it was – and continues to be – hard work, I was determined to get better and as I progressed, I started to feel better mentally and physically.
“The 1% changes that I made to help improve my wellbeing made all the difference. For me, making those small changes helped me deal with the harder times. It is all about being consistent.”
He now has “non-negotiable daily routines” of exercise and meditation that enable him to take the time out he needs to be truly present, both at work with his colleagues and at home with his wife, children and dog Molly.
His mental health journey continues as does the challenges faced by his wife. However, Robert believes he has been given a second chance and is determined to continue to seek out the good in every day.
Consistency and a willingness to talk are, he says, vital steps in anyone’s recovery. “Everyone should have an awareness of mental health and the challenges that it can bring. I still have peaks and troughs but I think it is important that people understand that they are not alone.
“Mental health is often stigmatised but the more people talk about how they are feeling and keep in mind the importance of giving back will transcend into a greater wellbeing for all.
“Hopefully sharing my story will resonate with others facing similar challenges and encourage them to seek out the support they need.”
- Robert Thompson is chief executive of See Limited, a group holding company based in Corby and responsible for businesses involved in the supply, distribution and fabrication of wood veneer and decorative laminate panels. He was speaking during Mental Health Awareness Week, which took place last month.
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