The Stories We Tell: Why Understanding Others (and Ourselves) Matters for Mental Wellbeing

We all do it.

Someone pushes past us. Snaps at a colleague. Misses a deadline. And before we know it, our brain has filled in the blanks:

“They’re rude.”
“They don’t care.”
“They’re just not very reliable.”

But often, we’re wrong.

They might be stressed. Exhausted. Anxious. Going through something hard behind the scenes.

At SkillBase First Aid, we believe anyone can become a Hero-on-Standby, ready to support someone through a tough time. And one of the biggest lessons in our Mental Wellbeing First Aid training is this:

Don’t jump to conclusions. Stay curious instead.

The Bias We All Have (But Don’t Always See)

Psychologists call it the fundamental attribution error.

It’s our tendency to judge others based on their character, while explaining our own actions based on circumstances.

• When someone else is late: “They’re disorganised.”
• When we’re late: “There was traffic and the baby didn’t sleep.”

It’s human nature. But it gets in the way of empathy.
And empathy is exactly what someone might need when they’re struggling.

What About the Stories We Tell Ourselves?

This bias works both ways.

When things get tough, we sometimes soften the story to protect ourselves:

“I’m not a morning person.”
“I’ll take better care of myself when work calms down.”
“That’s just the way I am.”

Sometimes it’s self-compassion. Other times, it becomes a reason not to make a change.

We teach our delegates to balance kindness with honesty. To notice when they’re being too hard on themselves or giving themselves an easy out. That awareness is where growth begins.

A Simple Mental Wellbeing Skill: The Power Pause

When someone disappoints you, or you disappoint yourself, try this:

Pause.
Ask:

“What story am I telling right now?”
“Is it fair?”
“Is it helping?”

That short moment of reflection can shift your whole day.

It can turn judgement into empathy.
Shame into self-compassion.
Stress into perspective.

It’s simple but powerful. And it’s just one of the everyday tools we build into our training.

What We Teach in Mental Wellbeing First Aid

In our training, we help delegates:

• Spot subtle changes in behaviour (even when someone “seems fine”)

• Understand how stress, burnout and anxiety show up differently in different people

• Start supportive, stigma-free conversations with confidence

• Know when, and how, to offer help without pressure

Because being a Mental Wellbeing First Aider isn’t about fixing others.
It’s about noticing, listening, and creating safe space.

Want to Support Others With Confidence?

Our Mental Wellbeing First Aid course is packed with practical tools to help you:

• Support others without fear of saying the wrong thing

• Look after your own wellbeing while helping others

• Build a culture of kindness and openness at work

And it’s delivered the SkillBase way:

✅ Practical, real-world training
✅ Interactive and engaging — no dry lectures here
✅ Confidence-boosting tools you can use right away

👉 Explore the course and book your place

Because the world needs more people who pause.
People who listen.
People who care.
People ready to become Heroes-on-Standby.