A week in Spain. No agenda. No masks. Just the raw truth and real healing.

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week (13–19 May 2024) — and while the official theme is movement, I want to talk about a different kind of movement:
👉 The emotional kind.
👉 The kind that pulls you out of your head and back into your heart.
👉 The kind that happens when a group of strangers becomes your lifeline.

A few weeks ago, I flew to Vilar Rural de Sant Hilari Sacalm in Girona, Spain, for something called the Enlightened Warrior Training Camp, created by T. Harv Eker.

People asked me, “Is it a retreat?”
Not even close.

We weren’t told what we’d be doing. Just a cryptic kit list. And before we’d even left the UK, the WhatsApp group was blowing up:
“What kind of whistle do we need?”
“Is this water bottle right?”
“Do I need walking boots and trainers?”

And then came the real noise — the one inside my head.

“You’re too old for this.”
“You’ve had a rare pituitary apoplexy — what if something happens?”
“You’ve packed your insurance documents and cortisol injection. Is that normal?”

My inner critic was screaming.
And if that wasn’t enough, some of the camp crew literally acted as our inner critics during challenges, mirroring the same voices many of us live with daily. It was jarring, intense, and exactly what I needed.

We were split into tribes, and mine was called Light Force. That tribe carried me — emotionally, mentally, sometimes physically. I completed things I didn’t think I could, and only because someone was there, whispering:
“You’ve got this.”
Or staring into my eyes and saying:
“I see the beauty in you.”

That line.
That moment.
It undid me.

There’s something about being looked at — really looked at — by someone who sees past your armour, title, and fear.
It bypasses logic. It speaks directly to your soul.

Each night ended with 20+ hugs. You’d think it would feel awkward, but it wasn’t. It was grounding, reminding, and re-humanising.

We shared our rawest thoughts in pairs, in small circles, and in big ones. There were no filters, no fluff, just honesty.

And I realised: this is what’s missing in our “normal” lives.

In the world I come from—HR, leadership, business development—people are burning out quietly. They appear polished but crumble inside.
We don’t talk about it.
We medicate it.
We muscle through it.

There was a time when I only knew what day it was because of the label on the back of a medication pack.
Not because I didn’t care. But because I was numb. Functioning. Depleted.

At Warrior Camp, things felt different.
Time didn’t blur — it cracked open.
Each morning started at 6:30 am and ended at 11 pm, but the real timeline was transformation.

What changed me wasn’t the challenges.
It was the community.

The tribe. The connection. The eye contact. The vulnerability. The truth.
We don’t need more productivity hacks.
We need more people willing to say,
“I see the beauty in you.”

So this Mental Health Awareness Week, I have a question:

Who’s in your tribe?
Not your team. Not your network. Your tribe.
The people who’d carry you when you can’t carry yourself.

Because healing doesn’t happen in silence.
It happens when we’re seen. Heard. Held.

And sometimes, that starts with just six words.

P.S.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re carrying it all on your own, you’re not.
You’re not broken. You’re not failing. You’re just human.
And sometimes, all it takes is one conversation, connection, or tribe to remind you who you really are.
I see the beauty in you.

Mike Lawrence: Your Guide to Health & Wellbeing

I’m Mike Lawrence, a passionate advocate for mental health and wellbeing. After overcoming significant health challenges, including brain surgery, I’ve dedicated myself to a journey of self-improvement and helping others thrive. From heart-pounding skydives for charity to soul-enriching travels in Thailand, my experiences have shaped my approach to holistic health.

I love sharing the lessons I’ve learned from these adventures and the powerful audiobooks I devour. Let’s explore the paths to better mental and physical health together. Embrace life’s adventures with enthusiasm and resilience, and remember—you’re never alone on this journey!

Feel free to email me at hello@mikelawrence.co.uk or connect with me on LinkedIn. For more in-depth insights and inspiring stories, read my latest blogs here. Together, let’s create a healthier, happier future!

#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #CommunityHealing #EmotionalResilience #LightForceTribe #HRLeadership