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One Step Forward:
While the phrase “mental health” has become common in today’s time, more often than not it’s a surface level conversation. We see celebrities discussing their problems
#selfcare
#mentalhealthmatters
#mentalhealthawareness
But what does it actually mean to explore your psyche and work on improving your mental health? What should someone hope to gain from therapy? Where the f*ck do you even begin?
In this book, I will explore my journey in mental health. It will not always be pretty, but it’s real. And with this, provide a practical approach to helping you move one step forward in your mental health journey.
Nothing will be accomplished overnight, but if that’s your goal with mental health, you’re in the wrong place.
#selfcare
#mentalhealthmatters
#mentalhealthawareness
But what does it actually mean to explore your psyche and work on improving your mental health? What should someone hope to gain from therapy? Where the f*ck do you even begin?
In this book, I will explore my journey in mental health. It will not always be pretty, but it’s real. And with this, provide a practical approach to helping you move one step forward in your mental health journey.
Nothing will be accomplished overnight, but if that’s your goal with mental health, you’re in the wrong place.
98 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 2, 2023
3 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 28, 2025
In One Step Forward, Will Craig delivers an unflinchingly raw and honest exploration of mental health, self-awareness, grief, healing, and resilience—all without the typical gloss of self-help platitudes. From the first page, Craig makes it clear that he isn’t trying to be an expert or offer a perfect roadmap. Instead, he extends a hand, saying, “I’m someone who has battled demons and emerged pretty f**king okay.” That refreshing tone carries through every chapter, making this book feel less like advice and more like a conversation with a brutally honest friend.
Craig opens with a vivid recollection of his collapse in high school due to a shunt failure from his hydrocephalus, immediately setting a tone of vulnerability and lived experience. His description of the event, from dragging himself to the nurse’s office to waking up terrified hours later in a different hospital, is visceral and immersive. It's clear that this trauma planted early seeds in how he viewed relationships, often seeing himself as a "sunk cost" to others—a candid confession that frames much of the emotional groundwork for the rest of the book.
Grief is another major throughline, most powerfully explored through the loss of his girlfriend Alison. Craig’s account of frantically calling hospitals, the panic of arriving at her apartment, and ultimately confronting devastating loss is heart-wrenching without ever tipping into melodrama. His willingness to say, "I didn't want promises of a future I couldn't envision; I just needed to feel heard," captures the nuance of grief in a way that feels deeply relatable and earned.
Rather than offering tidy conclusions, each chapter feels like an unfolding journey toward better understanding. In Chapter 1, Craig champions radical self-acceptance over performative self-improvement. He encourages readers to stop hiding parts of themselves to fit arbitrary molds, whether it’s reading "War and Peace" to impress others or hiding love for something as "uncool" as a Jonas Brothers concert. His playful yet poignant commentary—like feeling bad for men at concerts who were too ashamed to admit they were having fun—gently nudges readers toward embracing authenticity without shame.
Chapter 2's lesson to "control the controllables" provides hard-earned wisdom about letting go of the uncontrollable outcomes in life, especially in relationships. Craig doesn’t sugarcoat the pain of betrayal or disappointment, but instead reinforces the idea that true peace comes from focusing on what you bring to the table, not obsessing over what you can't control.
One of the strongest chapters is Chapter 3, where Craig dismantles the toxic comparison trap and reminds readers that "your only competition is you." His story of struggling in a sales job, consumed by comparing himself to co-workers, and realizing he needed to compete only with his past self, is both humble and inspiring. His humor shines through here as well, particularly in the anecdote about family board games turning into emotional battlegrounds due to sheer competitiveness—a small but vivid example of how deeply the need to "win" can be ingrained in us.
Craig’s insistence on valuing the process over outcomes, discussed in Chapter 4, feels especially crucial in a culture obsessed with immediate success. Whether he's talking about musicians grinding it out in dive bars before fame or someone posting 100 movie reviews with little fanfare, Craig’s message is clear: the reps, the love for the craft, and the day-to-day journey are the true measures of fulfillment. His reminder that "you'll suck at first" isn't just motivational—it’s liberating.
Chapter 5 on anxiety is particularly powerful, balancing personal anecdotes with hard-earned strategies. His description of anxiety as "mental quicksand" and the comparison to athletes like Tom Brady and Serena Williams maintaining calm under pressure give practical imagery to an otherwise intangible struggle. One of the most memorable lines is when he says, "You can't lose if you don't yield," flipping the fear-driven narrative anxiety thrives on.
Owning your healing, discussed in Chapter 6, pulls no punches. Craig is blunt about the messy, nonlinear nature of therapy, emphasizing that growth requires sitting in the discomfort ("the ick," as his therapist puts it) and confronting one's own bullshit. His point that even well-meaning friends and family have their own agendas, making therapists uniquely valuable, feels both compassionate and wise.
In the final chapter, Craig addresses the darkness of suicidal ideation with a depth and clarity that many books shy away from. He doesn’t sensationalize it nor trivialize it; instead, he acknowledges the staggering statistics and personal pain behind it. His reflections on needing to be seen and understood, and his quote that “Never be a prisoner of your past. It was just a lesson, not a life sentence," provide hope without hollow promises.
What makes One Step Forward so effective is that it doesn’t offer a "fix." Craig repeatedly reminds readers that no one can save you but yourself—but he also shows that you don't have to do it alone. His blend of humor, brutal honesty, personal anecdotes, and practical insight creates a book that doesn't just talk about mental health—it lives in it.
If there’s any small critique to be made, it’s simply that Craig occasionally repeats certain themes (such as controlling what you can and embracing imperfection). However, given the nature of the topics and the healing process itself, this repetition often feels more reinforcing than redundant.
Overall, One Step Forward is a fiercely honest, relatable, and ultimately hopeful guide for anyone navigating the messy, complicated road of healing and self-understanding. Will Craig doesn’t claim to have all the answers—and that's exactly why this book resonates so deeply. It’s not a lecture. It’s a lifeline.
Craig opens with a vivid recollection of his collapse in high school due to a shunt failure from his hydrocephalus, immediately setting a tone of vulnerability and lived experience. His description of the event, from dragging himself to the nurse’s office to waking up terrified hours later in a different hospital, is visceral and immersive. It's clear that this trauma planted early seeds in how he viewed relationships, often seeing himself as a "sunk cost" to others—a candid confession that frames much of the emotional groundwork for the rest of the book.
Grief is another major throughline, most powerfully explored through the loss of his girlfriend Alison. Craig’s account of frantically calling hospitals, the panic of arriving at her apartment, and ultimately confronting devastating loss is heart-wrenching without ever tipping into melodrama. His willingness to say, "I didn't want promises of a future I couldn't envision; I just needed to feel heard," captures the nuance of grief in a way that feels deeply relatable and earned.
Rather than offering tidy conclusions, each chapter feels like an unfolding journey toward better understanding. In Chapter 1, Craig champions radical self-acceptance over performative self-improvement. He encourages readers to stop hiding parts of themselves to fit arbitrary molds, whether it’s reading "War and Peace" to impress others or hiding love for something as "uncool" as a Jonas Brothers concert. His playful yet poignant commentary—like feeling bad for men at concerts who were too ashamed to admit they were having fun—gently nudges readers toward embracing authenticity without shame.
Chapter 2's lesson to "control the controllables" provides hard-earned wisdom about letting go of the uncontrollable outcomes in life, especially in relationships. Craig doesn’t sugarcoat the pain of betrayal or disappointment, but instead reinforces the idea that true peace comes from focusing on what you bring to the table, not obsessing over what you can't control.
One of the strongest chapters is Chapter 3, where Craig dismantles the toxic comparison trap and reminds readers that "your only competition is you." His story of struggling in a sales job, consumed by comparing himself to co-workers, and realizing he needed to compete only with his past self, is both humble and inspiring. His humor shines through here as well, particularly in the anecdote about family board games turning into emotional battlegrounds due to sheer competitiveness—a small but vivid example of how deeply the need to "win" can be ingrained in us.
Craig’s insistence on valuing the process over outcomes, discussed in Chapter 4, feels especially crucial in a culture obsessed with immediate success. Whether he's talking about musicians grinding it out in dive bars before fame or someone posting 100 movie reviews with little fanfare, Craig’s message is clear: the reps, the love for the craft, and the day-to-day journey are the true measures of fulfillment. His reminder that "you'll suck at first" isn't just motivational—it’s liberating.
Chapter 5 on anxiety is particularly powerful, balancing personal anecdotes with hard-earned strategies. His description of anxiety as "mental quicksand" and the comparison to athletes like Tom Brady and Serena Williams maintaining calm under pressure give practical imagery to an otherwise intangible struggle. One of the most memorable lines is when he says, "You can't lose if you don't yield," flipping the fear-driven narrative anxiety thrives on.
Owning your healing, discussed in Chapter 6, pulls no punches. Craig is blunt about the messy, nonlinear nature of therapy, emphasizing that growth requires sitting in the discomfort ("the ick," as his therapist puts it) and confronting one's own bullshit. His point that even well-meaning friends and family have their own agendas, making therapists uniquely valuable, feels both compassionate and wise.
In the final chapter, Craig addresses the darkness of suicidal ideation with a depth and clarity that many books shy away from. He doesn’t sensationalize it nor trivialize it; instead, he acknowledges the staggering statistics and personal pain behind it. His reflections on needing to be seen and understood, and his quote that “Never be a prisoner of your past. It was just a lesson, not a life sentence," provide hope without hollow promises.
What makes One Step Forward so effective is that it doesn’t offer a "fix." Craig repeatedly reminds readers that no one can save you but yourself—but he also shows that you don't have to do it alone. His blend of humor, brutal honesty, personal anecdotes, and practical insight creates a book that doesn't just talk about mental health—it lives in it.
If there’s any small critique to be made, it’s simply that Craig occasionally repeats certain themes (such as controlling what you can and embracing imperfection). However, given the nature of the topics and the healing process itself, this repetition often feels more reinforcing than redundant.
Overall, One Step Forward is a fiercely honest, relatable, and ultimately hopeful guide for anyone navigating the messy, complicated road of healing and self-understanding. Will Craig doesn’t claim to have all the answers—and that's exactly why this book resonates so deeply. It’s not a lecture. It’s a lifeline.
Displaying 1 of 1 review