Always be listening to what you need…
“Self-care is how you take your power back.” — Lalah Delia
Disney Pixar’s Turning Red
If you haven’t watched Disney + Pixar’s Turning Red, I highly encourage you to watch it, and with an open mind and heart. I’ve read and heard some reviews of the movie, and also a lot of negative criticism, but I’ll share my thoughts without spoilers. This movie illustrates messages of embracing change, friendships, courage, compassion, dealing and managing emotions, empathy, parenting relationships, and learning how to navigate with all the things messy and beautiful about our emotions and experiences and persevere.
I imagine we can relate. There are moments in our life, both positive and negative, that have valuable parts. Recently, I came across a clip from a Jay Shetty Podcast ft. Mel Robbins that is powerful! Mel Robbins, a NY Times Best Selling Author and Podcast Host said:
It is very easy to sit in this moment in your life, and to look back at your life, and see that every single moment in your life is a dot on the map of your life that has led you here. True power is knowing that this moment is also a dot on your map, and that this moment is connecting you forward on the map of your life towards something extrodinary. You can either sit and let the dot come and go, or you can wake the heck up and realize that the map will take you to some final destination. If you want to change your life you have to make a decision to change your life.
So, why is it that we do not listen to what we need at times? We put on a “mask” and either suppress what we are experiencing or ignore it. Our body is trying to keep up. Our mind is trying to protect and defend us. Our heart and soul can feel like it is fighting against everything. How do we fight not for it or against it, how do we fight with it?
“Mental health problems don’t define who you are. They are something you experience. You walk in the rain and you feel the rain, but you are not the rain.” Matt Haig
unsplash.com
The month of May is recognized in the United States as Mental Health Awareness Month, and it is a time to raise awareness and insight into mental health and resources for support. How we live, breathe, work, think, and act have a tremendous impact on our overall mental health. What are we feeding in our minds? When our mind, body, and souls are imbalanced we feel it and that plays a crucial factor of our overall health. Feelings of isolation, loneliness, depression, and unproductivity can begin to develop when we do not take care of our mental health.
According to an article, The Importance of Mind-Body-Spirit Connection: “Mind-body-spirit means that our wellness comes not just from physical health, but from mental health and spiritual health as well. To be ‘healthy,’ we must pay attention to all three aspects of our nature.”
According to the National Alliance on Mental Health:
“Have you spent way too much of your life believing you are a victim of your thoughts? What is the one thought that can successfully interrupt every negative thought pattern? It is: I HAVE A CHOICE.
Where attention goes, energy flows. Do you ever look back at different seasons in your life and during that time you thought, damn- how the hell am I going to get through this? What is it going to take? Did you in fact persevere?
Tips to Listen to What You Need
Pressure, anxiety, guilt, expectations climbing, imposture syndrome, feeling unseen, feeling your voice doesn’t matter, feeling like an outkast, stressed….you are not alone and do not have to struggle in silence either. “Research shows that different emotions are associated with different forms of breathing, and so changing how we breathe can change how we feel,” according to a Harvard Business Review titled: Research: Why Breathing Is So Effective at Reducing Stress.
Move your body- walk, exercise, stretch
Box Breathing- Place your hand on your heart, inhale for 4 seconds (hold), exhale for 4 seconds (slow and controlled) -repeat 4x
Practicing self-care, mindfulness, and meditation: Make Mindfulness a Habit by Harvard Business Review
Therapy and counseling can help find comfort and peace
Someone’s urgency (lack of poor planning) doesn’t mean it is your emergency (Entrepreneur Article)
Give yourself permission to slow down
Listening to our bodies when we need rest and getting an average of 7-8 hours of sleep
Avoid unhealthy coping mechanisms
Surround yourself with who and what makes you happy and gives you joy
Read, listen to music, journal
Volunteer
Have a positive and supportive circle of friends and family
Check-in with yourself and others
31 ways to boost your mental health according to Mental Health America
Tips to Support a Loved One
Respect and honor their space
Check-in and let them know you are thinking of them
Send some words of encouragement, affirmation, quotes, songs
Pray for them
Invite them over for quality time or take a walk
Listen deeply and make intentional time
Write a letter or send a special gift from your heart
Notice, when you give space to honor and listen to your body- you can slowly start coming back to center. Get rid of the “mask” wearing all the time to pretend to have it all together. Honor you, your purpose, and your power. Similar to Turning Red, we all have messes and it is imperfect and also beautiful. Check in with your energy and listen to what your body is telling you it needs. You are worthy and you fight for you.
Mental Health looks and feels different for everyone; and anyone affected by mental illness can get the support and quality care that is best appropriate to you, or someone you know, to live a safe and healthy life. If you struggle with mental health, having the right support, resources, and treatment that best fits you can be a positive impact in your journey. Learn more at nami.org/home and Helping a Loved One Cope with Mental Illness.
