Happy Monday. What a wonderful day to have an enjoyable day. With that being said, I hope you had a refreshing want to focus on some alternative ways to care for mental health.
Monday Mental Health Check in
What do you think you hear the word mental health? Some people tend to focus when you see someone having a mental breakdown. Mental health is what we think and how we feel. It can overtake our emotions in ways that have highs and lows. When I think about mental health and checking in, I ask myself the following questions:
- How do I feel about myself?
- When was the last time I got rest?
- Do I need to get some water or eat?
- When was the last time I allowed myself to be happy?
These are just the start of who I check in with myself. When was the last time you took a few minutes to question yourself. Not the type of question that says you should be in a bad place? The type of questions that solidify that you are okay or highlight the areas you aren’t. When doing a mental health check, it is easy to focus on your wants and desires that haven’t been fulfilled. Go into your mental health check knowing that there will be places in your life that aren’t aligned. Make a list of things you can do in the moment to help you think about how to help those broken areas.
Mental Health Activities
People tend to think about therapy as being the only form of help. Therapy like having a hammer for building is a great tool to use. Therapy isn’t the only tool. There have been times when I have done infrared sauna rooms as a form of mental health. For one being in the room alone, with my affirmations playing, sitting quiet was a way to help me sort out my feelings. It doubled as a great self-care activity for me as well. Other tools like the use of art of music helps too. There are things like music and art therapy. The body uses creativity to enlighten and highlight where you are. This isn’t just a great tool for kids either.
Think outside of the box when it comes to mental health. Group therapy is a way to help you open too. Whatever you desire there is a practice out there to help. Just like with mediation. It may come off as uncomfortable at first but use apps like Calm to help you explore.
Monday Check in
The weekends hit different when the sun is shining, and the weather is perfect. You may be experiencing less than sunny times in your life. Everyone tells you to make lemonade when life throws lemons. Your mind may be focusing on the lack of ingredients to make lemonade right now. Use your tools to help you either be creative in getting to the ingredients or help you to find the ones that are hidden from view. Did you know that one of the downfalls of mental health is not seeing things clearly? For instance, when my husband and I first got married I wasn’t aware that I was having a mental health breakdown. I couldn’t see it because I didn’t appear to cry or appear out of my mind. However, speaking to our couple’s therapist she “saw” me and that helped me focus.
Being Seen
Have you ever gotten through a rough mental health moment and finally feel “seen.” Feeling seen is when you feel like you are clear enough to make good decisions. You finally feel as if you are now ready to take on the world. When others “see” you it’s like being believed that whatever you had on your heart that troubled you also becomes valid. Mental health when you feel as if you are at your lowest feels like you invisible in a visible world. It can be debilitating. Please understand that there are highs and lows daily. Your low isn’t your worse low. It can feel that way but don’t lose hope. Know that a breakthrough is around the corner and the two of you will meet. You are worthy of goodness even if life says otherwise.
I hope this Monday is helping you see yourself and be seen today. Make the best out of your situation and know that you are loved even if its by me hyping you every Monday to do your best. You got this and I believe in you. Happy Monday!
