I’ve been a volunteer with NAMI-NYC for a little over six years, and during that time, I’ve served as a young adult presenter for the Ending the Silence program. Yesterday, October 16, was my first full day as the lead presenter, and I was really anxious and nervous about it. I wasn’t sure if I’d do a good job, but I did it — all on my own too!
One thing about me is that, despite my anxiety, I always give my best. I’m proud of myself and grateful for the feedback I received. I’m excited to continue educating and sharing my story in community spaces, schools, and psych wards all around the city!
🗓️📌 Marking this day on my SparklyWarTanks calendar because it means a lot to me.
I am comfortable and confident in who I am. I radiate beauty and each day I choose myself, I become more powerful. I love and accept every part of me.
Reflection: Guess what, sparkly fam!? Someone approached me today and said I was extremely beautiful. That really made my day and inspired my affirmations for today 😁. I’ve made so much progress in loving myself more and now feel good when I receive a compliment from someone. I’m really proud of myself.
I’m capable of achieving the goals I set for myself. My efforts help me to succeed. I embrace my power and believe in myself. I’m focused on what I know I can do.
Reflection: I remember the dreams I have every night. Some of those dreams don’t have much significance, while others I can tell are showing me something important.
A few days ago I had a dream of a silkworm (a first for me despite often having animal symbols in my dreams). The silkworm was following me not too far away. Although I was confused and a bit scared of it, it continued to linger going from its larvae state to flying toward me as a mature moth. Similar to a butterfly, a moth too represents the ongoing cycles of transformation and rebirth.
I’ve been on an ongoing wave of transitions for the past year and it’s taken a lot out of me. The stress and the uncertainty alone has caused my confidence to plummet. I choose right now though, to push forward and use the silkworm from my dream as a guide to not give up on myself or my goals. I may continue to be challenged, but I know my efforts will pay off.
I’ve been thinking a lot about my personal standards lately and why setting them straight is essential to my growth and mental health journey. What is a standard you ask? Great question.
A standard is a rule, expectation, or guiding factor to live by, especially when we’re navigating or making decisions. What we hold as a standard creates a blueprint for us to follow, ensuring we stay true to our values and what’s most important to us.
One of my newer, non-negotiable standards I’m following — especially as it applies to my perfectionism and people-pleasing recovery — is to make sure I’m respecting my time and energy by paying attention and setting limits to how much of myself I give to others, and ensuring my relationships are mutual and not one-sided. I deserve to be loved as much as I love others.
What’s yours?
You can also find this reflection prompt in the Cheer Me On group on The Mighty here.
In celebration of my recent birthday I’m walking into this year with an open mind and heart to receive. I’m deserving of good things and good things flow to me effortlessly.
I deserve….
Peace of mind. Love in abundance. To laugh. Consistency in my relationships with others. To eat full meals every day. To wake up with energy. Sunlight. Breaks and rest. To sleep 8 -10 hours. Reciprocation. To learn new things. To have positive experiences. To heal my nervous system. Friends. A healthy and healing partnership. To receive what I desire. Hugs.
I deserve to feel good being who I am. I am proud of myself and move forward knowing how much I’ve achieved, especially in the past 10 years. It hasn’t always been easy, and that’s OK. I can make it through every time.
I’ve spent most of this year grieving, feeling like I lost so much. Chasing after validation and the affection of other people’s presence. Wondering where I went wrong, why I felt so alone, and why I wasn’t worthy or couldn’t be worthy of the love I so desperately thought I needed.
Twelve months in and I finally understand why I was placed in a space where I couldn’t go anywhere but into myself. I’ve faced and battled with the uglier parts of me, one part being the thoughts of unworthiness largely due to how the little girl inside of me felt.
She thought that no one loved her and she wasn’t good enough just as she was. She thought that she had to change and shift into what others liked so she can finally be accepted and finally feel love, too.
But, I’ve sat with that little girl and told her that she’s more than worthy of all the love that’s out there WITHOUT having to change or hide one single thing about herself. She can enjoy organizing, and reading books, learning, trying new things, and comfort items… so many comfort items! She can be scared and feel all her feelings. She can be sensitive because that 100% OK. She can be creative and show love to others. She can be goofy and tell funny jokes. She can even make mistakes and feel uncomfortable, too. She can stand up for herself, work on her relationships and be loved while STILL BEING 100% herself.
I want that little girl to know that I love her. I know she still gets scared sometimes. I want her to trust me when I tell her that I got us and she doesn’t have to be scared anymore. That we are powerful and stepping into our season of deserving.
Affirmation and intention for 2023: I am a celebration. I am worthy of love and love flows to me effortlessly. I don’t chase, I attract. I am a magnet for abundance. I release any and everything that isn’t a part of my higher purpose. I am walking in my power.
What’s an important experience you’ve had this year?
As we head into the home stretch of 2022, let’s reflect on something important that we’ve experienced thus far. It can be an experience you’ve learned from or an event/moment that’s impacted you positively or negatively.
My Reflection
I’ll go first! An important experience I’ve had this year was getting closer to my mom and building a safe relationship with her.
Check out this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty.
Activity
Make a list of three words or phrases describing your goals for the end of the year.
My Reflection
My three phrases are:
1. Content with my progress. 2. Calm and at peace with myself. 3. Organized and ready to take on another year.
What words are on your list? 🙂🌟
Check out this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty.
Activity
Write a reminder list to guide you through the week ahead.
Let’s prepare for the week ✍️.
Either in your own journal or in the comments below, write a reminder list of important things you want to remember or accomplish this week.
My Reflection
Here is my list:
Therapy
ETS Presentation with NAMI-NYC
Food Shopping
Paying the bills.
Mighty work
Sparkly work and projects
Check out this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty.
Let’s take steps forward together and affirm what we’re moving past and what we’re moving toward.
My Reflection
I’ll go first!
I am moving past shame, guilt, and self-limiting thoughts.
I am moving toward self-love, self-forgiveness, and accepting all parts of me.
What about you?
Let’s walk together 🤝💌.
You can find this post in The Pencil Case on The Mightyhere
Activity
What does “comfort” feel like to you?
Whether we feel supported by those around us or in an environment where our needs are being met, the idea of comfort may look different for all of us.
What does comfort look and feel like to you? What makes you feel most comfortable?
My Reflection
For me I know comfort is directly related to how safe I feel in my environment. If I feel safe and supported by those around me, I’m able to access and navigate that environment more freely.
What about you?
You can find this post inthe Self-Care Lounge group on The Mighty here.
Activity
What is a lesson you’ve learned that you feel is valuable to share with others?
Is there a life lesson you’ve recently learned or learned over the years that you feel is valuable information that others in our Mighty community can benefit from?
My Reflection
A valuable lesson I’ve learned was that life isn’t a timeline that everyone has to fit into. It’s OK to go at your own pace and do what’s best for you. There is no need to compare your journey with others people’s journeys. We are all on our own path.
You can find this post intheChat Space group on The Mighty here.
Everything good that you’ve experienced and will experience is coming your way simply because you deserve it. You deserve peace, success, celebration, abundance, wealth, support, and love. Nothing you do or don’t do will pave the way for something that is already yours. It’s yours because you exist. Keep on taking one step at a time and one breath at a time. Keep moving forward. Believe in goodness.
Say this affirmation with me: I trust and believe in myself to manage and navigate through tough situations.
No matter how challenging the situation or how frustrated I feel, I’m capable of navigating each tough situation I’m presented with. I am capable of problem solving, self-care, and doing what is necessary to move forward. I trust in my intuition. I know who I am. I love myself. I believe in my capabilities.
SparklyWarTanks 