Category: Self-Talk

Posted in Bulletins, Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Power, Self-Talk

Bulletin: Stressed?

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

When you feel stressed, know that you are in power and will always be in power. Break down your tasks and next steps in order to give yourself a reasonable work load. Leave some things for another day. If stress is coming from a difficult circumstance, know that you can change your mood and gain control of your outlook of it.

Stress is not what is controlling you but a reaction when you feel things are getting too overwhelming.

When I’m stressed I think about what prompted me to begin my task or make a certain decision in the first place. Thinking about this helps me to keep going and centers my motivation. I can reevaluate my passions and focus on getting what I want out of what I’m doing. I can make further decisions when I can feel the joy of finishing or making someone else’s life better or mine.

When you feel yourself becoming stressed, stop and think. Why am I doing this?

Don’t forget to take my class and learn to be a creative and expressive writer: I can Use “I” in my Writing: First Steps in Creative and Expressive Writing

Posted in Creative Writing, Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Self-Care, Self-Talk

I’m a Teacher on Skillshare!

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

In the past month I’ve been working hard on my first Skillshare class on becoming a creative and expressive writer!

The link below will take you to my class! You can also access this class and my future classes on the tab at the top of this blog.

Link: The Power of “l”: Learn to Write your Life, Instantly Find your Voice, and Creatively Express your Mind Daily

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Potential and Worth, Quotes, Self-Care, Self-Talk

Living with Anxiety: My Life and my Struggles are Valid

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Living with anxiety is not always easy to explain. Some days “feel” okay, while others are filled with worry and nervousness. I try my best to be “positive” in the lowest sense of the term in my low days, and try to keep productive in my high days. One of the most difficult times when living with anxiety, however, is trying to explain it to others.

You understand that sometimes what makes you nervous or anxious shouldn’t make you so but it does. Or maybe it should be easy to calm yourself when you feel overwhelmed, but it’s not.

Realize that you are not crazy and what you have you are more than. You are brave, strong, and powerful even when you feel like you’re not. Your feelings are valid. Never let anyone take your power to validate your struggle away.

Some days are difficult, especially those days your pain spills out in panic, but remember that you have purpose.

See your purpose outside of your pain and trauma. See your purpose outside of your anxiety. Your life will always and forever have worth.

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Potential and Worth, Power, Self-Talk

Twitter Vibes: Stopping at a Step doesn’t Break the Staircase Down

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

People stop at minor setbacks, freeze at tiresome moments, and quit under stressful conditions. At times they may forget that that one moment isn’t the end.

Don’t allow minor challenges to determine your overall outlook on life. You’ve gotten past past moments because you’ve worked and succeeded. This current challenge may feel more difficult but remember that your stairway of successful past and future moments still hold even if you feel stuck on one step.

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Late Night Talks With Nina, Mental Health, Self-Care, Self-Talk, Videos

Late Night talks with Nina: Let’s talk about Depression and Mental Illness

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Let’s not only look out for our “strong friends” in the wake of the multiple suicides that has surfaced in the past month. Let’s talk about depression wholeatically and ways that we can be helpful to one another. Let’s talk about mental illnesses and things that we can do to better the lives of the ones we see show symptoms that are obvious and not so obvious. Let’s be aware and awake for one another. Let’s be supportive, invested, and not afraid to sit and talk to each other about mental struggles we go through. Let’s look out for everyone and not just the ones we suspect are “too strong” and may be hiding depression. Let’s instead understand, learn, and gain perspective about mental illnesses and ways that we, as their loved ones, can continuously aid in their healing process. Let the ones who are struggling be comfortable enough to talk about their struggles even if it’s vague or confusing at first. Let us be authentic to one another. Let us ask questions, be present, and actively love on each other.

Posted in Declarations, Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Potential and Worth, Quotes, Self-Care, Self-Talk

Declarations to Live by and Internalize: Cry

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

There is no shame in crying in order to heal and recover. Give yourself time and space to reflect and to grow in your pain. Don’t be ashamed of your pain.

Let your pain out. Let it dissolve in the freshness of something new. Become better.

Let yourself become a product of a freed pain. Help someone else free their pain.

Posted in Confessions, Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Potential and Worth, Power, Reflection, Self-Care, Self-Talk

I can Feel Something Big Coming

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

I’ve never felt so proud of myself ever before.

The excitement to create or make something and call it mine.

To give myself credit is to create power in myself.

I feel my purpose in this. This is my healing and my strength.

My self-worth is my motivation. And as I become more and more engulfed in my self-journey, I can feel joy like no other.

A joy that is great and more overwhelming then I could imagine.

This. Is. Me.

The way I can imagine something and give it life. The way I can create using words. A story made into art.

This is sparklywartanks.

Sparklywartanks is the birth of my identity. The creation of the lion in my dream.

I will work until I build what my vision has crafted.

The hardest part of my life gave birth to my purpose so I thank the struggle for making the diamond.

My motivation has never been this intense.

It’s time to create something. Something that reflects what I see in my mind because it’s beautiful.

It’s peace…

And happiness.

Posted in Declarations, Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Potential and Worth, Power, Self-Care, Self-Talk

#Writeitdown Declarations to Live by and internalize: Know Who You Are

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

It’s not enough to have a voice and to use it. It’s also essential to know your worth and understand your value. Understand your voice in your community and your identity. Your importance goes to your life and to those around you.

Establishing your life as valuable and worthy is the first step in healing and processing. Use “I am” phrases in order to recognize yourself as powerful and present.

This is who I am

This is why I’m here

Your voice goes as far as the echo it gives so yell out and makes yourself known. Let your echo go as far as the sky will let it.

You are important and you deserve to live and help others understand your existence. Use your voice. Know yourself.

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Potential and Worth, Self-Talk

BayArt Article: How Six Feet of Water Changed my Anxiety

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks
Floating changed my anxiety
Learning to Float Changed my Anxiety

Vacations with Tati

In the first week of May, I visited my closest friend Tati in Syracuse. When I’m with Tati we go on adventures and I have the opportunity to try new daring things I would otherwise pass up. This May I went jogging in six feet of water for the first time. I didn’t know what water jogging was or that it meant going to the deepest part of the pool until we arrived at the YMCA.

Excited to do something different, I tagged along thinking I would be in a pool that was at least four feet because all of my experience with pools consisted of small blow-up kiddie pools. I got this, right? Not at all. At least not at first.

When I walked down the pool steps into the chlorine filled abyss of horror, the water made my legs wobbly but my flotation belt (which helps with the water jogging) helped me stand straight. Instant fear struck and I became paralyzed. I never felt this type of fear before. Tati looked at me concerned because she didn’t know this was my first time in an adult pool. After learning how I afraid I was, she quickly grabbed a small kickboard to help me float. I watched as two young girls, unafraid, swam with confidence and joy. I wish I had the confidence of a child.
I felt terrified at first, but after a few moments of Tati explaining to me of my safety I floated to the edge of the pool and began to float along to the deep side. Five feet…then six feet. She explained to me that our bodies will always float but I have to take control of my movements. I used my strength to maneuver my body and muscles into more comfortable positions which meant focusing while I was floating. “When you panic your body tenses and you lose that control,” she said. Water jogging is harder then it looks. It helped to straighten my legs in order to trust that my control of myself will keep me afloat.
The more she talked to me the more I began to understand my fear and was able to control my body. I needed to trust the water and trust myself. I WILL ALWAYS FLOAT. As my lesson continued and with Tati’s voice to guide me, I finally got the right rhythm to water jog. My first time in an adult pool and I learned so much!

Water, Anxiety, and Control

How does this relate to my anxiety? An uncontrolled situation fuels my anxiety. My mind escalates situations even before I can decide in what ways I have control and what ways I don’t. The water became my uncontrolled variable. While in the water, I found myself panicking because the water resistance did not allow me to comfortably stand straight or control my immediate movements. In order to stay upright, I needed to focus.

I learned to stay calm and remember I will always float and control what I do. Fighting back the water resistance allowed me to use my abilities and strength to build focus and confidence. Control in water means I’m able to move my body, stay straight, move my arms in ways that helped my head stay above the water. I controlled myself even though there wasn’t immediate support around me. Just me and the water. The moment I felt overwhelmed my body would float in a plank position until I straightened myself and rid my mind of my own anxiety.

I have control because at that moment I realized I’m always in control one way or another. I will always float and I will be okay. Focusing allows my mind to become relaxed. As I trust my element, my situation, and circumstance I will be in control of confidence and calmness. Six feet of water taught me that calmness and focus is what keeps me floating above the water. I will not drown, I will learn to swim. My anxiety will not fool me into believing I do not have control of myself.

I will always float.

Find article on link below:

How Six Feet of Water Changed my Anxiety

Thank you to my best friend, Tatiana Williams, for challenging me and being patient with my healing journey and fear.

Posted in Confessions, Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Notes, Self-Talk

SWT 100 Notes Note 27: Love in a Danger Zone

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Sometimes I wonder if something is wrong with me. How is it that I can love deeply like this? I think of the ways that can make someone else smile. I spend hours looking for something or thinking up ideas on ways I can express my love. Why? Is it that serious? But then I feel bad because sometimes I don’t get the magnitude of love back that I’m giving so I break down. I feel betrayed. Why do I love like this? Even when I can’t afford to love like I do, I’ll go broke drowning in my giving.

I wish I can give the world when I can’t. I’m working too hard to get the love I’m letting out. I don’t want to look crazy for being creative with my love so I feel like I’m retreating to a dark place in my self-esteem. I’m afraid of being hurt and embarrassed for doing too much.

I just want love too.