Have you ever felt yourself beginning to “spiral?” What is “spiraling?” How can you regain control and focus when you find yourself overthinking into an emotional and uncomfortable place mentally?
Find out in my Defying Shadows article!
Category: Other Publications
A Message of Strength
Stop focusing on those parts of your body that you hate.
That flaw you keep bringing up.
The stutter.
Your weight.
Being different. Having different abilities.
Your sensitivities.
Not getting certain types of attention.
Being single.
Feeling invisible.
Not feeling worthy or capable of what you want to become.
You are beautiful in everything you are. How your body moves, your intelligence, drive, ambitions, and strength. The way you love, your healing journey, and your talents.
You are a whole being on your own without the presence of someone else. You are seen and heard.
You are valuable and worthy of self-love. No one can give you the love you give yourself.
Enjoy your own company and bask in the splendor of how amazing you are. There is only one of you and no one else can be who you are.
Some days may be difficult, but that’s okay. Just always remember that your purpose is so essential it can’t be expressed in words.
Keep going. We need you here. We need you to exist.
#MightyPoets: Weeding Out My Past
I let go.
Everything.
I allow myself to flourish.
To bloom.
I pull all the weeds from around my insides.
I breathe again.
I inhale.
And exhale.
And with every exhale I blow it all away.
Into the universe.
Where it can no longer be found.
Getting lost behind the clouds.
Behind the stars.
I’m free now.
I’m free.
I let go.
Everything.
Weeding out my past.
Find this poem on my Mighty Page
Defying Shadows Article: Understanding the Strengths in Utilizing Your Emotions
“The middle ground when discussing and exploring the plethora of emotions is where we can build and accept our ability to feel. We are not “too much” or “too little” of anything and saying yes to our emotions is ok. Instead of being ashamed or embarrassed, we instead slowly begin to give ourselves permission to feel without judgment or ridicule.”
Allow yourself to feel.
Article Link: Understanding the Strengths in Utilizing Your Emotions
Mighty Notes Series Note 37: #CheckInWithMe
July was an exciting month for me! Following becoming a community leader on The Mighty, I had the privilege of hosting my own #CheckInWithMe three-part Notes Series!
My series included an intro (which was sent out in the #CheckInWithMe Newsletter via email) as well as a post on my Mighty Page.
Below is a sneak peek of the three parts.
**You are always welcomed to join the conversation and write a note!
Part 1
Portion of intro
…Whether I’m on the go or sitting on my bed with a million thoughts, checking in with myself is the most productive way I’ve learned to stop, think and reflect. In doing so, I’m able to pinpoint how I’m feeling as well as possible reasons and next steps I can take to feel better. Writing is the main tool I use to make all of my thoughts more tangible — it allows me to vent and get everything out.
Starting can be the most difficult task when writing, but not to worry! I’m sharing some writing prompts above so you can #CheckInWithMe if you have a hard time checking in with yourself.
Here is a list of writing prompts you can use to kick-start your checking in process:
- This *insert event* made me feel…
- Today’s mental health goals are…
- These are the reasons why I’m proud of myself:…
- I’ve been thinking a lot about…
- I’m feeling *insert emotion* today…
- I want to…
- I hope…
- I love…
- I will…
Link to my Mighty Post for part 1 here.
Part 2 (Introducing Notes)
Portion of Intro
Aside from writing on The Mighty, I also enjoy creating small writing projects to stay focused on my goals. This helps me stay positive and keep track of my mental health. One habit I’ve picked up in my blogging/writing journey is to write a note, message or thought on my blog when I’m feeling down, curious, angry, anxious or accomplished. Keeping up with this habit has allowed me to build self-awareness and remain in touch with my inner thoughts while staying positive.
Whether it’s on a phone app, post-it note, dry-erase board or in a journal, today I challenge you to write a note too. It can be long or short, a simple thought or even a goal. The idea is to write down ideas and thoughts that motivate you to keep going. The note might even help you to write something more extensive in the future!
In your note you can write:
- Affirmations
- Declarations
- An encouraging thought
- Reminders to keep going
- Lists of mental health goals and milestones
To get started you can ask yourself how you are feeling, what you want to accomplish, why you are having recurring thoughts about a specific subject, next steps to a goal, or encouraging words you would like to be reminded of.
Link to my Mighty post for part 2 here.
Part 3
**Mighty post and intro are the same.
Mighty post
Title: Keep Checking in With Yourself. Keep Writing Notes.
It’s okay to not feel okay today or any other day. Although some days are more difficult than others check in with yourself and write, be creative. Writing notes has saved me from feeling trapped and voiceless and can help you too. Write a note to remind yourself that you can get through whatever you are going through.
Thank you to everyone who shared and commented last week or this week. You are brave and amazing.
Remember that you are filled with purpose and worth. Your power is immense and you can achieve all that you believe you can. Your voice and story are important. There is only one of you and your voice is one of a kind.
Keep writing notes!
You can find this post on The Mighty here!
Writing notes has been a part of my Sparkly experience for about 2 years. I’m excited to share the impact of writing and how it can help you too!
The more I heal and become who I want to be, the more excited I am to share what helped me get where I am.
Defying Shadows Article: When to Take A Mental Health Day
“A mental health day is a personal day set aside to prioritize mental, emotional, and physical wellness. Whether that day is on a weekend or setting aside time during the week, a mental health day allows you to take a break from the strains of your daily responsibilities and work…”
Do you need a mental health day?
Check out the link below to see when a good time to take one.
Link: When to Take a Mental Health Day
#MightyThoughts: I See Myself In You
It’s 3:53 in the morning and I can’t help but realize that I see myself in you.
We may see something inadequate, or something broken. We notice all that is wrong yet have no idea how to feel like we’re worth something spectacular.
That’s the thing, we can’t see how worthy we are of life sometimes. We define who we are by what we’ve done or how bad we’ve screwed up something. Over and over we may come to a place where we can’t see the value we possess.
Here is a message I tell myself daily and would like you to know too: You are of value no matter what you are doing or what you’ve done. You wake up with purpose and will always have purpose. Adequacy, worth, value, peace, joy, calmness, balance, and wholeness is all that is you already. You just have to believe it to be true. Believe in your healing. Believe in your recovery. I love you guys.
Find it on The Mighty here
#CheckInWithMe Mighty Thought Note 35: Learning to Sooth My Inner Child as Someone With Depression
My Inner Child and Perfectionism
Growing up I was a perfectionist. And while I’m now able to regulate my impulses to go well past my emotional and mental limits, as a child my self-worth depended on overachieving to feel seen and heard. Whether it was a school assignment, cleaning my room, or comparing myself to everyone else, I found that my high expectations built an inner bully that still rests in the inner child inside me.
When situations happen or certain phrases are spoken to me that affect my inner child, a wave or impulse of pain passes through my chest and my heart drops to my feet. I could instantly remember a similar situation or feeling from one in my past. Examples of these are being ignored, feeling as though my voice isn’t being heard, being pushed to the side, feeling alone, not knowing who to talk to, or feeling less-than and not good enough.
Depression, Connection, and Growing in Self-Awareness
The more I grow in self-awareness, the more I’m able to connect and identify the situations, experiences, self-talk, and thoughts that hurt my inner child. Much of my depression, I now realize, rest on the pain and experiences of that hurt little girl. I’ve learned that the more in-tune I am with soothing my inner child, the closer I get to understand the best ways to take care of myself through depressive episodes.
The more I grow in self-awareness, the more I’m able to connect and identify the situations, experiences, self-talk, and thoughts that hurt my inner child. Much of my depression, I now realize, rest on the pain and experiences of that hurt little girl. I’ve learned that the more in-tune I am with soothing my inner child, the closer I get to understand the best ways to take care of myself through depressive episodes.
Connecting with my inner child is a bit painful, but it allows me to begin to let go and progress to a more workable and healthy relationship with myself. I want to love myself more in my recovery with depression. As I feel the pain resurface, I’m learning to let it go. I imagine speaking with my inner child while building trust and honesty with myself.
Soothing as a Process of Moving Forward
Workable self-talk and writing are two soothing tools I use when experiencing mental turmoil. Detaching my thoughts from my mind onto my phone or paper helps me to see what I’m going through using words. I’m able to soothe myself and create something positive as I switch negative thoughts into more positive ones.
The more I write, the more I can show my inner child that it’s okay to feel hurt. My worth is no longer connected to what I do but to who I am. In my journey of healing and recovery, I’m accepting all parts of myself without judgment. An increase in self-awareness is also an increase in self-love. Self-love means I will do what I can to be better and feel better.
Find it on The Mighty here
Defying Shadows Article: Thank You For Helping Me Through My Depression
“Here is a simple letter. This letter thanks the person who wakes up every morning barely wanting to, but does anyway. This letter is to the survivor, the warrior, and the one who keeps pushing through. This letter is for you...”
Link: Thank You For Helping Me Through My Depression: A Simple Letter
#MightyThoughts: A Message For Every Day
Keep going despite the bad days. Love yourself through the moments that are hardest. Even if no one understands what you are experiencing, you do. Get to know yourself, and in that process become gentle and compassionate.
Thank you for existing and continuing to try even when you are struggling. Some experience a silent battle and don’t understand how strong they are.
If no one told you today, I love you. Whoever you are, whatever struggle you think no one sees, I see it and I’m immensely proud that you are constantly fighting. Your life is worth far more than you can imagine.
Check it out here on The Mighty.
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