Tag: Mental Health

Posted in Mental Health, Reflection, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Reflections, Activities, and Updates: Mindfulness, Breaks, and Having Fun

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Here’s a 2-step mindful moment for your day!

When you come across this post, I invite you take this 2-step mindful moment with me:

Step 1: Pause for a second and scoop up the moment just for you — you deserve it. Close your eyes, put your hand to your chest (if you can), and take one big deep breath.

Step 2: List two or three things you need from yourself today.

⭐ Note: Feel free to write your list in the comments below! ⭐️

Here is my list:

Two things I need from myself today: patience in allowing myself to process my emotions fully, and permission to complete my work and responsibilities at a pace that’s most comfortable for me.

You can also find this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty!

What’s something you could use a break from?

Do you know what I could use right now? A break 😫. Especially from my ruminating thoughts and pile of responsibilities. Today, I definitely need to take a moment to recollect myself, ugh 🥹.

Is there anything you could use a break from?

You can also find this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty as well!

What’s something fun you can do between now and the end of the year?

Lately it’s been really important for me to do things that I enjoy, especially since my depression has been at an all-time high, and I’m trying my absolute hardest not to let my low feelings consume my sense of adventure and fulfillment.

In order to get on top of my self-care, I’ve been brainstorming some things I can do for the remainder of 2023 that’ll help me feel a bit better about myself.

Here is my list of things I plan to do:

🍎 Go apple picking with my family
🥬 Go to a new vegan restaurant
📅 Take myself on a date once a month and buy myself something nice
💎 Find and go to a new crystal store I can explore

What about you?

This prompt can also be found in the Self-Care Lounge group on The Mighty here!

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Potential and Worth, Power, Self-Care, The Mighty

What’s a non-negotiable standard you have for yourself?

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

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.

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Self-Care, Self-Talk, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Pencil Case Prompts: Encouraging Messages and Permission Slips

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Write an encouraging message to yourself for the month ahead.

It’s already August! I can barely believe it 😩. Let’s continue this month with encouraging and uplifting messages to ourselves ⭐.

Here is my message:

Dear Nina,

You’re doing a great job getting through the year. I know it hasn’t been easy and you’ve wanted to give up so many times, but you haven’t. You’re a warrior! Never forget that you’re worthy of love, peace, and abundance of all kinds. Continue to do your best and please rest when you need to.

I love you,
Nina

Also find this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty!

Which permission slip do you need today?

Comment with which one(s) you’re adding to your self-love binder this upcoming week:


🚫 Permission to set a boundary
🛏️ Permission to rest and relax
💌 Permission to prioritize myself
🤝 Permission to ask for help
🌱 Permission to feel my feelings
🗣️ Permission to speak up for myself
🥳 Permission to have some fun
🌟 Permission to treat myself to something nice
📜 Blank permission slip (create your own and share it in the comments below!)

I definitely will be taking 2 permission slips today; one to prioritize myself 💌 and the other to feel my feelings 🌱.

Also find this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty!

Posted in Events, Mental Health

NAMI-NYC Virtual Expressive Arts Workshop Event: A Butterfly’s Wings

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

So very excited to announce the NAMI-NYC Expressive Arts workshop event I will be facilitating today!  This event will be via Zoom and on the NAMI-NYC website calendar here. Click the Expressive Arts Zoom link for today, July 29th at 2:00 pm.

IMPORTANT: This Expressive Arts workshop and the ones following this one are from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm! 

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to send me an email 💟. The time of the event is in Eastern Standard Time. 

Here are some details for the event:

Title
A Butterfly’s Wings 

Description
“A Butterfly’s Wings” is a creative and fun event where we get to know one another by sharing about ourselves and who we are as we draw, write, and create. Starting with an ice breaker, we will sketch an image and finish this sentence: Comfort to me looks like ___________. The main activity will then be to pick one of three activities. The first activity will be to draw a butterfly and color the wings different colors assigning each color a characteristic that describes you; the second activity will be to write an encouraging and uplifting message to yourself; and the third activity will be to write an acrostic poem or song using the letters of your first name. Lastly, we will close by sharing our works of art.

Materials
Paper, writing utensils (pen, pencil, markers, or crayons).

Schedule
2:00 – 2:20: Introductions and Ice breaker
2:20 – 3:00: Main Activity
3:00 – 3:30: Sharing and Closing

Hope to see you there!

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Reflection, Self-Care, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Pencil Case Reflection Prompts: Exploring What “Healthy” Means and Things To Look Forward To

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Activity

What does “healthy” look like for you?

We all experience health, from how we take care of our bodies or manage our health symptoms/conditions, to the decisions we make in our life and how we maintain a state of well-being — physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and socially. This, of course, looks different for all of us since we’re all unique and have different experiences.

My Reflection

To me, “healthy” means and looks like knowing where my limits are and feeling good in my body. Health for me also looks like understanding myself and allowing myself to feel my feelings, always being mindful of how much sleep I’m getting, and knowing how and when to ask for help.

What about you? What does “healthy” look like for you?

Find this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty!

Activity

Finish this sentence: I’m looking forward to _________.

My Reflection

Guess what?!

I don’t really get the opportunity to go out to big events much, but I’m going to an NF concert (who I absolutely love) and I’m super excited! I’ve been looking forward to this for months and it’s finally here 😁🙌. Yay me!

What’s something you’re looking forward to? 👀

Let’s cheer each other on in the comments below! 🥳💃

Find this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty!

Posted in Creative Writing, Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Reflection, Self-Care, Self-Talk, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Journaling Prompts: Meditation, Passions, Imagery, and Poetry

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Activity

What are your thoughts on meditation?

When it comes to positive coping strategies and helpful self-care techniques, I like to hear what others do to self-soothe — even if it’s only to feel better for a momentary basis. One coping strategy that I find helpful, but often hear mixed reviews and ideas about, is meditation.

My Reflection

For me, meditation has helped me learn to connect with myself and my thoughts better; but I do feel like I have to be in a calm place mentally to meditate effectively, which leaves me procrastinating more times than not.

What are your thoughts? Do you think meditation is helpful for you or a bust?

You can also find this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty!

Activity

What are you passionate about?

When it comes to our passions, we can think about things that spark a light in us or make us feel good. A passion can be anything from a hobby, a truth, value or philosophy, or a cause that helps out others as well as ourselves.

My Reflection

My passion is in mental health advocacy, community building, and creativity.

Feel free to share your passions in the comments below 💌

You can also find this prompt here in the Chat Space group on The Mighty!

Activity

Write an imagery poem about how you’re feeling today.

Let’s practice our imagery writing skills!

⭐ Imagery is a literary device where you use vivid descriptions that appeal to a reader’s senses and imagination to create an image or idea in their head.

Here is my poem:

My ears are buzzing and ringing.
Bees and telephones.
Bees and telephones.
I’m wide awake.
Eyes like owls in the prime of night.
So much to do.
Time feels crammed into a soda can. There’s not enough of it, I’m craving more. I wish for more. Oh no! I missed the shooting star that just flew by.

I’m ready. Ready for what? Ready to rush?

I can’t. I need to take my time like a sloth. Going too fast makes me lose my breath. I’m hunched over because I can’t breathe.

Deep breaths. Deep breaths.

I can do it.
Run this race?
But, it’s not a race, remember?
I can slow down.

My heart is slowing down. Each beat like a soft drum.

I’m safe. I can slow down.
I’m doing good.

Feel free to share your own poem in the comments below! 💌

You can also find this prompt here in the Mighty Poets group on The Mighty!

Posted in Reflection, Self-Care, Self-Talk, The Mighty

Journaling, Reflections, and Realizations: Pressing Forward

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Activity

Name 3 things you want to do during the month of June.

It’s already June and I can barely believe it 😩. How is half the year almost over? Time is flying, literally.

Let’s share some things we want to accomplish, prioritize, or experience this month.

My Reflection

Here is my list!

⏰ Continue to go to bed before 2:00 a.m.
📋 Make sure to prioritize myself and my needs every day along with my daily responsibilities.
☀️ Get outside for fresh air regularly during the week.

You can also find this prompt here in the Chat Space group on The Mighty!

Activity

What’s something you’ve been practicing recently?

My Reflection

I’ll go first!

I’m trying to get better at identifying my emotions and knowing what to do and who to ask for help when I feel overwhelmed.

You can also find this prompt here in the Cheer Me On group on The Mighty!

Activity and Reflection

What’s a truth you stand by?

The more I prioritize myself and my needs, the more I’m able to identify what truths I stand by in order to create the life I want for myself in recovery. My main truth is to always believe and pay attention to what my body and intuition is telling me, especially when I’m uncomfortable or I’m reaching a limit.

What about you?

You can also find this prompt here in the Let’s Talk Depression group on The Mighty!

Posted in Mental Health, Self-Care, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Pencil Case Prompts: Mental Health Check-In

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Activity

How would you describe your week so far?

How has everyone’s week been?

My Reflection

For me, I would describe my week as busy. I also haven’t been feeling too well with all that’s going on. I’m doing my absolute best, though! 💪😌

You can also find this post here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty!

Activity

Finish this sentence: Today, my best looks like _______________.

We did it! We made it through half the week like the champions we are 🙌.

Let’s reflect on what our best looks like today, whether that be checking things off our to-do lists, working, studying, or simply existing.

My Reflection

I’ll share first!

Today, my best looks like finishing up my work in the morning and taking time out to simply be for the remainder of the day, relieving myself of any expectations and worries.

You can also find this post here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty!

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Self-Care, Self-Talk, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Reflection Prompts and Affirmations: Looking Ahead

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Activity

Which animal affirmation will you embody this week?

Choose an animal from the graphic above and scroll down to read what your “I am” affirmation is for the week ahead!

Fox 🦊: I am able to do what’s best for me. I take care of myself.

Panda 🐼: I am resilient. I allow myself to take one step at a time.

Horse 🐴: I am fierce. I can achieve what I set my mind to.

Koala 🐨: I am kind to myself. I allow myself moments of peace and rest.

Lion 🦁: I am strong. I can overcome whatever comes my way.

Turtle 🐢: I am patient with my progress. I’ve achieved so much so far. I am proud of myself.

You can also find this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty!

Activity

What’s something you want to get better at by the end of the year?

Check-in, time! Let’s share the things we want to improve by the end of December. Whether it has to do with your health, habits, finances, spirituality, work, hobbies, or goals, what do you want to improve, learn, get better at, or change by the end of 2023?

My Reflection

I’ll go first!

Something I really want to improve is prioritizing self-care when I’m taking a break. I often find myself thinking of work or everything I want to accomplish when I’m trying to rest, leaving me exhausted most of the time. I want to learn how to relax my thoughts and nervous system so I’m actually resting when I need to.

You can also find this prompt here in the Check In With Me group on The Mighty!

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Reflection, Self-Care, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Mighty Reflection Prompts: Feel-Good Moments and Mindful Releases

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Activity

What was the last thing you did for yourself or someone else that made you feel good?

Let’s share some feel-good moments with one another!

My Reflection

The last thing I did for myself that made me feel good was make myself tea and allow myself time to be proud of myself for completing all of my tasks for the week. Checking off that last to-do on Friday to enjoy my weekend felt so good!

You can also find this prompt in The Pencil Case on The Mighty here.

Activity

Finish this sentence: I release the need to _________. 

Let’s take some deep breaths and release what’s been keeping us from moving forward. 

My Reflection

I release the need to know what will happen next in my life and welcome each moment as it comes. I am on the right path.

Feel free to also check out this post in the Check In With Me group on The Mighty here.