Tag: Reflection

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Reflection, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Pencil Case Prompts: If You Made an Album and Called it 2020…

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

If you made a 10 track album and called it “2020” what would you name the 10 songs in your album?
Note: The song titles can reflect what you’ve learned, your struggles, a memory, how you were feeling, etc. Feel free to be creative!
___________________
My 2020 Album Song titles would be:
1. Broken Anxiety
2. PDD and PTSD
3. Revelation
4. Letters to Peace
5. Power in Distance
6. Changes
7. Who is she?
8. Boundaries
9. Gone With The People-Pleasing
10. Should I Care?

Join the conversation here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty!

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

Powerful Words and Thought-Provoking Questions: Consistency

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Consistency is the agreement you make with what’s important to you. While consistency takes work, it also takes patience, persistence, and mindfulness. Without consistency, there is an imbalance of priorities and effort in what you invest your time doing. What are you consistent with? What are you not consistent with? What does your consistency tell you about your priorities?

Here are some questions to consider when you evaluate the relationship you have with consistency:

1. Are you putting effort, time, patience, and work into what’s important to you?

2. Are you keeping your word?

3. Are you making excuses?
4. Are you considering other people’s needs besides your own?
5. Is there mutuality and balance in your relationships?
6. Are you avoiding or distracting yourself from the things that hurt you?
7. Are those distractions hurting or helping your priorities?
8. Are you keeping up with your distractions or your healing?
9. What can you improve in your relationships, goals, and priorities moving forward?
Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Power, Reflection, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Pencil Case Prompts: Gratefulness Challenge!

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Make a list of 10 people, places, things, or ideas you are grateful for.

Note: Feel free to be creative, reflective, and thoughtful.

What helps you to feel calm?
What do you look forward to?
Who is important to you?
What ideas help you to keep going?
What places help you feel relaxed or safe?

I’m grateful for:
1. Moments of peace and clarity.
2. My family and friends.
3. My pillows.
4. Creativity!
5. My therapist and doctors.
6. Kind-hearted and authentic people.
7. Healing and letting go.
8. Growth.
9. Writing.
10. My bedroom.

Join the conversation here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty!

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

Pencil Case Prompts: Ever Thought of Writing a Book?

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

If you ever wrote a book what would that book be about? (If you already wrote a book, do you want to write another one?)
-What genre would the book be in?
– Are there characters in your book? Who would the main character be?
-Would your book have a lesson?
Let me know in the comments below or feel free to journal about this prompt!
If I ever wrote a book it would be nonfiction and a mixture of my creative and reflective writing.

Join the conversation here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty.

Posted in Defying Shadows Articles, Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Power, Self-Care, Self-Talk

Defying Shadows: How I’m Overcoming the Fear of “What Ifs” as Someone With Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

“Although my fear of the unknown masked as “what if” questions continue to greet me early in the morning, I can find refuge in knowing I can go to my self-care tools to fight back and be more mindful about the thoughts I encourage.”

Article Link: How I’m Overcoming the Fear of “What Ifs” as Someone With Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD

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

Pencil Case Prompts: What will you NOT do this week?

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Sometimes prioritizing self-care means not engaging, participating, encouraging, or taking part in something. What will you not be doing this week?
Let me know in the comments below!

For me, I will not:

1. Encourage negative thoughts.
2. Procrastinate in finishing my certification.
3. Continue to speak down on myself.
4. Push myself when I feel exhausted and need a break.

Join the conversation here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty.

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

Pencil Case Prompts Discussion Topic: Creativity

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

1. What does creativity mean to you?

2. How have you incorporated creativity into your daily/weekly schedule?

3. When you hear the word “create” what thoughts come to your mind?

4. How do you stay motivated in your creative process?

5. If you have a condition, does your condition affect how you express your creativity?

Drop what you think of creativity in the comments below.

Join the conversation here on The Mighty!

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

NAMI-NYC Virtual Expressive Arts Workshop Event: Leaves

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

So very excited to announce the NAMI-NYC Expressive Arts workshop event I will be hosting at the end of the month! This event will be via Zoom and on the NAMI-NYC website. You can find the link here. Click the Expressive Arts Zoom link for October 31st, 2020.

If you have any questions or concerns feel free email me or leave a comment. The time of the event is in Eastern Standard Time.

**I will share any updates or changes and keep everyone posted.

Here are some details for the event:

Title
Leaves
Description
“Leaves” is a creative and fun event focused on reflecting on ourselves and the year we are moving past. Starting with an ice breaker, we will think about a lesson we’ve learned this year and what we are grateful for. The main activity will then be to draw and create a pile of leaves. On each leaf, we will write either something we want to let go of or something we are looking forward to. Lastly, we will close by sharing our works of art!
Materials
Paper, writing utensils (pen, pencil, markers, or crayons).
Hope to see you there!
Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Potential and Worth, Power, Self-Care, Self-Talk, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

For Those Who Know What It’s Like Living with an “Invisible Illness”: Mighty Analogies

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

“One of the toughest challenges I face living with an invisible illness is explaining to others what it’s like to be in my head. From the long anxious nights fighting insomnia to struggling to find the motivation to get out of bed most mornings, one of the only ways I’m able to explain what it’s like to grapple with my persistent depression is by using analogies.

Analogies help me to be both creative and descriptive as I paint a mental image of my experiences. The most recent analogy I’ve used to explain my depression to my therapist is the most spot-on, especially since this year has been my toughest one yet.

My analogy goes a little like this: Living with persistent depressive disorder is like a series of dark tunnels in my mind. There are no lights at the end of any of these tunnels. Instead, the lights are in small pockets underneath street lamps surrounded by fireflies. These fireflies represent strength, reassurance, and growth. And although they aren’t everlasting, I can use what I’ve learned from them while I continue to crawl along in my dark tunnel.

I’m proud to know my toolbox is filled with everything I’ve learned in the light, but that doesn’t make my darkness end — I face that reality every day. But with that knowledge, I can keep going because I know I’ll soon reach another bright pocket.

Reminder:

If you ever find yourself in your own dark tunnel, it’s OK to rest and take a peek inside your self-care toolbox. You are not alone and the darkness doesn’t always last forever.”

Have you ever used an analogy to describe what it’s like living with an invisible illness? Join the conversation here on The Pencil Case.

This activity was featured in The Mighty #CheckInWithMe newsletter which you can subscribe to on the TheMighty.com or Mighty app.

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

Beginning the Process of Letting Go: Space, Grace, and Time

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Release the tension in your shoulders, sit straight, and breathe. Give yourself time, space, and the grace necessary to let go of anything you are holding on to. Allow the ebbs and flows of the process to teach you what you need to progress and move forward.

  • What makes you feel frustrated or unhappy?
  • What memories resurface?
  • Who can you ask for help?
  • How can you prioritize yourself better?
  • What are your next steps in processing your emotional healing?
  • What do you need?

Listen to your body.
Listen to your triggers.
Understand yourself.
Affirm you are ready to move forward.