Tag: Self-Care

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

Pencil Case Prompts Goal Book: Building Confidenice

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

An important part of following through with achieving your goals is knowing and believing you can achieve them. Building confidence is knowing what you’re capable of then crafting and creating goals that reflect what you want and see yourself achieving.

Activity

How can you build confidence in the goals you set?
Are the goals you’re setting reflective of your needs and interests?
Do you believe you can achieve the goals you set?
My Reflection
I can build better confidence around my daily goals by being more patient with myself and giving myself credit when I accomplish something. Once I learn to be proud of myself even if I still have work to finish, I can become more comfortable in continuing what I need to do to get where I want to be.
Join this prompt’s conversation here on The Mighty.
Posted in Creative Writing, Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Potential and Worth, Power, Reflection, Self-Care, Self-Talk

My Little Seed

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

I remember planting this seed and thinking it would never grow. Pressured by the expectation that I’m doing something wrong, I was plagued with thoughts that if it didn’t show it’s growth it would be my fault.

But, although my expectations were low, it grew anyway and the tears I shed when it showed its little leaves made me realize I’m okay.

I’m okay because the seed is planted and as long as I have even the slightest hope that it would grow, it just might grow.

I just might grow, too.

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

Dear Depression

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

With every breath in me and all of my energy, I push past the parts of myself that tell me I can’t.
Even on the mornings I ask “why?” I embody the character of resiliency.
“I am” despite the thoughts that say “I’m not.”
I define every day with what living means.
I draw it in cursive along the walls of my subconscious.
I deserve peace and I manifest it in every moment.
Although I need time to get my pain together, my strength always takes the lead.
What I have is the power those thoughts try to take from me.
But, even when I feel I’m at my lowest when the fear feels bigger than the triumph,
I get up.
I get up. Every. Single. Time.
Why? Because “I am.”

Posted in Defying Shadows Articles, Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Other Publications, Potential and Worth, Power, Self-Care

Defying Shadows: The Dangers of Being Too Busy

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

“…While our daily schedules influence and prompt us to prioritize work-related tasks, it becomes difficult to slow down and also include self-care habits and routines that are important, too.

When much of our time is dedicated to working, when do we incorporate self-care and breaks into our daily schedule? How do we know when to effectively manage our time so we are not forced to take a break because of burnout?“

Article Link: The Dangers of Being Too Busy

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

Pencil Case Prompts: Goals Help Us Feel Good

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

When we think of goals, we may sometimes think of big and complex ambitions or what we can work toward to be successful and make something of ourselves. Although this is a part of what can make a goal “feel fulfilling”, its not the only way to view, create, or approach goal setting. Goals are what we make of them. A goal can be simple, complex, big, small, intentional, unintentional, noticeable, or unnoticeable; goals are what help us to feel good about who we are.
Washing the dishes, brushing our teeth, watering our garden, drinking more water, getting out of bed, and even reflecting are also goals we can set and achieve daily. Whatever helps us feel refreshed, fulfilled, satisfied, and accomplished are goals we unknowingly achieve on a day to day basis.

Activity

What self-care practice, routine, or habit can you do daily to help you feel fulfilled, satisfied, and accomplished?
Why are these activities or gestures important?

My Reflection

Four things I do daily that helps me feel accomplished and refreshed are:
1. Watering my plant.
2. Eating fruit.
3. Reflecting and writing.
4. Brainstorming creative ideas.
These gestures and activities help me to understand myself better and allow me to be gentle with my day to day expectations of myself. These goals help me to feel a sense of accomplishment through simplicity.

Join this prompt’s conversation here on The Mighty.

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

You Are A Complete Person

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

6 Truths About Worth:

-Your worth is defined by who you are, intrinsically. Nothing you “do” or “don’t do” can change your worth.
-Your worth does not fluctuate or change depending on who you are with or who you want to be with.
-You are worthy no matter what. There is nothing outside of you that can determine your worth.
-How someone treats you is reflective of them and not of you.
-Nothing and no one can take away your worth.
-Your worth will stay with you and will not leave. There is no need to prove your worth to anyone.

You are a whole person without anyone telling you or showing you. Being with someone does not validate your worth. You were worthy before them and you are still going to be worthy with them or after them.

You are complete.
You are enough.
You are necessary.
You are important.

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

I love You.

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Dear Nina,
Even with the struggle and layers that come with you, I love you.
Even with sickness and daily challenges, I love you.
Every morning, I love you.
When you lay your head to rest, I love you.
When you don’t have energy, I love you.
When you don’t feel accomplished, I love you.
When you doubt your worth, I love you.
When you can’t look at yourself in the mirror, I love you.
In your frustration, I love you.
When you think no one cares, I love you.
When you think no one will fully accept you, I love you.
When your mind is being mean and destructive, I love you.
When you think you are unworthy of love, I still love you.
Even when the thought of love is hard for you, I will always love you.
No matter what is stopping you from loving you, I AM the part of you that will always love you.

-SparklyWarTanks

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

A Letter of Power: I Choose Myself

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Dear Nina,

You are valued and worthy.

There is no need to continue to adapt and adjust to other people’s needs while not receiving any love and support back.
There is no need to beg others to treat you with respect and continuously try to understand them while they are intentionally misunderstanding you.
There is no need to blame yourself every time something goes wrong.
There is no need to wait on someone else to see how much of a good person you are.
You do not need to wait for someone to make space for you when you continuously make space for them.
You do not need to be validated or to prove your worth.
When someone shows you over and over that they don’t care, believe them.
You value transparency, honesty, and support. Don’t accept anything less than what you deserve.
Keep your circle small with people who love you and care for you as much as you love and care for them.
Don’t give anyone excuses for their behavior not meeting the bare minimum standards.
Your worth is not dependent on how they treat you or their ability to change. They will not change. Choose you. You deserve to choose you every time.

With Love and Power,
SparklyWarTanks

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

Self-Reflection Challenge: 5 Things That Make You Beautiful

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Value, worth, and beauty are all a part of who we are. Intrinsic beauty, the beauty that encapsulates our essence, shows in how we own and accept how we move, think, and exists. We all have this beauty. What I find most difficult in owning this beauty is manifesting and speaking about what this beauty looks like.

Intrinsic beauty can be our hobbies, what makes us smile, the process of our self-discovery, our passions and ambitions, healing and advocacy, our favorite physical feature, what we are proud of ourselves for and why, and owning our purpose. Owning intrinsic beauty is figuring out what makes us who we are and acknowledging that it is real.

I challenge you to list 5 things that make you intrinsically beautiful. What makes you who you are? How has your experiences shaped your beauty?

For me, the journey to manifesting my intrinsic beauty just started. I’m excited to understand more about myself and what makes me feel at peace and at home.

Here are the five things that make me beautiful:
1. My active self-awareness and ambition to become more of myself every day.
2. My empathy and high sensitivity.
3. My open mind and creativity.
4. My smile.
5. The ability I have to understand multiple perspectives at once.

Although a lot of these things weren’t on my list before, they are now, and I will no longer dismiss and ignore those parts of myself.

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

Dear Black Men, Your Mental Health Matters

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

I talk about mental health a lot. I talk about mental health because it wasn’t talked about much at all in the brown and black communities where I grew up. Whatever was done was done and that’s it. A lot of the trauma, fear, resentment, and anger in these communities were ignored. Not to mention the “undiagnosed” mental health struggles passed along as “anger issues” “aggressiveness” and “emotional unavailability”.

It’s overwhelming for me to see and feel the pain of my community, especially with the blatant racism and hatred seen daily.

It’s not just about black men, specifically, seeing their fears and anxieties manifested during these atrocities, but the residue left on their mental health from constantly feeling unsafe in a world that targets them.

Black men, your mental health matters. It’s okay to check-in and find support from people who do help you feel just a little bit safer. Your life matters and so does your mental wellness. I can’t even imagine what its like, but I extend my empathy to you.

I love you, I see you, I hear you and I’m here to listen.