Hey sis! I pray all is well for you, as we enter in to the second week of 2023. Are you experiencing the high of a new year? Many of us are eager as we think about the possibilities a different year can bring. Often we use the new year as a chance to reset our vision and create the goals for what we hope to accomplish. As we discussed last week, we tend to make goals that we can measure with a tangible result. Weight loss. Drinking more water. Cutting refined sugar. (I struggle with that one!) Taking a class. Saving more money. The list goes on. All of those desires are great and can contribute to our success. However, if our mental health is suffering, even if we accomplish everything on our vision board, our overall life is affected.
We are on episode number two of this three-part series, #Goals2023. In episode one, we focused on setting soul goals to nourish our innermost self. Soul care is not measurable by a particular number like weight on a scale or an event, such as a job promotion. But when our soul is well, other areas of our life become better because we are caring for the part of ourselves that is beyond the external.
It is the same with our mental health. If our mental well-being is neglected, we suffer. Depression sets in. We wrestle with anxiety. Our sleep is disrupted. We may not even attempt our goals because we lose motivation since we’re not in a good headspace. Just as we set body and money goals, we can also choose to create mental health goals.
I’m not talking about setting the goal to not be depressed or anxious this year, but planning how to address those issues and more. The intention is leaning in and actively assess what action(s) are needed to ensure our mental health is thriving. You could start by seeking the input of a doctor or psychiatrist. Another mental health goal could be to attend therapy. You may add the objective of learning coping mechanisms to help you better deal with anxiety and stress, including meditation. Setting mental health goals could include a number of things.
But at least take the first step by committing to do what is necessary to improve your mental health.
Today, we chop it up with Licensed Professional Counselor JaMeshia Sykes. She’s also a registered Yoga teacher and Anxiety Specialist. Lean in as we discuss managing our mental health, misconceptions about anxiety and other mental health disorders in the Black community, the role yoga can play in mental wellness and more.
