Mental Health Awareness Week
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week.
Of course, being present to how we FEEL should be part of our daily practice to assist our mental health and wellbeing, but not everyone has that level of awareness. Even when you do, and if consistency is not your strong point, reminders like these can help to get you back on track.
This years theme is 'action'.
Whatever change might need to happen in your life to assist you, nothing is going to change if you don't take action.
I know depending on where a person might be at with their mental health (or dark night of the soul), taking action can seem like an impossible and daunting task.
It might require a vulnerability to allow yourself to be SEEN and ask for help.
There are many things that can assist us to FEEL better, but for real change, we also need to look within to get to the source of the pain and struggle.
Consistency is key. Being consistent with listening to yourself and your body, not getting distracted, or shutting yourself down. Honouring yourself in this way becomes a way of life and not a burden.
Don't be afraid to FEEL all that you FEEL.
All emotions are there to be explored, honoured, felt and expressed.
Issues arise when they get buried, ignored and don't have the safe space to move through you.
So always allow yourself to FEEL.
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Movement helps to release stuck and stagnant energy that we're holding in our body and cells.
Moving the body also helps to release endorphins, the feel good/happy hormones that lower our stress levels, improve our mood and enhance our overall sense of well-being.
Whether you get out for a gentle walk in nature, choose a form of exercise you enjoy, or put on your favourite track and dance!
There's many enjoyable ways we can move our body.
You might like to ask your body…what does it need?
When we're suffering with our mental health, we're often in survival mode and in more severe cases in complete shutdown.
Here's a reminder of ways to assist your nervous system….
Breathe
When we inhale, we go into a sympathetic nervous system state and on the exhale, we go into a parasympathetic state (rest and digest).
When we make our exhale longer than our inhale, it shows we can start to regulate our nervous system to a calmer state.
Make the exhale twice as long as the inhale and try for at least 30 seconds.
Try breathing in for 4, hold for 4 (or whatever feels comfortable) and breath out for 8.
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Put a hand on your heart and focus breathing into the heart (maybe you'd like to breathe in a colour, or crystal) Breathe in with the intention of connecting to your heart and connecting to the LOVE that is within your heart. Give yourself permission to relax and soften as you continue to connect with the LOVE in your heart.
You may also wish to start breathing the LOVE/Colour into your energy field with each out breath.
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Other ways to help calm the nervous system
Meditation
Singing/Chanting
Humming/Sighing
Dancing/Shaking the body
Tapping the body
Hug/stroke the body
Stretching
Yin/Fascia Release Yoga
Laughter Yoga
Tai Chi/Qigong
Walking in nature (connect and ground)
Listen to some relaxing music
Reduce screen time
Do more of what brings you joy.
Reach out if you’d like any 1:1 support, or if you'd like to immerse yourself in my online program, 'Mastering the InnerSelf Through a Journey of Self-Love', then use the below discount code to receive it for only £144 throughout the rest of May.
Use coupon code: MHAW2026
Click below for all the module details.
Have you told yourself today?
“I Love You, Me”
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