Tuesday’s Talk:
- Coach Tavia
- Mar 31, 2020
- 3 min read
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
-Audre Lorde
How does the quote above resonate with you?
Pause here for a moment and free yourself from distractions:
...Take a deep breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... Calm your mind and be present...
What does political warfare mean in Lorde’s quote above?
The term political warfare refers to the use of political means to compel an opponent to do one's will, based on hostile intent. The term political describes the calculated interaction between a government and a target audience to include another state's government, military, and/or general population.
I’d say Audre Lorde’s quote is perfectly fitting for the current state of affairs the world is facing as we fight through this COVID-19 pandemic.
One way to insure self-preservation is to protect our mental heath and wellness like it's a job!
Tonya Ladipo, LCSW, shares practical ways to preserver your mental health in an interview with Black Enterprise magazine:
1. How can people communicate that they are not OK? And what actions can they take right now where they are?
Ask yourself: How am I feeling?
...sad... mad... glad... scared...
Tell someone how you're feeling, call. or text.
If you are not ready to share with others, hand write your feelings somewhere, (don’t type it) allow your brain to process your feelings.
If you are feeling really overwhelmed, anxious, can’t breath:
-Deep breaths help to calm down,
-Meditation,
-Prayer works for some
-consider a song that calms you.
The key is to get the energy out: Speak it out, write it out, or take a walk. whatever works.
2. People are tired of being in the house and the influx of information. How can people overcome the fatigue associated with this pandemic?
This is a learning process for all and everybody is figuring it out as they go along. You have to take breaks:
Take off the “push notifications”
Take in information in a way that is manageable for your mental health.
Know when to unplug!
3. Self Preservation is Self-Care: How can people practice self-preservation?
The need to make sure we are well is not optional: Set boundaries and communicate them. Think about these questions:
What do you want from the people you love?
What do you want from work if you’re fortunate enough to still have a job?
Spend some time writing and thinking about that. And then ask yourself:
Who do I need to share that with? ...Think about who do you need to stay connected to...
Also, think about who you are and when you need time alone. That is self-preservation. Part of that is knowing how to cultivate joy in the midst of this.
4. Home looks different for everyone. And it can be the very thing that stresses people out. How can people find light in dark places as they manage existing stressors while they are sheltered in place?
Carve out a space in your house where you can be:
Be creative if space is challenging: consider the bathroom, a hallway, the steps. 5 or 10 min is often all you need to have a moment to yourself
Read a meaningful scripture, word, or poem
Listen to your favorite song
look at pictures of someone you love and/or admire
5. The workforce is challenging right now. What are some of the ways that leaders in management roles can practice compassion in the new remote workforce during these times?
Leaders, These are stressful times, and you are concerned about your personal families on top of the survival of your business(s). Please lead with compassion:
Make sure people are treated well.
Remember you employees are people and are struggling too.
Take time to make sure your employees are okay.
6. There have been reports that anticipate black and brown people will be hit the hardest by COVID-19. What is it that you want to tell our people about the importance of mental health and wellness?
We have to make sure that when we come out of this we're not fully broken. Because we are on lockdown and its hard:
We have to fight to protect our mental health
Remember: They can't take our minds!
We have to protect our mental health and wellness like a job right now.
Today's Challenge: Eliminate the stigma of Mental Health
Commit to protecting your Mental Health like it's a job.
Start the conversation with your family and those close to you.
Stay connected. Check in with family or someone daily.
Develop a Mental Health Strategy that works for you, using the suggestions above as a guide.
Be intentional, encourage others to do the same and watch what happens.
What will you do to protect your mental Health today..? How will you know you're okay? ...Think about it...
You got this!
#selfcare, #selfpreservation, #fight, #nevergiveup, #trustyourself, #mentalhealth, #youmatter, #responsibility, #youoweittoyourself, #womenshistory, #herstory, #leadbyexample, #learnandgrow, #stayconnected, #boundaries, #leadership, #levelup, #justdoit, #checkIn, #lifecoach, #leadershipcoach, #letsgo
Coach Tavia
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