Minding My Mental Health

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness last month in May, I took some time to sit and ponder my mental health. I feel like in the past year, there has been a nonstop battle between noise and peace in my mind. Last Spring seemed to be when the struggle became real. The surrounding commotion was the demands of life – relationships, ministry, work, personal projects, physical health, and so on. Attempting to keep up and steward them all became mentally taxing. This seemed to be new to me, but when I thought about it more, this wasn’t unfamiliar; it was just that all these areas were desiring my attention at the same time, as if each area had a rope around my arms and legs pulling for attention all at once. Have you noticed anything in your life that is mentally draining?

Balancing Life

I recall that a few years ago, someone shared with me that they were trying to achieve a healthy balance in their relationships, which caught my attention. After hearing this, I realized I needed to strike a healthy life balance. I started setting aside time for myself at the end of the year and into the new year to unwind and recharge. From October to February, I limit my availability with people and take time off from work accordingly. Most of the year, I am grateful to be invited to attend events, meet up with friends, enjoy playdates, lead CFG, and many other extracurricular activities that involve other people. This is where the time I set aside for myself comes in. I like to call it my hibernation or rejuvenation period, during which I focus on my well-being. Do you take time away for the betterment of your welfare?

This has been a significant help with my mental and physical health. In addition to taking time for myself, I delight in spending time in God’s Presence, praying and seeking Him for peace, refreshment, and direction for the new seasons ahead. I have been enjoying this practice for about 4 years, but last year hit me differently before I could make it to October. There seemed to be an avalanche of areas of my life that had come down and weighed heavily on me. Buried underneath it all, I was determined to dig my way out to see clear skies and grab hold of peace. I was able to do so by starting my refresh time in September. In my first blog post of 2025, "What’s Next," I share the steps I took to hold onto the peace I had experienced.

Mental Peace Challenged

Since then, the mental peace I have been walking in has been remarkably unbelievable. I have been clear-minded, calmer, less intolerant, and quiet. Recently, I was put to the test by a loved one when I least expected it. The situation left me puzzled after witnessing and being subject to instances of outbursts, temperamental behavior, and lashing out. All I could do was embrace them with a hug, whisper 'I love you' repeatedly in their ear, and silently pray for them as those moments took place.

I haven’t been able to let this go because my heart is overwhelmed by the heavy weight of how this affects them and their loved ones. Because of this, I started to do some research on mental health. I have learned that there are four different types of mental health disorders:

1. Anxiety Disorders - affect approximately 301 million people globally, including 58 million children and adolescents.

2. Mood Disorders - impact around 280 million individuals, with 9.5% of adults in the U.S. reporting depression annually.

3. Psychotic Disorders - most notably schizophrenia, affect about 1% of the population, leading to impaired reality perception.

4. Eating Disorders - affect around 14 million people; women are particularly impacted during their teenage years.

In diving into this pool of information, I pray that my loved one does not suffer from any of the above. I realize that no one is exempt from mental health issues. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we as human beings have some form of trauma or generational affliction that we are most likely unaware of, including me. These things are unknowingly embedded within us, and as we live, our interactions with people and life circumstances can be triggers that awaken a suppression of whatever we may have experienced that caused us pain.

Exercising Positive Psychology

How can I overcome the known and unknown mental health hurdles? From personal practice…

1. Observe how I react or respond to people and situations.

2. Pray, asking God

   1. to reveal the root cause of a negative reaction/response,

   2. for patience while waiting for the answer(s),

   3. for understanding the answer when revealed,

      

      
      

   4. to help me acknowledge and accept the revelation about myself,

   5. for healing, deliverance, and how.

3. Make the “how” a daily practice.

This may be different for someone else, but it has been highly beneficial to me in my journey toward mental freedom. All kinds of thoughts roam through my mind that I need to control. Some I must block out, dismiss, or rebuke. Others I can safely embrace, challenge, or act on.

One of my spiritual leaders in Chicago gave a message a few years ago where he touched on how we hear from the Spirit of God, the Adversary, our intellectual mind, and the voice(s) of the world. This was impactful to me because those voices are thoughts. This inspired me to be aware of the thoughts in my mind and their origins, which has led me to focus intentionally on my mental well-being.

Days after I drafted this blog post, I came across two different messages that brought me solace. The first message was about how to separate and consecrate our thoughts, and the second message was concerning being hurt by loved ones or people in general. I found it remarkable that these were the messages I happened to hear, and I took it as confirmation of what I have been going through and my decision to share.

In conclusion, sustaining my mental peace is at the top of my self-care list. In addition to taking my time to revitalize, I practice thinking positive thoughts throughout the day. Because I've discovered that I still need an outlet before I start my refresh time, I've noticed that writing helps me avoid mental exhaustion. How are you managing your mental health?

What are three daily habits you can incorporate into your routine to support and maintain your mental well-being?

When was the last time you truly checked in with yourself emotionally, and what did you discover about your mental well-being in that moment?

Please comment or email me below so we can encourage each other on our journey towards mental wellness.

4 types of mental health. Los Angeles California Teen Treatment Center. (n.d.-a). https://www.destinationsforteens.com/destinations-blog/4-types-of-mental-health