DAILY MENTAL WELLNESS TIPS
REST • GOALS • CIRCUMSTANCES • RELATIONSHIPS
THE PAST • OUR BIOLOGY • HOBBIES & COPING
INTERACT WITH EACH POST BY DOING THE CORRESPONDING SURVEY
Setting Goals Aside
Sometimes letting go of a goal is not the bad thing we think it will be. Instead, it provides us with the space and time for other things that we may not have been able to make priorities if we had stuck to the original goal. Also, it may mean that now is just not the season for us to pursue a certain goal if the motivation, passion, and determination is just not there no matter how hard we try to convince ourselves we can do it.
Canvas Nights
I’m a huge perfectionist, and unfortunately, that travels over into my art (or the art I attempt to make). Basically, I struggle to do a lot of creative things because I have this idea in my head of how it should look (immaculate), but my hands don’t get the memo.
Rest from Others
My family vacations are interesting. Vacation implies that rest will be had. Family vacation implies that we will be spending a whole week, just the six of us, doing everything together. When we were younger, by the end of the week, we were ready to not see each other for at least a few days.
Dancing
One young man was wheeled onto the stage in a wheelchair and assisted in a dance by others who moved him about the stage as part of the choreography. I left the event feeling light and refreshed. It reminded me that perfection is never a necessary ingredient when it comes to dance. Anyone can dance. They really can.
Find a Hobby Now! Here's Why.
Several years ago, in my days as a teacher, a group of students bought me some Legos for my birthday. But these were not just any old Legos. This was Marvel’s Helicarrier from the Avengers movie--one of my favorites. I’m talking 3000 pieces of Lego bliss, more than 100 pages of instructions, and easily a few hundred dollars to purchase. I know what you’re thinking. My students are outstanding. And you would be right.
Poetry
If you haven’t before, try finding a few books of poetry from your school or public library. Pick a couple different ones because the truth is that there is a huge range of style and voice when it comes to poems. It might take a few tries before you find a poet you resonate with. I’ve certainly read a poem or two and put books right back on the shelf before!
Screen Silence
I realized, during that stretch, the creative power of unplugging from phones, computers and television for periods of time. It seems like it should be the opposite. Removing all the inspiring artists and material from under our noses should be like unplugging a lamp from a light socket—an immediate loss of energy, but unplugging for a time triggered creativity. Out of the screen silence came new thoughts. I wanted to write, cook, create, and dream. And I don’t think it was a fluke.
Creativity Takes Practice & Boredom
I never considered myself creative or an artist. I always wanted to be but never felt I had those natural talents. My skillset was being organized and organizing others. This led to me working with creative types in management or supporting roles. By spending time with people I considered artists, I learned so much about their process and what it took for them to get their creative juices flowing.