Written by: Trish Mahan, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
The prevalence of societal mental health needs has skyrocketed since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Everything that made our human existence a reality prior to March 2020 has been turned upside down by confusion, fear, anger, grief, anxiety, depression, and a complete disruption of our daily routines. Our relationships have been taxed, our work roles have completely changed overnight, and our understanding of who we are and how we fit in the world has morphed into feelings of self-doubt and decreasing self-worth. Our mind~body~spirit connections have been disconnected and we may find ourselves surviving more than thriving.
Where do we begin to pick up the pieces and find opportunity in navigating these challenges? The first thing we can do is consider what ‘human potential’ really means. One way to describe potential is by narrating the endless possibilities of outcomes that you can imagine for yourself. We can only achieve as high as our thought patterns will allow.
In essence, we are spiritual beings having a physical experience. It is our spiritual nature that refers to the way we seek and express meaning and purpose. Our spirit is also what we tap into when we connect to the moment, to our inner self, to others, and to our sacred representations. Our physical existence is the vessel through which we engage, participate, and reap the outcomes of our interactions with everything physical and non-physical. Living a purposeful life through what we do, who we are, and who we aspire to be is the divine synergy of our existence and potential.
The second consideration to picking up the pieces that the pandemic has left behind is to reflect on the concept of resilience. To be resilient means that you have overcome situations throughout your life that have caused you to experience ‘dis-ease’ in many ways. One way to think of resilience is to compare it with the abilities of a metal spring: Just as a spring can withstand pressure and return to its original form, resilient people can do the same.
To be resilient is to be flexible when life challenges us with expected and unexpected changes. What we fail to realize is that we can build our resilience muscles as we learn to be proactive and mindful in our daily routines.
Consider your inner self like water in a river. The flow is calm as it ebbs and flows with life’s challenges and conditions. We can imagine our potential is the water flow. It is a powerful element that may help and hinder the flow of our lives depending on its energy and our perceptions of the outside influencing factors. If the water flows to quickly it may become chaotic and destructive. If it flows too slowly it may become stagnant and inactive.
“Vision without action = fantasy; Action without vision = chaos” ~ Japanese proverb
The elements within the river significantly contribute to whether that flow will be quick, slow, or calm. For example, the rocks in the river can be related to the problems and challenges we face in life. As they begin to pile up, our flow can be stifled and slowed. There is less room for the water to flow between the blockages. It takes extra energy to find alternate routes around the obstructions. However, due to the nature of adaptability of water, it will find a way to go through, under, over or around the challenges. Much like our potential drive!
River driftwood can be associated with our inner strengths, skills, character, and assets, including our personal values. If we focus on these assets, by holding onto the driftwood as support we can save energy, “go with the flow,” and maximize our strengths.
Lastly, the surrounding environment (river floor and walls) can be related to our social and physical environments that shape who we are. The environment can hinder or facilitate personal growth and success depending upon our own unique experiences and perceptions of our past and present circumstances.
How can you actively begin to build your resilience muscles and embrace your potential in daily routines?
1. Understand the importance of sensory awareness- As you become more aware of your sensory preferences, you can use them to help support your mental health during times of stress. For example, consider the lighting in your home or office. Is it too bright? Do you find that you have frequent headaches or pressure in your eyes? Maybe you have difficulty sleeping. Possible options could be to adapt the type of lighting in your home or workspace. Use a lamp instead of fluorescent lights, modify the brightness of your computer screen, begin dimming the lights in your home 1-2 hours before bedtime and prep your body and mind for sleep. Conscious sensory choices can help to ease mental stress and strain.
2. Develop conscious knowledge of your feelings, motives, and desires – The more you acknowledge how you feel, what motivates you, and what you want (not what you don’t want), you build a greater sense of control over who you are. The important aspect of this step is to remain focused on your current circumstances. Try not to ruminate in the past because the past cannot be changed. The goal is to meet yourself where you are and move forward.
3. Embrace the power of adaptability – Being able to adjust to new conditions is a challenging skill. It means being flexible and ready to change course at a moment’s notice or slowly and steadily over time. Adaptability is a process that takes courage, discipline, and self-compassion. It requires being open to consider taking a different approach to a situation in order to reach your goal.
4. Incorporate discipline and accountability into your daily routines – Discipline can be a scary word. It can feel overbearing, intimidating, and condescending depending on its existence in your life. I find that I can feel a twinge of resistance in my gut when I know I have to be more ‘disciplined’ about something in my life, like my eating patterns. However, I once read a quote that changed my energy around this concept. “Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.” Reading this quote flipped a switch in me and I gained a sense of empowerment. If there is one innate spiritual gift, it is the power to CHOOSE! Changing my perspective about discipline has made me more eager to check my motives in the moment and adapt to a new approach.
5. Learn to use savoring to spark positive drive – Savoring involves the self-regulation of positive feelings and emotions. It is an activity that uses our memory and imagination. This skill supports the development of emotional regulation and improves emotional intelligence. The goal is to generate, maintain, and enhance our mental-emotional state by attending to positive experiences from the past, present, and future. Having gratitude is a great example of savoring positive feelings. Other examples may include listening to your favorite music, consciously eating a delicious meal, soaking in a warm bath, and appreciating the warm water surrounding you, or spending time laughing with a good friend. Time seems to disappear when we savor memories and current events. Active savoring puts us in the FLOW!
Remember!! Sometimes our flow gets jammed up in the rocks, sometimes we use the driftwood and trust the process. No matter what, our flow is always able to be re-routed. Knowing how to physically, mentally, and emotionally adapt as life throws us curveballs can help ease the impacts of the challenges and strengthen our overall health and wellness.
Trish Mahan, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Dr. Mahan merges the holistic core philosophy of Occupational Therapy and the action-oriented approaches of Core Energy Coaching in order to help her clients work through the ‘blind spots’ of their lives. She works with individuals by incorporating evidence-based tools and research-based practices that uncover challenging mal-adaptive habits and inspire empowering self-awareness.
Dr. Mahan brings authentic awareness to the power of ‘purpose-driven mental health and wellness.’ She has a deep appreciation for the complexity of the human experience. Passionate about all aspects of well-being she is devoted to making physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness more achievable for individuals seeking improved quality of life.
Dr. Mahan has her doctoral degree in occupational therapy, works as a Senior Pediatric Occupational Therapist and is the owner of Youniversal Coaching. She is a progressive thought leader who has the rare ability to manage and do things right as well as lead and do the right thing. She intuitively knows how to hone in and move individuals forward and remain committed to improving outcomes for individuals and organizations. She is certified as an evidence-based health coach, professional core energy coach and sensory integration therapist. Dr. Trish has championed multiple positions in higher education including clinical and adjunct professor, program director, and student mentor. She sits on the professional state board of occupational therapy in Albany, NY and is a speaker and presenter at various state professional associations and universities. Topics of focus include: The occupation of human potential, Spirituality and emotional regulation, Anxiety and sensory sensitivities, and Resilience in pandemic recovery.
