Get Your Mind Right! Breathe.

Ok folks raise your hand if you see or have seen a therapist! 🙋🏾‍♀️ I am currently meeting with a therapist once a week to talk through my grief. I didn’t share a post and may never do so but on December 7, 2018 my world changed. My amazing, one of a kind mother received her wings and left this earthly realm. A few years ago I wrote a post detailing my fears surrounding the death of my mom. In that post I said I didn’t know how I would survive without her. I thought I would curl up and die. Some days I do want to lay in my bed, cover my head and cry, but I get up because of my family. I get up because there is still life for me to live.  I miss my mother daily but I’m still standing, broken, sometimes bitter and often confused, but standing nonetheless.

That said, working through this loss is a daily process. I had my first session in late January. It was the intake meeting and I was nervous. I was concerned about what people would say. I thought about the therapy naysayers, “talk to the Lord”, “talk to your husband” they all say. I do both of those things but I still felt the need to speak with someone to help me process my grief. Thankfully I found the right person. Our first meeting was a comfortable experience. She was personable and had first hand knowledge of surviving loss. I cried my eyes out and couldn’t wait until the next session. I call my sessions Deveter’s selfish time. I only talk about what I want to talk about. I don’t have to ask my therapist how she’s doing because that hour is all about me. Therapy might not be for everyone but I have found that it is helping me. I believe that with this world we are now living, more people will need therapy. Don’t be afraid or ashamed. Seek help! When someone is in trouble we call 911, mental well being is important, talk to someone to deal with anexity, regreat, helplessness etc. You aren’t ‘crazy’ you will not be ‘shrinked’ you will feel an amazing release and learn way to cope with what you are dealing with in conjunction with Prayer and reading your bible.

Recently we have discussed the practice of mindfulness. Before you get beside yourself thinking I’m talking about new ageism or chanting I’m not. I’m talking about quieting yourself. The Bible tells us to meditate on the word of God day and night, so trust that I’m not suggesting anything that is outside of the will of God. I would like to share with you some of the things I’ve been doing.

The goal of mindfulness meditation is to pay attention to the present moment. Focus on your breathing. Deep breaths are cleansing and refreshing. Yall know the calm app? I’m sure we all have seen the commercial with the count down of 30 sec. Well mindfulness is just that. Doing nothing for a specific amount of time. Nothing but breathing and being in the present moment. I have found that it relaxes me and helps me to focus. Since Mommy’s transition falling asleep has been difficult for me. My mind is always racing. I’m always thinking about what is next (right now I’m thinking about what I should post tomorrow) practicing mindfulness, taking a moment to breath and be in the present has been effective for me.

Below please find a great info-graphic to get you started. I’m bout to go breath now. I’m sharing because I care.