Rediscovering Yourself in a Post-Pandemic World: A Journey of Reflection and Growth

Title: Rediscovering Yourself in a Post-Pandemic World: A Journey of Reflection and Growth

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented challenges and changes to our lives. As we slowly emerge from the grip of this global crisis, it's time to pause, reflect, and embark on a journey of self-discovery. The post-pandemic period offers a unique opportunity to reassess our priorities, values, and aspirations. In this blog, we will explore how you can find yourself and embrace personal growth in the aftermath of this transformative event.

Embracing Change and Adaptability:

The pandemic has forced us to adapt to new ways of living, working, and connecting with others. As we navigate the post-pandemic world, it's essential to embrace change and cultivate adaptability. Reflect on the lessons you learned during the pandemic and identify aspects of your life that no longer align with your true self. This could include reevaluating your career path, relationships, or personal goals. Embrace the opportunity for change and be open to exploring new avenues that resonate with your authentic self.

Practicing Mindfulness and Self-Care:

The past year has been marked by heightened anxiety, stress, and uncertainty. It's crucial to prioritize your mental, emotional, and physical well-being as you navigate the post-pandemic world. Incorporate mindfulness practices into your daily routine, such as meditation, journaling, or engaging in hobbies that bring you joy. Take time to recharge and nurture yourself, as self-care is the foundation for personal growth and self-discovery.

Reconnecting with Your Passions and Dreams:

The pandemic may have put certain dreams and aspirations on hold, but now is the time to reignite those passions and pursue what truly brings you fulfillment. Reflect on the activities and interests that truly spark joy within you. Whether it's painting, writing, traveling, or learning a new skill, make a conscious effort to prioritize these pursuits in your post-pandemic life. Reconnecting with your passions will help you rediscover aspects of your true self that may have been overshadowed during the challenging times.

Cultivating Authentic Relationships:

The pandemic has reshaped our social connections, and it's important to reevaluate the relationships in your life. Focus on nurturing meaningful connections with individuals who uplift and inspire you. Surround yourself with people who align with your values and support your personal growth. Be intentional about spending quality time with loved ones and engaging in open, honest conversations. Authentic relationships provide a sense of belonging and contribute to our overall well-being.

Embracing a Resilient Mindset:

The pandemic has tested our resilience, and it's crucial to carry this mindset forward into the post-pandemic era. Recognize that setbacks and challenges are a part of life's journey, and they offer opportunities for growth and learning. Embrace a positive and resilient mindset that allows you to adapt to unforeseen circumstances and bounce back from adversity. Focus on your strengths and build upon them as you navigate the path to self-discovery.

Conclusion:

The post-pandemic world presents us with a unique opportunity to embark on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. By embracing change, practicing mindfulness, reconnecting with your passions, cultivating authentic relationships, and adopting a resilient mindset, you can find yourself and thrive in this new era. Remember, this process takes time, patience, and self-compassion. Embrace the journey, celebrate your progress, and allow yourself to evolve into the best version of yourself.

Refocusing Your Purpose

Definition of Purpose: “the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.”

What is your purpose?

The meme posted up top is the typical response when I ask someone what their individual purpose is in life. I see the shoulders shrug and the look of confusion, disappointment, and defeat. A simple question that has more meaning than life itself. Discovering your purpose is one of the hardest things to do in life. Once your purpose is discovered you have to work on being intentional and living in your purpose.

Society is now filled with many distractions like Instagram, Facebook, #relationshipgoals, hot girl summers, and having it ALL. All includes the flashy cars, jewelry, outfits, show of money, and a perfect image. If you were to truly keep on with the distractions of the world you would stop living in your purpose and merely existing in this world. 

If you are focusing on your next Instagram post, how likely would you be to study, read, build relationships, advance in your career, craft your gifts, and develop your own creative path. Becoming unfocused is not an uncommon concept. No one on social media is truly screaming, “You DO NOT NEED HALF THIS CRAP”, instead you get the constant reminders of what you do not have. Possessing things do not bring you happiness nor will it silence your inner voice that keeps telling you to do something different and challenge yourself.

Happiness is a goal I think many strive to achieve but most try in ways that do not include their purpose. She/He get the high paying job, city skyline view, and foreign car but still struggle with happiness. Happiness is not an item that you buy at your local Target. In order to truly be happy, you will need to silence the distractions long enough to figure out what you truly value. Having value and being invested creates a passion that money cannot buy. When you are doing something you truly love and feel like you have a calling to it brings a different type of energy. You think different, talk different, plan differently, and most of all you feel different. 

How do I know that I have lost my focus?

Weekly if not daily check-ins will help you assess what you have done recently to further your purpose. I use meditation, reading, and timeouts to recalibrate my life and focus on my path. There is nothing wrong with turning off your phone, staying at home, and spending time with yourself. Only when you remove all of the distractions in your life will you truly be able to see what you have really been passionate about and the actions you have or haven’t taken.

Questions to ask yourself":

What have I spent most of my free time doing today?

Have I strengthened something valuable to myself today?

Where have I spent my monies?

Did I do anything purposeful today?

For more about living a purposeful life please visit our IG TV @trinityrisingcounseling

Written By:

Tammarra. Letbetter M.Ed, LPC

Pain is Inevitable, Suffering is Optional.

I’ve come across this quote often, and it wasn’t until I was on my own personal journey to be a better version of myself, and be true to myself that this quote started to make so much more sense. It’s a deep statement, but the concept is simple.

I’m responsible for my life, how I respond to it, and what I do with it. Because guess what, pain will happen, and it will continue to happen. We will experience heartbreak, frustrations, disappointments, and many other pains, but we choose whether or not we suffer.

So wondering if you are suffering or not? Here are a few signs:

1. We ignore, disregard, or deny the pain. We don’t deal with it, so we continue to repeat the same negative habits.

2. We define ourselves by our pains. So you make your pain your story, it becomes your identity and doesn’t leave any room for you to be happy, grow, or learn.

3. We associate everything & everyone to that pain. So, you filter every situation, through the filter of the pain, leading you to misread opportunities, relationships, and life.

You are not responsible for the people who have harmed you, caused you pain, or angered you. However, you are responsible for your happiness, for the rest of your life, and for your choice to suffer or not. And sometimes, we can’t do it on our own, sometimes we have fallen so deep into our suffering that it’s hard to see the light.

So what steps can you take to choose happiness, living, and loving yourself over suffering?

1. Seek Counseling. You had to know that, therapy was going to be the number one thing on my list. The beauty of therapy is it helps you process your emotions, work through those traumas, learn to cope, and develop a plan to move forward in a healthy and hopeful manner.

2. Lean on your tribe for support. Utilize those around you that love you, to talk through your pains and emotions and offer loving and health support and encouragement.

3. If you have healthy coping skills use them until you can utilize steps 1 & 2. Coping skills can be a great way to help you manage your emotions, and not allow those pains, to consume you. Journaling is an amazing coping mechanism that allows you to write out your feelings and reflect on your moods and thoughts.

If you learn how to power through the pain now, when it happens again, you will be equipped with the necessary skills to deal with the pain and move forward without carrying it with you. Listen, you deserve to live a life filled with happiness and peace, and while we are very clear that PAIN WILL HAPPEN, we also know that SUFFERING DOESN’T HAVE TO.

Written by:

Shanta Jackson

Being Your Own PEACE

Peace!
What does it even mean to be your own PEACE?

Have you ever found yourself alone thinking and feeling empty? You replay your life and all the people you’ve mentored, given your time, resources, money, and energy to. You’ve been everything to everyone and yet struggle to be everything for yourself. You’ve created a life where you’re surrounded by “friends”, have a active social life, and a thriving dating life. You feel fulfilled in those moments but when it ends and no is around you’re left with your thoughts that keep you up at date and anxiety that comes and goes like the wind. If this is you or you know someone who may need help, please keep reading.

    Being your own peace means abandoning all expectations and desires for others to fix you, love you, and make you happy. This concept may seem like you’re self sabotaging your own happiness but it is actually the exact opposite. Abandoning the idea of others being those things for you creates a space for you to be those things for yourself. Being your own peace requires a heightened sense of self-awareness and care.

• Pay attention to your body and noticing any changes

• Pay attention to your thoughts to track if they are positive and self fulfilling.

• Pay attention to your emotions to see if your mood is stable and balanced

• Pay attention to your health and go to the doctor regurlarly

    It would be impossible to notice all of these things about yourself if you’re expecting others to take care of your mental, physical, and emotional health. As you start to focus on yourself you may start creating distractions and road blocks. Since you have trained yourself to rely on others it may seem difficult if not impossible at times . Please let me reassure you that relying on yourself takes courage, will power, and determination that you will possession or already posses.

    Tips and Tricks to Be Your Own Peace!

1. Meditate to clear your mind and silence the outside world

2. Exercise to promote physical health

3. Deep breathing to calm your heart and ground yourself

4. Journal to keep track of your thoughts and document your journey

5. MOST IMPORTANTLY: Start listening to your inner voice

Being your own peace is a conscious decision to openly accept stability and self-awareness. Developing and learning who you are can make you stronger mentally and physically. You will face obstacles while finding your inner peace but through your new found strength you will be able to overcome any obstacle. The problem solving skills you will develop will force you to strengthen your communication, adaptability, resiliency, and cognitive skills.

When to HELP others.

1. When he or she ask for help (Please stop playing Superman or Superwomen) and jumping to people rescue without them asking. Give that person an opportunity to come up with solutions for themselves and develop problem-solving skills.

2. Set boundaries when someone does ask for help. (If helping that person is going to cause any form of harm to yourself please say, “No”.)

3. Figure out how much you have to give mentally, physically, financially, spiritually, and emotionally. (Once you hit your max then please say, “No”.)

Please keep all the tips and tricks mentioned in this blog in the forefront of your mind as you live your best life in 2019.

Written by Tammarra. Letbetter M.Ed, LPC

Choose YOU!

Sometimes we struggle with choosing ourselves, with making ourselves a priority. We spend time making sure that our friends and families are okay, but don’t leave enough of that energy for ourselves. Meanwhile, everyone is doing fantastic, and you’re home dealing with your own stress, depleted of energy and any motivation.

Whether its out of obligation, fear of not being liked, or just simply conditioned to being that “go to” or “strong” person we continue to allow ourselves to fall further and further on our to do list. We make excuses and justify our continued mistreatment of ourselves, and then you look up and find yourself irritable, angry, resentful, or just plain ole’ tired!

So…I know you’re wondering…How do I fix it? Well, simply put you just have too….

CHOOSE YOU!

So what does that look like exactly? Well it requires you to make yourself a priority, and remember to take care of yourself before you take care of those around you. We’ve all heard the announcement on the airplane when we travel. In case of an emergency, face masks will drop down, and you must put your mask on first before you go and help others. Apply that to your life. If you don’t have your mask on, you are going to run out of air, and won’t be able to help those around you! So here are some things you can do. Grab your pen and pad!

• Set boundaries

• Say No (Its not a bad word)

• Focus on YOUR goals (you have dreams too)

• Remove toxic relationships and people (you deserve better)

• Trust your instincts (You know yourself better than you think!)

• Speak Kindly to yourself, speaking loving to yourself, and think positively about yourself (you show people how to treat you!)

• Engage in frequent self-care (you have to refill your cup)

So, now that you have some tips, go forth, be great, and CHOOSE YOU! It is okay to be selfish and deciding to take time for yourself, to focus on your well being, and to put yourself first.

January: National Mentoring Month! Learn More!

January is National Mentoring month, but what exactly is mentoring?

Mentoring is a positive and supportive relationship, encouraging young people to develop their fullest potential. For the most part, anyone can be a mentor, from a role model, a coach, a teacher, a big brother or big sister. Typically a mentor is more experienced in a specific area or has a expertise, or they may be older and have the ability to be a sounding board, an accountability partner, or someone that helps you believe that you matter.

According to mentoring.org: research has confirmed that quality mentoring relationships have powerful positive effects on young people in a variety of personal, academic, and professional situations. A mentor can assist you in reaching personal goals, help guide you in life experiences, and be a support system for you.

Sometimes, we just need someone that is willing to help us, someone who is not family or a close friend, but someone who can offer an expertise or experience of some area of our lives. This month, take the time to evaluate, if you have something to offer and could be a mentor to someone in need. And on the other hand, evaluate if you should seek out a mentor and become a mentee.

So how do you know if you should seek a mentor or become a mentee?

Have you started a business? Thinking about start one?……….. You should become a MENTEE

Have an idea about a book, blog, or hobby, and not sure how to move forward?……You should become a MENTEE

Wish you had someone to look up too, that can help you believe in yourself in academia, professional role, or leadership? …… You should become a MENTEE

You have a successful business or brand and willing to share the wealth? ….You should become a MENTOR

Want to give back and help out someone who is at risk, or in need of guidance? …. You should become a MENTOR

If you have a desire to help shape the leaders of tomorrow & enhance your own leadership skills…. You should become a MENTOR

So…being that this is National Mentoring Month, take the time and evaluate, and see if you could become a mentor or mentee. Want to learn more about mentoring and what it means…head over to mentoring.org and learn more! Also, another amazing program is Big Brother Big Sister if you would like to help youth in need. Score.com is another organization if you are looking to find a mentor in a particular area of business, or if you believe you could help someone and be a mentor!

Tell us what you think! Leave us a comment, send us an email, or slide in our DM’s we are here for you!

CRAP! No Coins + The Holidays

The Holiday’s brings a lot of pressure to buy gifts, throw parties, host guest, and many other financial responsibilities. Everyone’s coins does not always support what your heart wants to give this Holiday season. Let me be the first one to tell you, “It is OK!” There are many ways that you can express your love for family, friends, and your significant other without going broke. 

Tips:

#1: Create a financial plan that is projected three months out past the Holiday’s. 

This will ensure that you not only financially survive the Holiday’s but the following months to come.

#2: Pick a limited number of friends, family members, and one significant other to buy gifts for.

This will help you budget for the Holiday’s because you will already know who you are purchasing for.

#3: Have the selected people you’re buying gifts for create a wish list that includes affordable items under your desired spending budget that you created in tip #1.

This will help you to select one item for each person. Then select the gifts that meets your budget. If the items go over your budget please limit the list further or suggest gifts that are in your price range.

#4: Express to people that YOU ARE NOT SANTA CLAUS and your bills will be due in December, January, and every other month after that.

It is ok to inform others that your coins are not unlimited but you want to do your best to buy gifts but that doesn’t mean it will happen. It will be tempting to go ahead and buy everyone gifts and wait on your tax refund check but this is a mental and financial trap. Please remember that life always throws curve balls and your car is more than likely waiting on your refund check as well so it will all of a sudden start running hot. I have seen many people that spend money they do not have which lands them in a financial hole. This is your opportunity to change your spending habits and form new healthy spending habits.

Financial stress can lead to anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and many other harmful mental health issues. This year I want you to reclaim your financial freedom and prevent putting yourself in debt. Please do not let shame, guilt, or pride prevent you from living within your means. If the individual you want to buy gift for is not understanding of your financial position then it may be helpful to reevaluate that relationship. No friend, family member, or significant other should want you to create debt just so they can get an extravagant gift. There will be many more Holiday’s for you to ball out and buy everyone everything but that doesn’t have to happen every year.

For Holiday Gift Ideas and Decorating Ideas on a budget please visit these links:

https://www.countryliving.com/shopping/gifts/g2127/cheap-christmas-gifts/

https://www.pinterest.com/gcgirlfriend/christmas-gift-ideas/

https://www.moneyunder30.com/cheap-gifts-55-inexpensive-christmas-gifts

https://www.thriftyfrugalmom.com/20-cheap-easy-homemade-gift-ideas/

http://www.midwestliving.com/holidays/thanksgiving/easy-ideas-for-thanksgiving-decorating/?page=3

https://www.lizmarieblog.com/2014/12/how-to-frugally-quickly-decorate-for-christmas/

https://www.rd.com/home/decorating/cheap-christmas-decorations/

https://www.hgtv.com/design/make-and-celebrate/handmade/our-65-favorite-handmade-holiday-decorating-ideas-pictures

Anxiety Woes

Anxiety is defined as a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. When anxiety becomes severe or problematic is when it begins to impede and interfere with your daily functioning. 

The thing about anxiety is…it looks different for everyone. It can present itself in the form of always needing control, crying and difficulty managing your emotions, constantly feeling agitated and angry, and it can even show up as physical symptoms from stomachaches, headaches, sweaty palms, or increased heart rate.

Anxiety can also come with unwanted thoughts, emotional distress, and an unsettled mind. And lets face it we are coming into the holiday seasons, where you are expected to be joyful, thankful, and around family, whether your family is functional or dysfunctional like most, there tend to come some anxious thoughts that are associated with preparing for this time of year. So, what can you do about that? Let me tell you…

Question your thoughts & evaluate your thinking and feelings. Ask yourself is this true? Has this happened? Review the possible outcomes of the events that’s causing the anxiety and identify ways to cope to those outcomes. Typically this allows you to recognize a number of outcomes and usually find that things are not as bad as our anxious mind makes them. 

You can also engage in deep breathing? How you say? Sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes, inhale for 5 seconds, hold for 6 seconds, and exhale for 7 seconds, and do this repeatedly, until you feel calm.

Another technique that we use often with our clients is what we call grounding. If you find yourself experiencing a heightened level of anxiety you can stop what you are doing, and do the grounding technique called 5-4-3-2-1. In that moment you look around you and find 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste. And repeated this technique as necessary until you feel calm. 

Whether you suffer from anxiety or know someone who does, just remember to be kind to your self and be kind to others. The seasons are approaching and there are so many of us who experience anxiety, depression, sadness, and all out frustration. But know that by utilizing the techniques above, building that support system, or reaching out to a therapist, you will get through these rough times. 

And if you need to reach out please feel free to contact TRCC, we are here to help. 

Happy coping!

Dang, It's the Holidays

The holidays promises a time of joy and blissfulness. A lot of smiling faces, family events, and food. It seems like the whole world is happy and enjoying their life. Well that is a just an image and not the reality of what happens for everyone. Many statistics show that some individuals become depressed and as the seasons changes into winter. For some, the depression does not solve itself until the Spring or Summer.

The Holidays can be a reminder of a love lost, loss of family members or loved ones, or simply being alone. It is okay to NOT be ok during the holidays. I would dare say that the holidays does bring in a time of support and community camaraderie. You are not the only person struggling through the holidays and so there is no need to stay at home and isolate.

The only thing that happens in the home when you are already feeling alone is self-pity, self-sabotaging, and self-loathing. The house can seem like a box built to condo you instead of a home of safety and comfort. It is best to get out the house when feeling down or depressed to prevent associating your home with depression. If you are unable to leave your home due to several reasons please reach out to someone or even decorate your home to make it feel like a new space.

Not being ok during the holidays DOES NOT make you a burden. It makes you human. We all go through our own personal trials and tribulations and just because it is the holidays does not make it an inconvenient time. Please give people the opportunity to help you even if it is nothing more than listening.

So here are a few tips to battle the holidays:

• Accept that you’re not okay and take actions to change those feelings

• Tis the season to reach out for support

• This is the season for you to fill yourself up with love, compassion, and empathy

• Decorate your home or leave the home if at all possible

• Find an activity to participate in even it it is DIY projects or a new hobby.