As promised, our mental health challenge continues and we would like to share more tips, recommendations, inspirations, stories, and quotes with you this month! We would love for you to pick one thing out and practice it! Practice makes perfect and whatever your goal may be, we want to help you succeed! Learning, growing, and succeeding is all about expanding your mind, so let’s do it together!
J is for Japa
Japa is a spiritual discipline in which a devotee repeats a mantra or the name of God. The repetition can be said aloud, or else done mentally or with lip movements. This spiritual practice is present in the major religions of world, and is considered to be highly effective. A great deal has been written about mantras, and they are a fantastic way to help you grow! Consider listening to one of the Ted Talks by Maurice Harvey-Hall: How a mantra can impact your day in a positive way. In his story he shares how mantras changed his own life, as well as how everything in our lives has meaning and value. You can also check out this Ted Talk by the Sri Lankan monk JayaShri Maathaa: A magical mantra for nurturing a blissful life. She discusses how an attitude of gratitude and thankfulness led to her own personal spiritual growth.
Consider Japa while Jogging in June! Or enjoying whatever other “j” experiences you can find!
U is for Universe
Consider learning more about our Universe. What is the Universe? Where do we come from? Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking discusses these topics in the video Stephen Hawking: Questioning the universe. You might also enjoy listening to Brian Greene: Is our universe the only universe?. For an even deeper and more comprehensive look at our origins, be sure to tune into the incredible Netflix series, “Our Universe.” Expanding our horizons helps us realize that while our problems may seem large and overwhelming to us in the moment, in the greater scheme of things, they aren’t nearly as big as they seem!
Consider thinking about the Universe while taking an Uber or while doing Upward Facing Dog, Ustrasana, or even when Uncluttering your room.
N is for Now
In his book, “The Power of Now,” Eckhart Tolle discusses the idea that time is nothing more than an illusion, and that in reality the only time we have is “now.” The Power of Now proposes that the only way to reach true peace and fulfillment is through being completely present in each moment you experience. There is a part of our mind, called the ego, that derails us by ruminating on the past, speculating about the future, clinging to our painful experiences, and insisting that we will be happy and fulfilled if we can just achieve some sort of far-off goal in our lives. The Power of Now reveals that inner peace and happiness can’t be found in anything external, but must rather be found within by being present in the “now.” Consider checking out this life-changing read for tips and methods to help quiet your mind, and to find true fulfillment by being present in the “now.”
Consider considering The Power of Now right Now in the Now!
E is for Emptiness
Emptiness doesn’t always feel good– considering an empty checking account, for example, might bring you some amount of stress... However, yoga masters and gurus tell us that we need our minds to be empty in order to truly grow. Bonnie Greenwell, PhD writes quite a bit about Energy and Emptiness on her website Who is Bonnie Greenwell? — Awakening Guide. You may also want to check out a few of her books, “The Kundalini Guide,” “The Awakening Guide," and “Energies of Transformation.” Emptying one’s mind can be thought of as another way to describe meditation focused on allowing your thoughts to pass by, without becoming attached to any one of them. While the art of sitting quietly and not focusing on your thoughts may not be easy, it is certainly worth exploring. And so finally...
Consider Exploring Emptiness and you will become a more Energetically aware human being!
If you have a question that you want answered by a mental health practitioner on our podcast, please submit it to sophie@holisticws.com or visit this link
HWS Founder,
Alicja
Alicja Matusiak LISW-S, PMHNP-BC is a founder of Holistic Wellness Solutions. She has been interested in studying the mysteries of the human mind ever since her father was diagnosed with depression. She acquired a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree in social work, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees in nursing, and committed herself to serve others who struggle with mental health issues.
