These past few months have been extremely busy. Between preparing to move, transitioning to a new job, navigating loss and heartache, and attending school full-time, I’ve found myself struggling to stay afloat. I’ve been trying to limit how often I complain because as I sit here in my beautiful apartment, thinking about my new job as a full-time content writer, I realize that I’m living in answered prayers. That being said, for the past few weeks, I’ve been overwhelmed and anxious. I experienced burnout, which led to me having an emotional breakdown.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month – a time to spread awareness, combat stigma, and support individuals living with mental health conditions.
As I recover from my breakdown, I keep hearing a voice in my head repeating, “Taking care of yourself is an act of self-love.”
I’m currently in a space of pouring into and cultivating a deeper relationship with myself. Lately, taking care of my mental health has looked like daily meditation, practicing mirror work, communing with nature, moving my body each day, writing love notes to myself, journaling, sitting with painful emotions, attending therapy, finding solace in solitude, and scheduling much-needed medical appointments. I’m experiencing a complete return home to myself – the self I lost while loving someone who kept breaking my heart over and over again.
Little by little, taking care of my mental health is helping me feel like myself again.
Things have settled with school and work, and I no longer feel burnt out because I’m slowly finding balance. Even though life has been heavy, I have so much gratitude in my heart.
This Mental Health Awareness Month, I encourage you to find ways to pour into yourself.
Gentle Reminder: The heaviness is temporary – things will get better, and the sun always shines again.
