Another Liturgical season in under our belt. The Season of Lent came and went like a thief in the night. For some I’m sure it was a successful time of prayer, penance, fasting and a reawakening. Some others may not have been as successful. If successful, today is the first day of a new life. If your Lenten Season was anything like mine, it wasn’t as successful. My Lenten Season was challenging and stressful. It was filled with many obstacles and disappointments, highs and lows, losses and even some failures. The good thing about this is that I was able to take a step back and evaluate my surroundings. This includes all people, places and things. I realized that God was in control of it all…he was, is, and always has been the orchestrator. Those obstacles will continue to be my steppingstones, the losses were actually gains, and when I thought I had failed, He was showing me how to pass the test for the next time and to prepare those coming after me. I had never lost. The entire time he was strategically setting me up to win.
When life becomes challenging, we often focus on the negative aspects. We ask why, we get angry, we panic, we complain, etc. Seldom is our initial reaction to find positivity in the challenge. Immediately focusing on a negative outlook will usually cause us to react negatively by either doing nothing or reacting desperately or out of anger. These actions will most often result in negative outcomes. This made me reflect on something my Spiritual Sister in Chris, Carmelita told me many years ago “Don’t nurse it, don’t curse it, don’t disperse it. Give it to God and He will reverse it”. That has stayed with me for eighteen long years. It is definitely befitting. I had to learn to talk to God; listen to him, be still, and find the purpose in whatever it is I am going through. Based on the words my dear Sister in Christ shared, I can’t keep worrying, I can’t, nor should I wish harm or evil on the person or situation and I can’t just ignore it and do nothing. I must pray about it and wait on God to either make a way or remove the obstacle.
These past forty days, I have had more health challenges, been laid off from the job I recently started and moved on from people who again showed their lack of loyalty. I began to realize that the issue was me. I valued relationships and positions…people…more than they valued me. The stress did nothing but negatively affect my mental health. We often navigate through life on auto pilot; not realizing the effects that our traumas have on us, or how the pain we inflict upon others can be traumatizing for them. Finally realizing that I still hadn’t given ALL CONTROL to God, I let Go. When my job began to layoff, although I didn’t know how I would make it, I prayed. I knew that He had made that a temporary fix for me…He has a bigger purpose for my life. I was excited…relieved…calm when a large group of us were called to the conference room. Everyone was sad and I had to give them a pep talk. I told them it would be ok and that all things happen for a reason. I explained that none of them were happy there, complained daily; therefore, this was their opportunity to do better and still seek benefits and new employment. I am now able to focus on my physical and mental health and assist with my growing family; take care of getting my divorce finalized and really build my platform. In all, I can REALLY focus on mental health for my family and I. This was God’s perfect timing; His way of preparing me to fulfill HIS purpose for my life. When we truly take control of our mental health…truly focus on what is important, we can discern God’s voice from the voice of the enemy. We will know when to move. Psalm 37:7-9 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. Listening and waiting on God, though at times discouraged, I never give up!
We must come to the realization that we can’t take everyone with us where God is trying to take us. If we are honest, most of the people in our circles don’t deserve to go to the new heights that God has for us. When we clear our minds and accept that it is ok to go places alone…to leave people where they are…our lives will begin to become much easier. The stress and toxicity that relationships (romantic or otherwise), jobs, finances, LIFE can bring can and will cause far more than mental illnesses such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, PMS, PMDD, and Post-Partum Depression, to name a few. Failure to properly care for our mental health can also cause a decline in our physical health. I suffered from migraines and diverticulitis for years without any other health problems until the trauma of my marriage failing. Since then, the problems are unending. The key to our physical healing is making sure that we are healed mentally.
On this beautiful Easter Sunday of 2022, each of us has the opportunity to live life anew…The toxic places, people, things, thoughts, actions and mindsets are what we gave up for Lent. A renewed spirt, fresh mindset, positive people, positive places, positive thoughts and actions are what we bring into our new life this Easter Season. Being honest about who and what we are and the role we play is the first step. Taking charge of our mental health and seeking help…therapy…opening up to SOMEONE…being comfortable about who we are is a brave, yet much needed step…BREAKING THE CYCLE and seeking help for our children is the most important step.
Whatever we do this Easter Season from this day forward, if we do it with a healthy mind, pure heart, genuine love and complete faith in God, we will live in the purpose He has for our lives. The key, is believing, trusting, remembering, and doing. Believe that Mental Health is important. Trust that making Mental Health important positively impacts your life. Remember that Mental Illness is not a bad thing, and just because it’s not addressed doesn’t make it go away. Finally, believe that having a Mental Illness does not define who you are or what you can become. Focusing on and maintaining these key factors going forward, will enable us to heal one mind, one heart, one person, one relationship, one family, one community at a time. Prayerfully, with God in control, we can heal nations and finally our world. When this happens, every day will be Easter. It’s our choice. We can BE RISEN or CONTINUE TO BE DEAD.
MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS! Defy the Stigma of Mental Health!
Dying to be Perfect 