▪️Prolonged stress can wear us down and zap any enthusiasm we once had. Before doing anything else, take a few minutes to breathe and just BE.
▪️ Empty your mind of all stress and worry. This takes practice, but don’t give up! As thoughts come into your mind, gently push them back out and continue to keep your mind empty and calm.
▪️Take slow, deep breaths and let all of your muscles relax. Sit quietly and recharge your batteries. Try to do this daily, or even twice daily (morning and night). We need quiet time as much as we need anything else in life. Give yourself the gift of inner peace.
How Do You Take Time Out For Yourself On Sunday’s ⁉️
By now, most of you all know that I’m very transparent about my struggles with mental health and will be sharing my story today on Instagram Live @6 courtesy of Rethink Mental Health Incorporated
Remember, there’s nothing to be ashamed of; mental health is part of our story!!!!
🌟Join Us live for tons of other mental health advocates sharing their stories…💚
Almost everyone have heard the hit single ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy’ by Bobby McFerrin. The song has a very catchy way of conveying its message of being happy to everyone. Bobby McFerrin’s simple message indeed made a lot of people happy by telling them not to worry.
Living a happy, resilient and optimistic life is wonderful, and is also good for your health. Being happy actually protects you from the stresses of life. Stress is linked to top causes of death such as heart disease, cancer, mental health, and strokes.
One of the better things ever said is – ‘The only thing in life that will always remain the same is change’, and in our life we have the power to make the necessary changes if we want to. Even if we find ourselves in an unbearable situation we can always find solace in the knowledge that it too would change.
Social networks or relationships are essential to happiness. People are different, accept people for who or what they are, avoid clashes, constant arguments, and let go of all kinds of resentments. If arguments seem unavoidable, still try and make an effort to understand the situation, and you might just get along with well with them.🤷🏽♀️
Happiness is actually found in everyone; increasing it is a way to make life more wonderful and also more healthy.
To be happy is relatively easy, just decide to be a happy person. Abraham Lincoln observed that most people for most of the time can choose how happy or stressed, how relaxed or troubled, how bright or dull their outlook to be. The choice is simple, really, choose to be happy.😁
There are several ways by which you can do this:⤵️
Being grateful is a great attitude. We have so much to be thankful for. Thank the Uber driver for bringing you home safely, thank the cook for a wonderful dinner and thank the guy who cleans your windows. Also, thank the mailman for bringing you your mail, thank the policeman for making your place safe, and thank God for being alive.🙌🏾
Avoid News, because it is stressful. Especially during this horrible time😔
Get less of it….
Some people just can’t start their day without their daily dose of news. (me) Try and think about it, 99% of the information we hear or read is bad news. Starting the day with bad news does not seem to be a sensible thing to do. (note to self)
A religious connection is also recommended. Being part of a religious group with its singing, sacraments, chanting, prayers, and meditations foster inner peace.
Manage your time. Time is invaluable and too important to waste. Time management can be viewed as a list of rules that involves scheduling, setting goals, planning, creating lists of things to do and prioritizing. These are the core basics of time management that should be understood to develop an efficient personal time management skill. These necessary skills can be fine-tuned further to include the finer points of each gift that can give you that extra reserve to make the results you desire.
Laugh and laugh heartily everyday. Heard a good joke? Tell your friends or family about it. As they also say -‘Laughter is the best medicine’.🤣
Express your feelings, affections, friendship and passion to people around you. They will most likely reciprocate your actions. Try not to keep pent up anger of frustrations, this is bad for your health. Instead, find ways of expressing them not to cause more injury or hurt to anyone.❣️
Working hard brings tremendous personal satisfaction. It gives a feeling of being competent in finishing our tasks. Accomplishments are necessary for all of us, they give us a sense of value. Work on things that you feel worthy of your time.
Learning is a joyful exercise. Try and learn something new everyday. Learning also makes us expand and broaden our horizons. And could also give us more opportunities in the future. (I’m going to learn Yoga) 🧘🏾♀️
Run, jog, walk and do other things that your body was made for. Feel alive.
Avoid exposure to harmful elements like loud noises, toxins, and hazardous places.😵
These are the few simple things you can do every day to be happy…
And always remember the quote from Abraham Lincoln, he says that “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”💪🏾
Transformation Coach
Looking to learn more about how to be happy while dealing mental illness, check out my new 6-week program for Entrepreneurs⤵️
This past weekend someone I loved dearly told me not attend their funeral because I use to sell my body, I literally laughed it off! But it made think over my work life, I use to be:
A cashier Telemarketer Janitor Fry Girl Stripper Sex Worker Maid Teacher 🌟Now Boss🌟
Out of all the things this person could have said, they used my messy past, but guess what….my Mess has become my Message… Out of my mess, God birthed a message in me; that’s why I stand before you, Bold, Courageous, and Transformed…🦋
It doesn’t matter what they call you; God called you better!! So keep going no matter what you’re messy past may look like; you went through that stuff for a reason! Always remember you can do better and when they bring up your past, it’s because you have done something they didn’t dare to do is…CHANGE💪🏾
So today, don’t hide your messy past; use it in your story when helping others! Don’t give other people the right to tell your story before you do; they have a way of distorting your truth!!!
Have an O’mazing day,
Lady O🦋 Boss, Mentor, Teacher, Relentless Entrepreneur, Coach
▪️Need clarity and help telling your story with confidence? DM me, or by email 💌 olivia@oliviabshepherd.org
🎤Dropping the mic now🎤
🌟Turn Your Message into a Beautiful Blessing🌟
Affirmation of the Day
💓Even in the best circumstances, the wrong people will keep us from going far. Create a circle of friends/family who are hopeful and positive, just as you are. Avoid drama, and repeat this affirmation to yourself when you are tempted to get sucked into someone’s negative energy.
Know the signs…don’t forget to check on your strong loved ones!!
Don’t take the words they say lightly…
▪️Suicidal behavior is complex. Some risk factors vary with age, gender, and ethnic group and may even change over time. The risk factors for suicide frequently occur in combination. Research has shown that more than 90 percent of people who kill themselves have depression or another diagnosable mental or substance abuse disorder, often in combination with other mental disorders. Also, research indicates that alterations in neurotransmitters such as serotonin are associated with the risk of suicide.
▪️Diminished levels of this brain chemical have been found in patients with depression, impulsive disorders, a history of violent suicide attempts, and also in postmortem brains of suicide victims. Adverse life events in combination with other risk factors such as depression may lead to suicide. However, suicide and suicidal behavior are not normal responses to stress. Many people have one or more risk factors and are not suicidal. Other risk factors include prior suicide attempt; family history of mental disorder or substance abuse; family history of suicide; family violence, including physical or sexual abuse; firearms in the home; incarceration; and exposure to the suicidal behavior of others, including family members, peers, or even in the media.
It’s 🆗 to seek help, and remember, you are never alone! Reach out to someone, please:
💫It’s rather intriguing that we tend to take our whole self for granted most of the time. We live in such a fussy world that we seldom stop to consider the care we should be giving to our bodies to promote good physical as well as mental health. Our bodies are like machines that are on the go most of the time. Machines require oiling and fueling to continue. And we have to use the correct oil or fuel otherwise the machine breaks down, correct?🤷🏽♀️
💫Have you ever stopped to think whether what you’re doing to your body is helping or hurting? Begin with the food you consume daily, then go on to the things you do to and with your body and mind. If you were a machine, would you still be going, or would you need to stop for mending occasionally?
💫So how are you self-caring today? Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup, so you need to take time a refuel yourself!!!
It starts with something as simple like:
▪️Putting your phone 📱 down for a few hours ▪️Sipping some hot tea ☕️ ▪️Taking a power nap 😴, (I promise you naps help to refresh your mind) ▪️Listen to your favorite music 🎶 ▪️Find a reason to laugh 😅 ▪️Get about 15 minutes of fresh air 🌞 ▪️Or do nothing, remember it’s really 🆗 to do nothing at all
💫Caring for ourselves is something that we often overlook in our busy schedules. With trying to juggle work, kids, home life, errands, and more, the thought of putting ourselves first, for even just a few minutes, can seem impractical or almost childish. To most, it feels more like a chore than a necessity.
💫But that’s exactly the problem. Putting ourselves first IS a necessity. And although our lives might seem crazy hectic enough, taking the time to care for yourself is going to aid in the effectiveness of you helping others….
I’ve been reflecting on the several times I attempted to take my life, and remember people telling me to ”pray it away”, ”snap out of it”, or ”get over it, because black people don’t kill themselves”
🤷🏽♀️Silly me, for thinking I could actually talk to people who didn’t understand a damn thing about how mental illness works!
Suicide is suicide period…
Me having these thoughts, didn’t mean I didn’t trust God either! Stop 🚫 minimizing how people feel and judging them!
Yes….
I had a nice home Nice car Beautiful clothes A successful business A good husband A good kid Wonderful friends Good family
None…
Of this matters, when your brain 🧠 doesn’t function at all, you only hear those evil voices in your head that constantly nag at you telling you how much of a failure you are, how stupid you are, how much of a burden you are!!! You can’t escape these thoughts overnight; you can’t just pray these thoughts away; you just can’t snap out of it!!!!
I no longer believe these thoughts as much as I use to, and I thank God for actually seeking the help I so badly needed!
So I ask you, to go check on your strong friend, cousin, neighbor, church member, and/or loved one! Millions of us suffer in silence; millions of us have money, look pretty, drive nice cars, live in beautiful houses, and run successful businesses.
Don’t get the misconception that we are good; we just get better a masking the pain we feel in our brains really well.
Although some of you may never understand why people like myself feel or think about ending our lives, don’t judge us for it!
Educate yourself, listen to your loved ones, be there for them! Suicide isn’t a crazy person disease; it’s an illness that can affect just about anyone!!
It affected me 🤷🏽♀️daughter, sister, mom, wife, business owner, friend…suicide doesn’t discriminate.
If you are looking for someone to speak to about your loved one or even for yourself, please don’t hesitate to contact your local Mental Health provider in your state, contact the Suicide Hotline, or reach out to me!!!
Know the facts; you can’t acknowledge what you don’t confront!
Olivia Mental Health Advocate (suicide attempt survivor)
▪️▪️Let me reintroduce myself to my new friends and followers. My name is Olivia B. Shepherd. I’m a 20 plus year Entrepreneur who is running several businesses successfully.
🌟Was it easy? No! Did I want to give up, Hell yes! But I had to come to the realization, that I was suffering and could no longer who hold myself together. I needed help, and I needed it fast! No longer could I continue to let my businesses decline, my clients were depending on me, and my family too.
🌟Then came the BIG diagnoses, yep, I was diagnosed with DEPRESSION, PTSD, and SEVERE ANXIETY.
🌟And…Yes, I built and continued to run my businesses while being clinically depressed. If you suffer from this than you know exactly how hard this could be. Guess what, I did it, and I had several meltdowns, days of isolation, frustration, and anxiety, but I still persevered.
🌟I was a Relentless Entrepreneur all while suffering from mental illness. It wasn’t easy and I wanted to throw in the towel time and time again but I didn’t and I want to help other Relentless Women Entrepreneurs suffering from mental illness do the same.
🌟Stay tuned for the debut of my new business coaching program for Women Entrepreneurs who suffer from mental illnesses.
If anyone can teach you how to continue showing up in your business, even while being sick, tired, and exhausted…I can!
𝙊𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙖 𝘽. 𝙎𝙝𝙚𝙥𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙙 Transformation/Biz Coach
”Helping the Relentless Entrepreneur Woman: Master Entrepreneurship and Mental Health”
🗣New Month, New Hope, New Blessings, New Life, New Fulfilment, New Health New Goals, New Joy, New Songs, and New Challenges. This New month you shall conquer every challenge that crosses your path and achieve your desired goal…💪🏾
While you’re at it, don’t forget to plan and write down those goals!!
🌟New Month, New Mindset…now what are your goals for September? 🌻
Remember, your mindset affects all your decisions, and goals written down are usually something you’ll take action on!!!
🌟If you’re anything like me, you love all things planners and worksheets…so enjoy this printable/fillable online PDF on me!
To get started on achieving your goals, you need to plan for it and make it a priority…💪🏾
