Mental health is important because it is foundational in how we move through our lives. Neuroscience has found that feeling comes before thinking. To make impactful, deliberate changes in ourselves and the world, we must become comfortable and knowledgeable about our inner world. Learning to be compassionate toward ourselves provides space for the range of emotions that happen throughout our days. When we understand our inner experience and relate to it in a kind, nonjudgmental way, that allows us to show up in the same way for others. When we have a better understanding of ourselves, we can set boundaries and allow good and bad to coexist. We can form relationships that are connected and loving. We let go of the need to be perfect and, instead, can show up as the flawed human we are. Living in such a way takes practice and patience, setting us up for success in all facets of life. I maintain my mental health in a variety of ways. I regularly meet with a therapist to help me better understand myself. This includes dissecting my past and learning how it affects me in the present. I continue to learn to manage my expectations and extend grace to myself when I fall into old patterns. I work on the relationships in my life to better experience love and friendship. I work on understanding my needs and setting boundaries with myself and others to move towards a more peaceful, intimate life. In addition to therapy, I schedule time to participate in activities that bring me joy. This includes reading for pleasure with a hot cup of tea. I regularly meet with friends for walks in the park, coffee, and comedy shows. I like to exercise and ride my bike. Living in San Diego provides the opportunity to visit the beach and take in the beauty of nature. If anxious or worried, I can spend time outside and feel restored and grounded, ready to tackle the day's challenges. Maintaining mental health can be challenging, but it is essential for overall well-being. Being in a counseling program, I am learning endlessly about mental health and why it is so important. At times, it can be overwhelming, and I am thankful that I have the tools and skills to manage during times of stress. I hope that beginning this career will allow me to help others improve their mental health so they can live full, healthy lives.

Reading is a hobby of mine, and I love to share book recommendations. I read for pleasure and to expand my knowledge about specific subjects. Financial wellness is essential for everyone, and I have been furthering my understanding by reading. One book I would recommend that everyone in the world reads is The Simple Path to Wealth: Your Road Map to Financial Independence and a Rich, Free Life by J.L. Collins. Everyone is impacted by money, especially those furthering their education who may need to take out loans, and financial literacy is an integral part of paying for school. Not only for school, but understanding the basics of money and how to invest in the future is knowledge everyone can benefit from. Like many, I had minimal education surrounding money and did not learn much about it during grade school. In my family life, money was discussed regarding spending, saving, and never carrying any debt. Unfortunately, debt is a reality that many will face, and learning how to responsibly manage debt while securing future independence is part of this book. Thinking about money is overwhelming, and I recommend this book because it is written for an average person with a limited understanding of money, investing, and planning. J.L. Collins lays his points out in straightforward ways that I think many people can benefit from. This book changed how I view financial security and made it seem less scary. Expanding financial literacy is a topic anyone at any age can benefit from, and this book makes it palatable and, in many ways, simple.

Almost everyone will struggle with mental health at some point, especially during times of stress and transition. Unfortunately, I am no stranger to mental disorders, having experienced anxiety and depression and growing up with parents who had their own mental health struggles. My family did not discuss mental health, and issues were dealt with by ignoring them. One of the worst periods of my life was when my mother became severely depressed. As a middle schooler, I had no idea what was happening to her. I remember being fearful and confused that she was not the loving, caring mom I had become so close with. Because my parents had never gotten help and did not know how to manage depression, I recall my father screaming and being hostile toward her. This was a time of immense fear and insecurity for me because I could sense how dim my mother's life force had become, and I knew my father could not provide love, kindness, or help get the support she desperately needed. Somehow, she was able to pull herself out of this darkness, and it was rarely spoken of until COVID became a full-blown pandemic. In April 2020, my mother took her own life. In ways I cannot explain, I knew it was coming, and I was helpless to stop it. Her death shattered my world, and I questioned what my purpose would be if not for her daughter. Her death launched me into therapy, and I do not hesitate to say it transformed my life. The therapeutic relationship I had provided me with much-needed education about suicide, a place to grieve and process the immense pain I carried, and allowed me space to begin healing. Participating in therapy allowed me to dissect my family of origin, learn to advocate for my needs and set boundaries, and overall gave me a sense of hope and power over my life. It allowed me to begin seeing myself and behaving like the kind, empathetic, purposeful being that I am. Therapy infiltrated every aspect of my life, including my career aspirations. It has been so profound that I am changing careers and am currently in a MA of Counseling program, hoping to open a private practice one day. I desire to help people grow and heal in the ways that I received in therapy. It has improved my relationship with myself, my partner, and my friends. I have established clear and firm boundaries with my father, who refuses to acknowledge the severity of his situation. I believe that therapy and education around mental health were the missing links for so much of my life, and I want to provide that knowledge to those who are struggling. The mental health field has grown exponentially and will continue to do so as it becomes less stigmatized. I am excited to be part of this new generation of therapists and healers who are doing the work and advocating for the wellness of all people. Being a person is a challenge, and when we have a space where we feel seen, heard, understood, and valued, growth and healing become possible. We can become an extension of goodness in this world. If my mom were still here, she would be so proud, and I know she would be as excited to learn about mental health as I am.

The dream version of my future self is at peace, lightening the burden of others and enjoying all the beauty this life offers.

Health is an all-encompassing term. Most people think health means eating well and exercising but I think of health in a more holistic way. My health includes the physical body, mind, and spirit. When I am healthy, those three entities are in harmony. Life and stress can easily cause imbalances in the system. I have learned that eating well and exercising is just as important to my mental health as my physical health. Activities such as gardening, reading, and walking at the beach fill my spiritual needs. It is important that I work hard and rest to achieve balance. Most importantly, health means feeling connected to ourselves and others. Although I have always been “healthy” per western medical standards, as I’ve reached my late 20s, I knew I hadn’t felt completely well for years. After dealing with a myriad of symptoms, I sought out the help of a functional medicine practitioner. It is easy to believe that we can heal ourselves if we buy certain products, eat a certain way, exercise the perfect amount, and follow influencers on social media. After trying to heal myself for years, working with a naturopath has been immensely helpful in the healing of my body. The functional medicine approach looks at the whole being as interconnected. The separation of body systems is where I believe western medicine has failed me. With help, I have learned how to listen to my body and make adjustments that make sense at that time. While there is still a lot of healing to be done, I have faith that my body will be able to repair itself. The other piece of my health that has changed immensely in the past few years is my mental health. I began working with a therapist after a tragic start to 2020. I always knew that I wanted to see a therapist but the final push was the loss of a loved one. Since being in therapy, I have learned about myself and the relational systems I am a part of. It has helped me to understand myself. This includes certain patterns, ways of thinking, and choices that I make. Therapy has allowed me to learn to trust myself and connect to who I truly am without fear and shame. After working on myself for the past few years, the connection between mind and body became very clear. I am still a work in progress and always will be, but I usually feel balanced. Continuing to work with a naturopath, see a therapist, and take time to do things I enjoy has led me to better overall health. With school starting in the next couple of weeks, I know that there will be an adjustment period. Fortunately, I do my best when I have to strictly schedule my time. I know I will make time to continue with my healing. I will make sure to do the things that bring me joy and peace to maintain the equilibrium I have worked hard for.

Like most people, I’ve experienced my fair share of hardship. I was raised in a dysfunctional family by a wonderful mother who fiercely loved me, and an emotionally and verbally abusive father. From a very young age, I knew that things were not “normal” and the dynamic of my family was different. In middle school, my mother experienced depression in the sense that it dimmed her life force, her spirit, to barely a flicker. I remember being so terrified that I was going to lose her, only to years later have her take her own life. My biggest fear lurked in the unspoken truths and normalization of dysfunction. Through this incredibly tragic death, I found my way to a different life. I knew that I did not have the ability to cope with my mom’s death on my own. I sought out a therapist to begin working through my grief and heartbreak. While my grief was the main topic for some time, I began to delve into my past and truly into myself. I learned that I am a feeling being and those feelings are big and allowed to take up space. I learned how to be human and most important, how to trust and advocate for myself. I do not hesitate to say that therapy has been transformative for me. Since I’ve started on my healing journey, my approach to life has shifted and so have my relationships. I am more aware of how everyone is carrying hurt, pain, and grief. Mostly, I am aware that a lot of people are living on autopilot. I’ve noticed how disconnected people are, unless they are doing inner healing work, or learned to be emotionally present while growing up. This observation has made me more empathetic and an advocate for therapy and healing work. Our society makes us believe we have to do things ourselves, when really, we have a need to be in kind and loving relationships with others. If you asked my dear friends or my partner how I am different since my mother’s death, they would likely laugh and say “very.” My commitment to growth and healing has impacted every relationship I am part of. Because I believe so strongly in doing the work, I have grown apart from certain relationships and strengthened others. Most importantly, I have become a better friend and partner because I am able to show up authentically. I am better able to listen without offering solutions. I am able to set boundaries and be kind and clear. While my mother’s death will forever cause me grief, it is also the most beautiful tragedy I’ve experienced. I have found a wonderful support system and learned how to be human. I have strengthened relationships with those I love and learned to trust myself in the process. I am so thankful for the love of my mother and I feel incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to heal and express that love in my life.

Impermanence is the Buddhist concept that things are ever-evolving and change is constant. I too believe that we are always changing based on our experiences, relationships, and dreams. Self-growth and healing are values of mine that have been present since childhood. I’ve always been curious about pain, suffering, healing, and peace. Healing is one of my top priorities and it is what drew me to my first career in nursing. During the past year, I have moved twice, started a new job, helped support my partner in purchasing a home, and worked on myself physically, mentally, and spiritually. A particularly grueling 2020 landed me in therapy and I do not hesitate to say that it has changed my life, including the past year as well. Participating in therapy has led me to believe that mental health is just as important, if not more, than physical health. My journey in life and in counseling has inspired me to want to do the same for others. My passion lies in counseling which is a helping and healing profession. Counseling has helped me tremendously in the understanding of myself and those I have relationships with. It has allowed me to recognize the impact I have on myself and others. It has given me the tools to be able to create a life I am truly proud of. Counseling has allowed me to see that so many people are carrying pain, grief, and negative beliefs. It has given me hope that so many people are interested in healing themselves so they can live whole, peaceful lives. Most importantly, counseling has allowed me to exist in the world with more empathy and kindness. If I had not experienced all of the pain and turmoil in the past two years, I don’t know what my life would look like. After experiencing my greatest fear, I learned that I am more resilient and capable than I ever thought. One thing I realized is that we are not to do life alone. While counseling has given me the tools for growth and healing, my core values have not changed. If anything, they have allowed me to become more aligned with how I aim to live. Joy, persistence, and service are just as important to me, if not more, than when I started my healing journey. I believe that at our core, we carry with us our most unique values no matter our circumstances. I feel fortunate to be able to pursue a passion and a career that combines both.