I recently had the honor of speaking as a guest with NAMI Greater Houston, the 501c3 non-profit organization that provides advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can better their lives. A healing community that helps others gain resiliency on their road to wellness on a local, state and national level.
Throughout my virtual visit with NAMI, we were able to connect with community facing their own set of difficult challenges, especially during this year of the COVID pandemic. We spoke on how to start on your healing journey and how to maintain that personal freedom of peace as we continue forward in our journeys. Our healing journeys.
Some very key points that were brought up included how can others get involved to help community, especially when it came to mental health awareness and beating the negative stigma of mental health. The first thing I said was “We all have to know that is OK to have the need be OK!”. We all have and will go through something in our lifetime and none of us are alone when it comes to facing challenges. There is never room for anyone to ever feel above or ever make anyone feel below another, and no one is ever too important to simply show compassion and care.
Sharing some of my greatest achievements in overcoming some of my own life greatest challenges and it was always community that was my biggest blessing to do so. I can’t emphasize enough on the importance of community to remain in unity. It is not just how we survive, but it is how we thrive- Together!
With each blessing we receive throughout our journey, our triumphs over challenge, recovery, healing, gains, learning, and growth, we continue to share this with others. Our voice is our power and that for others who have not yet found their voice, especially when we cannot reach them physically. We are here to contribute, not take away from another or deprived on the things that are needed the most, especially in crisis. Revisiting the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Sharing our experiences provides resources and never forgetting our story is how we remain compassionate with others too.
There is a conflict in society where as a whole, it hasn’t learned how to accept and be ok with REAL life. What is portrayed, viewed, or admired to see life through a perfect lens, is only disguising and burying the underlining factors that enable lack of awareness, judgement, stigma, and it is only highly encouraged for others to be able to open their eyes for views beyond their surroundings. Providing a wider ability to view community and how society can shift in a much more true and holistic direction when it comes to caring for one another and accepting all of REAL LIFE.
In the way that we see others and most importantly connect, is on much more than a surface level. Our ability to understand on a deeper level for greater positive outcomes in which helps in every aspect of life- the workplace, relationships, as well as ourselves. When we are able to see through another’s perspective, hear what they hear, feel what they feel, we cannot have anything less than compassion. In the very real world, we are all hurting, suffer, face daily challenges, and we are all in need of compassion, love, and support for healing. The truth is, this is real life! We must be ok as a society to accept and support one another rather than disguising what isn’t ok, nothing or anyone is perfectly ok. The first step of taking on your personal healing journey, is honesty. Honesty first with ourselves, and others. It takes a lot of courage and self growth to get to where we want and need to be for ourselves. The truth we may see can hurt, but overcoming and thriving is our greatest lifelong reward.
Health is our wealth and without it nothing else matters. Health is not only for life but our abilit to live well. May we always strive to take care of self, one another, support, build and grow together as a whole community, a whole world. Right now the world is headed in a chronic state of disease. It is up to all of us to do what we can to nurture and supply the vital nutrients to reverse this process while we can before there is no point of return.
WE can start with self care. However, I am not referring to the monthly salon trips or occasional outing, but it is a daily practice that we have as a life style. Self care reflects on understanding our limits, being truthful with ourselves, others, knowing that it is ok to slow down and doing so when needed. Taking time in everyday to stop and reflect analyze, and redirect ourselves if and when we find ourselves lost, on the wrong path, and need to make positive and significant changes to our lives for the absolute greater good, our needs, and our personal growth. Reflect everyday. Know where you stand with yourself and where your peace stands with you at the end of each one.
Longevity and sustainability to our physical and mental health is when we take on and fill our lives with continuous positive action, thoughts, and people. A lifestyle that is of great habits and not letting anything or anyone come in between all things that are good for you. Always remember that we are here to contribute, not take away from another. Stress not only breaks down our physical bodies, but our mental health as well. Self care is not just for us, but it is also how we can better take of others as well. Anytime we are in a vulnerable state with challenges, there is a higher risk. Higher risk of losing control, especially when there is a lack of resources. Most often the hope of many is placed in others during the most challenging of times. This is humanity, our natural state of being and with unit being ingrained in community, we are never meant to stand alone. No one is ever hopeless or helpless. We are not alone.
Community is never to be segregated but to be with wholeness. How many people can honestly say the feel wholeness within themselves. When we work towards a shift as a whole community on how we love, give, support, help, build, and provide, we are working at a constant state of wholeness. Never losing the meaning of community is where we thrive. Together we build stairs to climb, rather than knocking each other down to get ahead, and many not in the right direction or even knowing where the are going. It is easy to get lost alone, but we will always find our way together. Never lose your courage or your faith. This will only take you where it is you need to go.
It starts from within and we can only choose how we build. Each and everyone of us are equipped with a set of tools and none are the same. We can’t successfully build alone as we will always be in the need for something. We can’t build a foundation or a strong building with missing tools. Building is always meant to do so together. This is unity with community!
Being a part of community is being part of something much bigger than ourselves. A way we reach the world with love because someone shared this message with us. May it always continue to grow with our support. Unity with Community!
-A.M.W
For more information on the NO COST services of NAMI Greater Houston, visit the links below.
Crisis hotline: Warmline can help.
Call (713) 970-4483In Crisis
Unity With Community 