“This Joy that I have, the world didn’t give it and the world can’t take it away.” - Shirley Caesar
Wellness doesn’t mean we’re happy and joyous every day. What it means is when the hard days come, when your emotions are all over the place, when your anger gets the best of you, you have the tools to get through it a little easier. Many of us struggle with mental well-being issues at one point or another. When you are diagnosed with mental illness, it’s imperative that you receive help from an expert in the field. There are things we can do daily to work on our mental well-being.
When the day gets overwhelming and my to-do list is getting longer instead of shorter, to gather myself I sing. Often, I find myself singing old gospel songs that I grew up hearing. There is one song in particular that just flows off my tongue without thought, “this joy that I have”. The song has been sung and remade by several people, however, Shirley Caesar sings the version that I love. The words are so meaningful to me, “This joy that I have, the world didn’t give it and the world can’t take it away”. Singing those words gives me peace, they remind me that I’m the source that brings me happiness and that the thing that I need to keep going is already inside of me. By the time I get to the chorus, I’m motivated and ready to conquer the world.
I’m not normally a big worrier, yet there are those times when I can’t stop myself from overthinking about things that are my stressors, things like my finances, worrying about my grandkids, and what the future has in store for them. Wondering if my kids are okay and what has to be done at work. My mind just won’t be still and just relax. When I notice I’m feeling this way, I go to a quiet place and I breathe. I inhale through my nose and exhale through my mouth. I sometimes close my eyes and let my head tilt back to a slightly upward position, and I just breathe. In and out over and over, and as I feel myself calming down and getting to a more relaxed state, I'll allow my neck to rotate from side to side and round and round. Then I start to move my shoulders in a circular motion and then to the front and then the back. Over and over again I repeat, as I keep going, I begin to bend my back forward like I’m doing a crunch sitting down, then back like I’m pushing my chest to the sky. Before I know it, my body and mind are completely relaxed, my thoughts are at bay and I’m at peace. In my mind, I’m hearing the song, “This joy that I have, the world didn’t give it and the world can’t take it away.”
Self-care is crucial for our wellness toolbox. Taking out time to just be, relax, and reset allows our minds, bodies, and spirits to recharge. It gives us the time we need to get to know ourselves. Self-care can be as simple as allowing yourself to notice all the amazing things around you. Take time to find awe in a butterfly or beautiful flower, enjoy a walk in the park, or feel the sprinkles of water on your face while standing in front of a waterfall. Sitting under a tree and feeling the grass under your feet. Having a meaningful discussion with a neighbor. Self-care can lower your stress levels, boost your mood, and even inspire creativity. Making time for yourself allows you to build a reserve that can carry you a long way. After self-care, you’re less likely to lash out at the kids. You’re a lot more agreeable with your spouse. You’re ready to finish the project at work. After implementing a regular self-care routine you’ll see life-changing results in yourself and how you relate to others.
Having the right tools in your wellness toolbox takes time, yet it doesn’t have to cost you a thing. It’s just about learning yourself, by paying attention to yourself and knowing when and which tool to pull out the box. Taking time to find beauty in simple things, getting rest, Inhaling, and exhaling, taking a pause break, and being able to find the positive in whatever situation you’re in. Embracing what you can’t control and accepting the way that makes you feel. All these things help to build emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is what helps us, connect, adapt, and show up for life. Building and strengthening our emotional intelligence helps us to make sense of the world and create a safe space for ourselves in it. These things are all resources that are already inside of us and just like the song, the world didn’t give it to us and the world can’t take it away.