You ARE Worthy!
Mental Health: You Matter!
You are not alone. You will survive. You will be happy.
You are loved. You are worth it. You are Valiant!
You are loved. You are worth it. You are Valiant!
Self-Love, True Love
By Self-Love Therapist, Ashantis Jones, March 28, 2021
My name is Ashantis and I’m a twenty-something living in Chicago, IL. I’m an influencer, graduate student, fitness trainer, and human trying to understand life. I began IAmAshantis - a platform now dedicated to health and wellness, with the goal of providing my followers tools so they can better the love and relationship they have with themselves. Birthed out of a rocky first-year post-undergrad (loss of employment + breakup in one week = life spiral), the platform has made many changes as I continue to grow and evolve as a person.
Since my teens I’ve been working to improve my mental health and now as a mental health practitioner I feel honored to support others in their own journey. This work can be difficult and frustrating at times, but I scream from the mountain tops that it is worth it every single second of every single day. We all experience a number of traumas or difficult moments in life, but when we can identify and choose healing, we can live a fuller life!
What is self-love? What are the benefits? Why is it important to have self love?
The easiest way for me to describe self-love is making the intentional choice to choose yourself over anything or anyone else. It’s the act of ensuring we’re caring for ourselves and when we’re able to do that we’re able to show up as a fuller person for those around us. This idea of self-love and it’s importance is what brought me to begin to refer to myself as the Self-Love Therapist. Under this niche, I’m able to chat about almost any facet of life while still bringing the message back to how important it is to improve one’s relationship with themselves. Whether it’s a tough conversation about body image or light dialogue about home decor, the goal is to allow each person to find their inner voice and feel at peace with it. As far as we know it, you get one life to live, so why should you live it for anyone else but yourself?
Since my teens I’ve been working to improve my mental health and now as a mental health practitioner I feel honored to support others in their own journey. This work can be difficult and frustrating at times, but I scream from the mountain tops that it is worth it every single second of every single day. We all experience a number of traumas or difficult moments in life, but when we can identify and choose healing, we can live a fuller life!
What is self-love? What are the benefits? Why is it important to have self love?
The easiest way for me to describe self-love is making the intentional choice to choose yourself over anything or anyone else. It’s the act of ensuring we’re caring for ourselves and when we’re able to do that we’re able to show up as a fuller person for those around us. This idea of self-love and it’s importance is what brought me to begin to refer to myself as the Self-Love Therapist. Under this niche, I’m able to chat about almost any facet of life while still bringing the message back to how important it is to improve one’s relationship with themselves. Whether it’s a tough conversation about body image or light dialogue about home decor, the goal is to allow each person to find their inner voice and feel at peace with it. As far as we know it, you get one life to live, so why should you live it for anyone else but yourself?
How does self love help with mental health? How to make self love a habit?
Like any habit, it requires you to be deliberate with your action. When you are deliberately choosing yourself and honoring your full self, your mental health is going to thrive. Practicing self-love can look like spending time on your personal development, looking into your self-care practices, and removing people and things from your life that no longer serve you.
There may be that “friend” that leaves you drained emotionally when you hang out or chat - maybe it’s time to set some boundaries with them. Are you looking at your basic pillars of health? If it’s accessible to you - get your water each day, make sure you’re eating some fruits and veggies, move your body a bit, get good rest, and tap into a little self reflection. Maybe that looks like journaling to you. Maybe it’s a long skincare routine. Whatever brings you joy, seek more of it!
If you want to learn more about me or follow along as I share tips and tricks on self-love, come and check out my Instagram or my site!
Like any habit, it requires you to be deliberate with your action. When you are deliberately choosing yourself and honoring your full self, your mental health is going to thrive. Practicing self-love can look like spending time on your personal development, looking into your self-care practices, and removing people and things from your life that no longer serve you.
There may be that “friend” that leaves you drained emotionally when you hang out or chat - maybe it’s time to set some boundaries with them. Are you looking at your basic pillars of health? If it’s accessible to you - get your water each day, make sure you’re eating some fruits and veggies, move your body a bit, get good rest, and tap into a little self reflection. Maybe that looks like journaling to you. Maybe it’s a long skincare routine. Whatever brings you joy, seek more of it!
If you want to learn more about me or follow along as I share tips and tricks on self-love, come and check out my Instagram or my site!
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Anxiety
By Valerie Revolus, March 28, 2021
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My name is Valerie Revolus and I am 30 years young. I am a recent graduate of a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program. I continued my education in this particular field because I saw the need for it, especially in my community. I want to bring awareness to mental health in the Black community and work to normalize therapy; mental health care. I believe that as a people we have shared a collective trauma experience here in America. Whether people are aware of that or not, it can’t be overlooked. Life can get hard and it is okay to not be okay.
I have struggled with anxiety for a good portion of my life. Although I have never been on medication for it, therapy has been a resource in my life that has tremendously impacted me in a positive way. People can look at me and think I am this super successful person, but they have no idea what I struggle with internally. I have always liked the saying, “just because I carry it well doesn’t mean it is not heavy.” Different experiences in my life that range from sexual assault, failed relationships, death of loved ones, etc., have all contributed to the anxiety I experience. However, being able to have a strong support system, openness and willingness to get better, and becoming self aware was the foundation of what was needed to begin my healing journey. If I could go back in time and change anything about my life, it would be to start therapy sooner. I do not have any regrets for the things I have experienced but I do think I would have saved myself a lot if I had started working on myself sooner. My advice to anybody who is thinking about it or not happy with the way they are living their life — is to seek help. It does not make you crazy, or weak, or less than because you need help. The same way you can go to a doctor for something physically wrong with you, is the same way you should feel comfortable doing the same for your mental health. I believe that the best thing for anybody to do if they are struggling with these experiences is to have At Least one person in which they can talk to. Being able to verbalize and discuss your feelings out loud, believe it or not is a step towards your healing process. Some challenges are harder than others to overcome and that is when you need to realize, “this is bigger than me and I need professional help.” Therapy saved my life and I have no problem saying that. Learn to become self aware and understand your triggers. Better days are coming, every night comes to an end, and you will get through this. @iamvalerierevolus |
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