The holidays are coming up. You might be feeling excitement, anxiety, dread, or a combination of all three. (Read these stress management tips I wrote). You might be asking, “Do I really have to go for that family event?” “Do I really have to travel this holiday season?” Maybe you feel a little pressure or an obligation to go visit certain family members even though you don’t…
I recently asked people the question, “What topics would you like to see addressed on African Mind Healer blog in 2021?” Someone’s response was “living happily,” which made me think “it sounds so simple, but it can be hard for us adults to be happy.” I wish I had a formula to compute what I need to be happy, but I don’t. Nobody does. What makes…
As you think about ending 2020 and beginning 2021, here’s something to consider. Rest to work rather than work to rest! Many people take time off work during the holiday season, but many of us don’t know how to rest. I mean truly resting by letting go of the pressures in your mind that you need to be doing something or going somewhere, and simply allowing yourself…
Relationships are challenging. Even more so during the holidays. We are reminded of our relationships with family and friends, those with whom we get along and those with whom we don’t get along. It can be hard to navigate our relationships with those who have hurt us. Will forgiving them mean you are accepting what they did as okay? Does it mean you should allow them…
Grieving is hard and 2020 has brought us many losses. With the holiday season, grief can become even more intense because holidays are usually spent with loved ones. While many of us may be grieving the loss of the normalcy of life as we knew it, those who have lost loved ones from the Coronavirus and other causes are also grieving the loss of a life.…
Can you believe it's already mid-November? The holiday season is fast approaching and it's going to feel weird for many of us, being that it's the first time we are advised to stay away from family and friends. But then, it could also be a relief to some that have a hard time with family. The holidays usually come with stress, but this year's stress is…
It’s almost 2020, the beginning of a new year and a new decade. New beginnings can be refreshing, they instill hope for the future and give us a chance to dream about what is possible. Think about various new beginnings you’ve had, moving to a new place, starting a new job, starting a new relationship. I’m sure they gave you a chance to start afresh. This…
The holiday season can bring up a lot of emotions, making it difficult to communicate, and increasing stress. You may need to make some tough decisions that could affect your relationships with others. On the other hand, some situations can be easily rectified and your reactions to them could make things worse. How do you regulate your emotions so you are not over-reacting or lashing out at…
Music and dance are great tools to de-stress, boost mood, and they have positive benefits to mental health. So here's a treat for you. Take some time to dance, sing, and have fun this holidays. I trust you will... we Africans know how to enjoy music so go ahead! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7ZIfABig58
Before you read this post, I would recommend reading the first one on how to handle difficult conversations.Broken relationships can be a real challenge and sometimes for good reason. Working with clients in psychotherapy, some people have presented some truly difficult circumstances. For example, I’ve spoken to different young women from collectivistic cultures who have experienced sexual abuse from a relative who has shown no remorse…