Hey, I'm Jasmine! Earlier this year, I started making my mental health a priority and decided to get a therapist because, I mean, even I deserve a shot at peace.
After a few sessions of warming up to my therapist and letting her in, we came to one very big and slightly hard-to-stomach conclusion: I am verbally mean AF to myself.
I was so used to this behavior over the years, that I didn't even notice the damaging internal and external dialogue I effortlessly hosted.
Most of it was self-doubt and putting myself down, so my therapist suggested I try something specific. She told me to write out these statements outside of our sessions — and then put the statements away.
So I decided to try it. Whenever I wrote a negative thought in my notebook or on a piece of paper, I folded it up, placed it in an old shoe box, and then physically put it away.
After a week or so, I couldn't even remember the negative thoughts I put into the box. It was almost like they were no longer living rent-free in my mind — and I didn't care where they went.
Now, I am not saying I don't still get mean (at times), but seeing the very literal accumulation of paper in that box made me more mindful about "littering" on my mental health.
And, as crazy as it sounds, 2020 actually gave me one very useful habit that I'll take with me into the brand new year.
What's a habit or practice that's helped your mental health in the past? Tell me in the comments. ✏️
