By Daisy Surjo Vergara, M.S., NCC, LMHC, RPT-S
In honoring World Mental Health Day and National Depression Screening Day, I am hoping to motivate others to raise awareness and to urge others to screen for any depression, anxiety, or any mood-related disorder. In raising awareness, I would like to talk about our thought as our superpower because most of the time, by changing our thought, we can change our life.
Let’s get to it! I am a play therapist, so please bear with me through this imagination. Think of your favorite superhero as a child. Just like any superhero who has a superpower in superhero movies, in the beginning, all these superheroes do not realize the superpower they have until they are somehow forced to use them. Then the superpower becomes a huge surprise to them, and they try and try again on how to use the superpower until they can use it like if it requires no effort all for them to use the superpower.
It is the same thing with our thought. The fact is, our mind is the most powerful thing we have. Have you ever heard the cliché “mind over matters”? It sounds as if it is a cliché, and it is overrated because it is a hidden and unknown superpower that everyone has. Most of the time, they don’t know it or give up quickly before they learn how to use this superpower.
Most of the time, it is our self- limiting beliefs or our past experiences that hinder us, and blocks our mind from using our powerful thought. Most of them are subconscious. When we are aware of, fully realized, and make efforts in changing our subconscious self-limiting beliefs, our thoughts will change, and our mindset would change. Therefore, in turn, we would change our lives. Here are some of the things you can do to start releasing the blocks and self-limiting beliefs you have in your life:
- Take 100% responsibility for yourself. This means realizing and acknowledging that you are the one who is responsible for changing your thought and mindset.
- Create a small goal or two every day, and try your hardest to accomplish your goal. Start where you are, and start small. If your goal is to get out bed and groom yourself this morning, let it be it.
- Create a mantra or note to yourself. Find of 3 positive things or goals that you would like to achieve, and think of these goals as you have achieved them. This also called Positive Self Affirmations. And repeat these daily.
- Have an attitude for gratitude. Research has proved that if you are grateful for what you have, you will be happier. More on this can be found at https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10503307.2016.1169332
- Listen to others’ success stories to motivate you. You can do this by reading or listening to useful and motivating self- help audiobooks. Take into account the way you learn or retain information. This will help tremendously.
- Build a meaningful network and support system. You become whom you surround yourself with. Positive influences will up-level yourself and will result in a powerful shift in your mindset.
If you feel that you need a push, some motivations, inspirations, or someone who holds you accountable, you can join Daisy’s newly launched online coaching group that runs once a month for 6 months. It is a closed group for women. For additional info, please email to daisy@ohanabehavioralhealth.com
When to seek professional help?
- When you have persistent worry, anxiousness, or sadness.
- You feel as if you have no energy or constantly feeling overwhelmed.
- You feel that you lost interest in all the activities that you usually enjoy.
- When your symptoms are causing problems with your daily routine, relationships, work, or your family
Additionally, if you feel that you need further assistance, and need to seek professional help, we can help you. We want to support you in fulfilling your best potential in life. Please give us a call at 425-686-9509 to see if it can be a good fit for working together.
Daisy Surjo Vergara, M.S., NCC, LMHC, RPT-S, is a therapist and director of Ohana Behavioral Health.
