Protecting your mental health

The horrors of these last few weeks have tilted our collective energy towards the heaviness of grief, anger, and frustration. It is important to feel these feelings and to not become desensitized to them. It is also equally important to know when and how to bring yourself back to center to protect your own mental health. Balance is only achieved in the presence of counterbalance, so here are some tips to counterbalance the heaviness of this week.

1. Watch your consumption. Our mental digestion can only handle so much before information accumulates as waste in our mind. If the information is not new, ask yourself whether you need the continued exposure--step away from the feeds when you need to.

2. Connect your mind with your body. Convert your emotional energy into tangible, physical action by donating, contacting your local representatives, or doing some physical activity with intention. Your body can help you metabolize this experience.

3. Do something that soothes your spirit. Talk to your friends, go on a walk around the neighborhood, or cook a nourishing meal. It is possible to hold and honor both your individual joy and our collective grief at the same time.