With Your Mind in Mind

Wow. There is so much going on in the world today. At the same time, there seems to be a deafening silence in the cities around the planet. Can you hear it? The fears, anxious feelings, nervousness, and almost debilitating concern over this pandemic are yelling at you from every device, from every feed, and has inundated your notifications. How are you taking care of your mind during this time? What are you doing to ensure that you are focusing on your mental health in order to stay well?

I’ve heard several answers, of course.

Prayer. Meditation. Sleep. Walking. More sleep. Yoga. Healthy eating. Naps…

I am happy to say that I have been working nonstop to attempt to touch #2020Lives this year by having a tough conversation about mental health, wellbeing, and suicide prevention and awareness. 2020 Lives Changed, Inc is a non-profit organization that was created in 2019 and is currently working to partner with @MediGuru (a CloudIX platform) to help to bring just-in-time mental health services to those that may not otherwise have access to such. With the current global pandemic underway, most providers are looking to offer their services via an application available on a smart device. I was excited to meet with the founder of @MediGuru to hear his passion for this tech that he developed years ago. We discussed our shared passion for mental health providers’ accessibility to services at the most important time: now.

My father did not have access to these kinds of resources, nor did my mother. With the stigma of mental illness in their communities, they suffered in silence until the pain was too much for them to bear. I will break this generational curse over my family by intentionally, purposefully, in therapy and in public, serve as an advocate committed to everyday solutions “With Your Mind In Mind” (IGTV)

Last week, my 12-year-old son and I took to Instagram Live (@SherryJamesPMP) to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic and our goal to re-define #socialdistancing as #physicaldistancing. We decided to work to actively #ShelterInPEACE for the time that we need to in order to flatten the curve. He and I discussed e-learning and the pros and cons of such, as well as what he liked most about the time that we are getting to spend together. I am mindful of his mental health amid this crisis and the impact of such a drastic change on his usually very structured and predictable life.

There are some heroes that I need to say a huge #thankyou to: of course-my “tribe” that checks in on me daily to see how I am doing and healing, those who are showing me how to live out my purpose via social media platforms: @Jo Standing with Inner Beat Yoga, Mitch @MindfullyHealing.com and @LivingAhead podcasts where Shay and Kell both allowed me the chance to speak my truth and my story of dealing with grief, trauma and the healing therein. Thank you to @PMIDallas for my chance to speak to a nearly full-house at Brookhaven Country Club in January of this year about the role of Project Management leaders in managing the mental health of our teams and of course, @MPNGlobal for allowing me to be featured on an episode of “SpeakUp!” which will air on #AmazonPrime Video this spring where I speak about the rise of suicide even before the #COVID19 situation. The timeliness of when this will air makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. The universe really knows how to prepare us for what is coming, yes?

In this time of uncertainty and fear, I’d love to hear from my LinkedIn network what you are doing to keep your mental health in check. What (other than sleeping, we got that one already), can you suggest for us to do that is working for you?

If you have not already done so, please follow me on Instagram (@SherryJamesPMP) to see the work that I am doing with Phoenix Speaks and 2020 Lives Changed, Inc. to make a difference. My life experiences make me uniquely qualified to do this work. Now the silence of the world gives me a chance to share this work with those that need to hear it the most:

All of us.