Wednesday, April 3, 2024
April is Stress Management Month
Thursday, December 14, 2023
Guest Post: Empower Your Introverted Self: A Comprehensive Self-Care Guide by Kevin D. Ogle
Navigating the maze of daily life can be
overwhelming for many, but it's particularly taxing for introverts who find
solace in solitude. A well-structured self-care strategy is not just a luxury
but a necessity for introverts to maintain a balanced emotional, physical, and
mental state. In this article from Brown Girl from
Boston, we outline a thoughtful and sustainable
self-care regimen designed explicitly for introverted individuals.
Unleash
Your Artistic Talents
Initiating a self-care journey can often
start with the simplest yet most profound activities. For introverts, creative
outlets like painting, sketching, or digital art offer a sanctuary for
self-expression and emotional renewal. Tapping into your artistic abilities helps you introspect and understand your innermost thoughts and primes you for future self-care actions. Creativity aligns your emotional
and intellectual faculties, making focusing on other aspects of your well-being and lifestyle easier.
Commit
to Health through Movement
As your emotional well-being starts to
find its footing through creative pursuits, extending this balance to your physical self is crucial. Physical activity has an undeniable impact on your health, be it jogging, practicing yoga, or even dancing to your favorite tunes at home.
Beyond the endorphin rush that naturally lifts your mood, regular exercise lays
the foundation for better sleep and mental clarity, critical components of
self-care.
Seek
Services for Rehab or Refresh
With your body in a healthier routine and your mind at ease, take a moment to examine your lifestyle and relationships. Most of us enter adulthood with baggage of some sort. Determine whether yours is getting in the way of your happiness, and connect with services that help.
Another option is connecting with your
insurance provider to determine your coverage for talk therapy. Many
plans offer free options, like Teledoc or some such. Talk about things if you are irritable, sad, anxious, or complacent about things that shouldn’t be triggering you. A therapist can provide you with tools to
move forward and live a more fulfilling life.
Escape
Through Literary Journeys
Now that your mind is less cluttered and
more focused, it's the perfect time to indulge in the quiet joy of reading.
Books serve as gateways to different worlds,
offering a break from reality that many introverts cherish. You might even want
to dedicate a space in your home as a reading room or book nook. A window seat
with a built-in bench or even a full-blown library can provide hours on end of
enjoyment. If you need further justification, it could even be an asset to your home’s market value when
executed aesthetically pleasingly.
Engaging with diverse narratives and perspectives
can be as refreshing as enlightening, and this mental escapade further
solidifies your emotional grounding.
Harmonize
Solitude and Social Engagement
While the joy of solitude is
irreplaceable for introverts, balancing this need for isolation with measured social interactions is vital. Prioritize quality conversations and
meaningful experiences over empty social obligations. A cup of coffee and a
good friend can be the perfect combination. Bear in mind that if you tend to
feel anxious about connecting, you might monitor how much caffeine you
take in. High-powered coffee drinks can
contribute to jitters.
This harmonious balance enriches your emotional
palette and equips you to derive greater pleasure from your solitary pursuits.
Maintain
a Journal of Thankfulness
Gratitude is a powerful force for
emotional well-being. To help keep the positives at the forefront of your mind,
consider jotting down aspects of your life you are grateful for. A thankfulness
journal not only boosts your mood but also serves as a reflective
tool. You can revisit your entries during challenging times as a reminder of
your personal growth and successful strategies.
Curate
a Haven for Personal Renewal
It's crucial to have a physical space
that reflects your need for solitude and emotional replenishment. A dedicated
corner furnished with calming elements—soft cushions, gentle lighting, or even
a small library—can be your sanctuary. This intimate space enables you to
recharge efficiently, ensuring you have the energy to continue your self-care
routine over the long term.
Master
Calming Techniques
To weave together the different aspects
of your self-care routine, delve into calming practices like mindfulness,
meditation, or even progressive muscle relaxation. These techniques not only
reduce stress but also improve your mental stamina. A
holistic approach to relaxation complements the other facets of your self-care
plan, resulting in a well-rounded regimen for sustained well-being.
For introverts, mastering the art of
self-care is a complex yet rewarding endeavor that necessitates attention to
emotional, physical, and mental facets. By embracing the various strategies
outlined here, you lay down a strong foundation for a resilient and fulfilling
life, tailored to meet the unique demands of your introverted nature.
Blog Post Author
Kevin D. Ogle
Friday, August 27, 2021
FRAGILE VESSEL.... BLACK WOMEN
Thursday, July 29, 2021
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Day 8 of The Holistic FLYness Challenge
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Black Pain|Black Rage
About a month ago, on the BGFB FB Page and blog, I briefly discussed how stress kills us! We often forget how stress manifests into a Black rage and Black pain, which silently kills us slowly and daily. Anger, pain, and trauma all coincide with being Native Black in America, dealing with constant mistreatment, no upward mobility, unstable and unhealthy environments, and continuous lying that everybody is okay. Being Native Black in America consists of a complicated and unhealed journey of involuntarily inflicting pain, abuse, use, and mistreatment from others who inflicted pain and rage upon us.
Black people are empathic, probably too empathic and forgiving when we shouldn't be. We extend our grace and mercy too often while others don't reciprocate it. As Native Black Americans/Descendant of Chattel Slavery, we often put aside our issues and, unfortunately, take on the problems of folks who don't care about us or acknowledge our horrible history of mistreatment here on the same soil our ancestors built, bleed farm, and died on.
When we are in a state of rage, sometimes we tend to project that onto other Native Blacks through respectability politics. You know the pound cake speech:
"You should straighten your hair if you want to be respected by White Folks."
"You should code-switch and talk this way to be accepted by the masses." "You should send your children to this school over there for better opportunities."
"You should do this, that, and the third for acceptance."
Whose acceptance and at what cost? How is that acceptance working out for those who are assimilating and conforming or perhaps trying to escape Blackness?
It doesn't work for us because we are always in internal rage. After all, you are trying to achieve this unrealistic and sabotaging perfection non-existence. (https://www.vox.com/identities/2018/4/4/17189310/martin-luther-king-anniversary-race-inequality-racism)
Internalizing our rage is killing us and has been killing us since the beginning of time. Please let it out and not let internalized anger slowly kill you. Releasing rage is unpacking years of unlearning unhealthy coping mechanisms such as self-abuse, self-loathing, and self-sabotaging behaviors. Unfortunately, we can't unlearn and unpack centuries of trauma from slavery, disenfranchisement, broken families, no wealth, and injustice. It is okay to be mad AF because to be Black in America, you are already in a state of rage daily. Just don't stay angry; do something productive about it:
- Advocate for Black Americans through 1:1 and group therapy and healing modalities.
- Support Black organizations, institutions, schools, and non-profits through volunteerism or donation or sending your children or family members to these institutions.
- Get involved with local community politics and help your fellow family members and community members progress.
Masking our Black Pain and Rage is a daily coping mechanism that is vaguely discussed because we don't want to play into the stereotype of being an Angry Black Woman or Man. How can every other human unleash and unpack their hurt and pain, but we must internalize it all for the sake of looking pristine, holding onto a career or fragile self-image? When are we going to individually and collectively heal our rage and pain?
Saturday, May 6, 2017
25 Tips for Self-Care For Brown Girls
2.Going for a walk in nature
3.Silent Tea Time
4. Taking a warm bath
5. Listening to relaxing music in stillness
6. Color in an Adult coloring book
7. Practice focus breathing
8. Practice tension release exercises
9. Practice Yoga
10. Take a Nap
11. Prepare and eat a nutrient dense meal
12. Take yourself out on a date
13. Buy yourself some flowers
14. Schedule a massage
15. Schedule a mani & pedi
16. Read a chapter in an inspirational book
17. Plan a staycation or vacation
18. Dance in the mirror
19. Enjoy some aromatherapy
20. Go to bed earlier
21. Get your laugh on
22. Meditate
23. Write a love letter to yourself
24. Explore a new hobby or pastime
25. Spend quality time with people that support you
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Part 1 of My Life With Fibroids: Pre- Laparoscopic Myomectomy Surgery
I am going through two major life transitions at the same damn time...1. I am packing up my entire home and relocating Down South, and I am finally getting my fibroids removed. Lawd have mercy on my uterus, vagina, and reproductive organs. I am one of millions of Black women who are of childbearing age who suffer from heavy menstrual cycles, unexplained weight gain, long and miserable periods, pelvic pressure, frequent urination, depression, anxiety, lowered self-esteem, and more. I am very thankful that these fibroids will be gone from my life.
According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 80-90% of African-American women will develop fibroids by age 50. Some may have no symptoms but hundreds of thousands like myself will deal with symptoms. If this is you, please seek immediate attention. If your gynecologist doesn't listen, fire him/her and get answers from another professional. I live in Providence and had to go all the way to Massachusetts General Hospital and hire Dr. Douglas Brown to help solve my issues, and he will be my surgeon. Check out the Fibroid Study at MGH. Also, don't allow any physician to tell you that you need a hysterectomy, especially if you don't have any children. They can remove fibroids and keep your uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. If you are a Black Woman, they will try to push that on you due to decreasing the number of Black Babies being born, take your cells like Henrietta Lacks, and do God knows what. You can get a myomectomy, a surgical procedure that removes the fibroids while leaving the uterus intact. It is a minimally invasive surgery with 4-5 incisions via your belly button and other areas of your stomach.
I will show you and explain more during Part 2 of my Post-Laparoscopic Myomectomy Surgery!
This is part 1 of my video about dealing with submucosal fibroids, which wreak havoc on your entire beautiful life. Come check out how I have coped for two years and what led me to finally say enough is enough.
I have been suffering from submucosal fibroids for about two years along with hypothyroidism. I am finally getting my laparoscopic myomectomy surgery at Mass General Hospital in Boston, MA. No more suffering with fibroids. If you are suffering from fibroids, this video is for you.
If you reside within the New England Area, please check out Dr. Brown at the
MGH Fibroid Study: www.massgeneral.org/fibroids
Supplements Used during PMS and shrinking fibroids.
Liquid Vitamin D
SSS Tonic/Geritol
Heating Pad with Castor Oil
Moon Cycle Tea by Yogi
Eliminate dairy
Red Raspberry
DIM
Pau d'Arco tea
Black Cohosh herbs
Mangosteen Juice
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Health, Wealth, and Beauty Bazaar
Details are as follows:
What: Health, Wealth, and Beauty Bazaar
When: November 21st, 2015, 9am-3pm
Where: Salvation Army, 386 Broad Street Providence, RI
9-9:55 – Yoga w/ Satta (Gym)
10-10:55 – Soul Line dancing w/ Elanor (Gym)
11-12 – "How to Turn Your Dreams into Profit" Business Coaching seminar w/ Andrea (Chapel)
12-12:50 Hair care demo w/ Bliss Salon (Gym)*
1-2 Hair care panel various hairstylists (Chapel)*
Have a question about hair? Submit them to the panelists ahead of time using the following link: http://bit.ly/1PjmSEv
Hair Care: Satta Jallah, sjallah401@aol.com
Business Seminar: Andrea Imafidon, drea@browngirlfromboston.com
Hope to see you there!



