Image generated using POE AI
I remember attending a seminar in Abuja City; it was in a church, and the name of the program was to tell people about mental health and the importance of mental health. I attended the program because I wanted to learn more about it, and I did learn more because the speakers who were invited to speak for the day made us understand that mental health is more than just a thing of taking care of your current state.
Since then, I always make sure to do things that will help my mental health, because my mental health will also determine how I respond to people. The last time I made a deliberate effort to prioritize my mental health was when I decided to establish boundaries with a toxic individual in my life.
This was a work colleague who knew when we got paid, had the same salary, and worked in the same office. I notice how friendly and attached he is to me, always wanting us to go home together because our destination is located in the same vicinity. I would pay for her transport every time, and it started to become like a norm whereby she wouldn't even bother bringing out her purse. The day I didn't have much, and I asked her to pay, she would leave the office fast before I did. Such a kind of friendship isn't good for one's mental health.
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So what did I do? I had to find a way to let her know I would like to be going home alone sometimes because I had other places to be before going home. I also try to avoid some kind of conversation with her that would lead to billing. At a certain point, I had to come clean with her and let her know the things I noticed that I wasn't happy about. She took offense and stopped talking to me.
I recognized the importance of seeking professional help when needed. We don't really have therapy in my country, so most of the time we tough it out, but I have a friend who wasn't in the same city as me, so we just talk about everything, and later on, I will feel better because I already let off some steam.
Putting my mental health first has been a transformative journey, one that has taught me the value of self-awareness, self-compassion, and resilience. By making intentional choices to prioritize my mental well-being, I have cultivated a greater sense of inner peace, balance, and emotional strength.
Currently, anything that poses a threat to my mental health, I have no choice but to toss it aside. Both physical and non-physical things, non-physical as words or actions. I would bother with it again because having a peaceful mind is the priority.
Thanks for reading. My name is Fashtioluwa, the alien from Mars. It would be nice to have a short conversation with you in the comments after your comment.
