Until next time… -Dr. Peach
Self-Reflection Journal Prompts
If you have been following the blog, you know that I am an avid fan of journals and journaling. Sometimes I use journal prompts to guide me in being intentional when I journal. Journaling is a great way to self-reflect.
I wanted to share a few journal prompts to kick start or help continue your journaling process. Feel free to use these journal prompts, screenshot these prompts for later use, and share them with someone you love.
Hope these journal prompts lead you to deeper moments of self-reflection. Happy journaling!
Until next time,
-Peach
Add more Zen to your Week
Zen, the art of being peaceful and calm. A staple in Buddhism practices, Zen focuses on eliminating stressors to be fully at ease in the moment. To sustain your mental health, zen practices are necessary for everyday living.
In the climate we live in, peace is vital for your mental health. The omission of peace is detrimental to one’s mental health. As cliche as it may sound, mental health is mental wealth. There’s beauty in slowing down.
By moving too fast, we can develop feelings of needing to do more. We should ask ourselves, what is more exactly? Why do we feel the need to do more? What would happen if we just slowed down.
To mindfully slow down this week…here are five quick ways to add more zen in your life.
- Slowly rise in the morning. Take your time. Don’t rush your shower, morning coffee, or getting dressed. Go with the flow. Move at a pace that feels right for you. If you find yourself rushing, ask yourself what are you rushing for?
- Mindful breathing. Take moments in your day to stop and breathe. Take deep breaths. Find peace in the stillness that comes with breathing. To take things up a notch you can say what you’re grateful for after each breath.
- Catch a sunrise or sunset. Be honest, when’s the last time you caught a sunrise or sunset. Watching a sunrise or sunset creates harmonious energy in slowing down.
- Do less in your day. Complete essential activities and tasks, then relax. Deadlines and obligations can be postponed.
- Mindset shift. Transition your mind into a zen state. Go with the flow of everything. If challenges occur, be at peace with it. Keeping a zen mindset can change the frequency in the types of energy you attract.
Enjoy your week of zenning out.
Until next time,
-Peach
Day in a life: High Vibration Living
Right now, vibes/vibration is a trending term. On any given day we hear or see people post online about “no negative vibes” and “high vibration”. There’s many resources online about “high vibration”. However, as many of us are expanding our consciousness on high vibration living, it brings up the question…what does an actual day of high vibration look like?
Today, I wanted to share what a typical day can look like in high vibration. The intention of a high vibration day is to complete things/activities which nurture the soul. High vibration days should leave us feeling empowered, enlightened, and in alignment with the best version of ourselves.
Here’s what a high vibration day can look like for me…
As I close out this blog post, it’s important for me to note high vibration living is a choice. By setting intentions at the beginning of the day, we set the tone. We must be mindful in how we go about each day. Be mindful in who we interact with. Be mindful in what we eat/drink. Be mindful about what gets our attention/energy. Everyday won’t be perfect but make the most out of what is. Everyday is not a high vibration day for me and when it is not, I am gentle with myself and allow myself to just be.
Let’s keep the conversation going…in what ways do you have a high vibration day?
Until next time,
-Peach
Adult Braces: What I Wish I Knew Before Getting Them
Adult Braces! One of my goals for 2019 was to fix my smile. Over the years, I became very insecure about my smile. So insecure that I would smile with my mouth closed, and was strategic with how I spoke (to not show teeth). As I got older my teeth started to spread. My teeth had a lot of gaps and spaces. The spacing didn’t happen until my later 20’s. Hence, adult braces.
Adult Braces! One of my goals for 2019 was to fix my smile. Over the years, I became very insecure about my smile. So, insecure that I would smile with my mouth closed and be strategic with how I spoke. As I got older my teeth started to spread. My teeth had a lot of gaps/spaces. The spacing didn’t happen until my later 20’s. Hence, adult braces.
I got braces in April. Prior to getting braces, I did a lot of research. I originally wanted veneers, couldn’t afford it. I’m not Cardi B and I didn’t have a bag to fix my teeth. Braces were the affordable option. I got ceramic braces. Ceramic braces felt more adult-like. In seven months, my spaces have closed. I have to retrain myself to smile with my teeth, which is a good problem to have. I should have my braces off in two months. Not sure why I waited so long to fix my smile.
Before getting braces here’s what I wish I knew:
- Braces hurt
- My cheeks and teeth always hurt, I’m just use to it now.
- Your facial structure will change
- When teeth re-align correctly it is inevitable for your facial structure to change.
- High maintenance
- Stay prepared with tooth cleaning supplies. The water flosser has been a life saver.
- Be prepared to take time off work for dental appointments
- Getting braces is an investment of time and money. Missing and appointment can result in delayed progress. If you go to a dental office that is only open four days a week, you should work around they’re schedule.
- Can’t eat what you want
- Having to give up crunchy food like chips, apples, etc. has been a struggle. Granted, I have lost 20 pounds. Food has become less important to me. Every time I eat, I have must clean my teeth. Thus, I would rather avoid eating to not brush my teeth.
If you’re considering getting braces as an adult…do it! Life is too short to live with things making you feel insecure.
Until Next Time…
-Peach
Quotes and Notes #5
For a long time, I perceived challenges as something to be anxious about. The anxious energy was me assuming everything was not going to be okay. Overtime something switched. I began to realize I was anxious because, I was trying to control the challenge. I now know challenges are beyond my control. It is what it is. I can’t change the challenge, but I can change the energy I give to the challenge. Taking on a “is what it is” mindset helped me to relax about occurring challenges. It’s not to say that I don’t care about challenges, but I do care about what my body intakes on a mental-spiritual level. I can’t afford to exhaust myself mentally and spiritually, that’s expensive currency!
There is nothing I can do to control the circumstances of a challenge. The only thing I can control is how I respond. Before I respond, I question if the challenge is worth exerting my energy, knowing the challenge will quickly fade. Challenges appear as an attempt to teach a lesson and measure growth. If I am consciously aware and tapped into my “God Body”, I inner-stand everything is working for my greater good. With every challenge, there is a blessing. Case in point when I lost a committee member for my dissertation committee, I was BIG MAD! In my panic, I assumed worst case scenarios about by doctoral program. Feeling triggered, I checked my energy and made peace with the situation. It is what it is! In return, I found a new committee member who made the process much more fluid.
Me being at ease about challenges is not to say that I am a calmness guru. However, it is to say that when a challenge comes up, it triggers my anxiety to respond abruptly. To counter act the trigger I mindfully question myself about the challenge to re-ground myself. Lord’s knows it’s a process for me, but everything is working for greater good.
Let’s chat below…when it comes to challenges how do you go about overcoming them?
Until Next Time,
-Peach
Three Years Later…What I Learned From Being Single
The best thing I did for myself was be single. I was in a toxic relationship and wouldn’t admit it was toxic! All the signs were there, I refused to pay attention. Owning my truth, I made contributions to the toxic nature of the relationship by staying in the relationship for so long. When I finally came to the over-standing that this wasn’t the type of love I desired in a romantic relationship, I left!
And when I left, I felt free but afraid. I was afraid because I had spent a decade+ with someone I loved. Yet, there was a freedom in knowing that I wasn’t tolerating any B.S. and was finally putting myself first.
Spending a decade+ with a person, it took time for me to transition. I literally had to mourn the relationship. In those three years…
I needed to be by myself.
I needed to focus on myself.
I needed to focus on my mental health.
I needed to focus on God.
Three years is a long time to be single, but in three years I have grown. Now I’m not trying to be single forever, I still go on dates. I’ve shared a few vibes with people. Just haven’t found my unicorn yet. I say unicorn because it takes a special type of person to requite the love I need. Plus, people suggest that there are no good men out there, I don’t believe that to be true. Hence, the unicorn title!
To end this blog post, I want to share a few things I learned while being single.
- I’m responsible for the energy I allow into my life.
- I don’t need a person to make me whole, I am whole on my own.
- It’s selfish to jump into another relationship without working on “my stuff” first.
- The only love I truly need is self-love.
- There’s valuable lessons to learn in pain and suffering.
- I ‘m not wasting my summers on people who are not worth my time (s/o to Dion Cole for the summer metaphor).
- All I need to do is work on myself and everything else will fall into place.
- I love who I am.
- I am very clear on what I want in a future partner.
- Glow ups are a real thing!
For the people going through a breakup just know it does get better. Take your time…heal and love yourself.
Until Next Time…
-Peach
My Morning Routine
On YouTube, I’ve seen videos of people sharing their morning routines, so I decided to share mine. We all know, how you start the day sets the tone for the rest of your day. To start my day…I start my routine at night. Before going to bed, I pick out my clothes and take a shower. Getting things prepared at night helps me ease into my morning without feeling overwhelmed.
When I rise, I instantly say three things I am grateful for and I pray. Starting my day with gratitude allows me to be thankful for my human experience. After expressing gratitude, I’ll take a few deep breaths, drink water, and get out of the bed. As soon as I get out the bed. I make my bed and head to the bathroom. In the bathroom, I sit and gather my thoughts. I move very slowly in the morning. As I sit, I find a motivational podcast, song, or video to listen/watch. Once I fine some inspirational content to get me going, I start getting dressed. Listening or watching inspirational content while washing my face or brushing my teeth adds perspective to my mornings.
When I’m done getting dressed, before I head out the door I say my prayers and leave for work. During my drive to work, I call loved ones and chat it up. When I arrive at work I sit at my desk, take out my notebook and write down my intentions for today. For example, today my intention was to operate from a space of peace (considering that I’m tried and feeling annoyed). After writing my intentions, I write down tangible goals to accomplish for the day. Midway through my day I check in to see how I’m feeling, and identify where I’m at on my goal list.
My morning routine truly works for me. One of my goals for 2019 was to have a solid morning routine. I started with the perception that my morning routine had to be rigid. I later determined my morning routine was successful when I went with the flow. With being in flow, I cultivated mindful activities which changed depending on my current needs. From implementing a more sustainable morning routine I have seen valuable improvements my overall day-to-day obligations.
Let’s continue the conversation below. What is your morning routine and how does it help you get your day started?
Until next time…
-Peach
Doctoral Life: The Marathon Continues…
Five years later and I am still in school. Still trying to graduate. I never imagined it would take me this long to graduate. When I started my doctoral program, I had no clue what I was getting myself into. The doctoral program and dissertation takes marathon energy to successfully graduate.
When I last wrote about my dissertation, I had passed the Institutional Board Review and was ready for final dissertation approval. When I made it to final review, I was told by my committee that I wasn’t ready to go to the next step. When I found out the news I was devastated! Really devastated! Devastated like my first romantic relationship heartbreak. I was so devastated, I had to take a break from working on my dissertation to restore my mental health and live life. In the process of restoring my mental health and living life, I took a 9 month break from school. In my break, I even thought about quitting school and going ABD (all but degree).
While trying to figure out if I was going to finish school, I pray-fully asked God and my ancestors what to do? Do I finish school or not? Please send me a sign. A day later, I received an email from a research participant with access to additional participants. This was the affirmative sign I needed to move forward with my doctoral journey.What I learned from the experience is that school is not worth the mental distress. When I read an article about a doctoral student committing suicide, I empathize because that could have been me. My extreme devastation was a red flag. Speaking on behalf of many doctoral students, these research projects become our livelihood and we sacrifice a lot!
Mental health issues in doctoral programs is a real thing. To the doctoral students out there…whether you are just starting your journey, in the middle of your journey, or at the tail end of your journey, seek support! The doctoral journal cannot be accomplished alone. Find your tribe! For those wondering, I still work on my dissertation. I will graduate! Now knowing what I know, I work on my dissertation in a more tolerable manner.
Let’s continue the conversation below…for those of you who have been enrolled in a graduate degree program, how have you overcome the mental stressors of school?
Until next time…
-Peach
You Know the Vibe!
Vibrations! We are all energetic beings. Just bodies in motion, moving through different frequencies. Depending on our mental, physical, and spiritual awareness this influences the vibrations we give off and the vibrations we receive/attract.
I’m writing this post because I hear so many people say…
- “why is this happening to me?”
- “why do I keep attracting the same type of people?”
- “why isn’t my manifestation happening faster?”
IDK who needs to hear this but… it’s US! We are the reason for the energetic vibrations we attract. Pun intended, you know the vibe! On a subconscious and conscious level, you know the vibe you give off.
We must take responsibility our vibes. To be unaware of your vibe is problematic. Unrequited vibes are a sign of limited respect for yourself and those around you.
We can’t be mad at the universe for receiving energy we played a role in. Understanding your vibrational frequency is key. Inability to own your frequency, empowers karma to pull up and “wait for you at the front door”.
Taking responsibility for the vibrations you bring into work, relationships, and social settings. Basically, where ever you go owning your energy is the dopest thing you can do!
To be better in tuned with your vibes…here are a few practices to help you be more mindful throughout the day.
- Take three deep breaths and ask yourself:
- How do you feel?
- What do you need in the present moment?
- Make a mental observation of the people around you:
- How do the people around you make you feel?
- Is your energy motivated or depleted with the people around?
- Do you physically feel good or bad with the people around you?
- Consumption:
- How long were you on social media today?
- How has the internet or other media consumption made you feel today?
Let’s keep the conversation going. Below, add a comment on how you stay in tuned with your vibes and repeal away the unrequited vibes.
Until Next Time…
-Peach