What’s one small improvement you can make in your life?

To answer this I must first be willing to admit that I am not perfect and that there are areas of my life that can (and must) be improved. Once I can admit that to myself, God, and whoever else dares read, I can honestly say that the smallest improvement I can make in my life, is also the most difficult improvement, AND the improvement that would make the great change.

I must improve my thoughts.

As I write this, I recall several quotes that combine in my mind to say this, “life is 10% what you do and 90% how you think.” If I butchered that, I do sincerely apologize yet I believe the intention is to realize that when we can effectively control our mind, we can have dominion over all other things related to self. And for me (and anyone else who lives with mental illness), controlling my mind is the most difficult thing that I could do.

One day my mind says, “Love your body and love who you are!” and the next day thoughts of self-hatred and inadequacy consume my entire being. One minute I am floating on cloud nine, grateful for the business and ministry that God has placed within me, and the next minute I am heartbroken that support is sporadic and lackluster at best. I want to radiate God’s love, grace, mercy, and favor in all that I do, but sometimes my mind has had enough and is incapable of processing positivity.

Yet and still, I recognize two things to be true simultaneously: 1. True strength lies in one’s mind, and 2. Mental illness is a b*tch.

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month and I encourage you to visit NAMI.org to read more about how mental illness impacts us all. Ignorance and prejudice destroy what would otherwise be a harmonious state of living. Please educate yourself on the signs and symptoms and spread love and understanding above all else.