The Mental Element Group

My workouts aren’t what they used to be. This year I’m dedicating to acceptance and exploring what my body likes and thrives on.
Working out only 2-3 times a week and keeping the workouts focused on mobility, stability and on simply moving my body has taken a LOT of acceptance and patience.
And TONS of grace.
I had to learn that
•I don’t need to CRUSH every workout
•Listening to my body and brain is wisdom not weakness
•I don’t have to “earn” rest through exhaustion
•Rest IS recovery not laziness

I’ve had to get creative with my sessions but that’s actually the fun part (also when I have to be careful not to over do it)
It’s a journey and I’m learning a lot a long the way.
Thankful for my and the PT, LT, and OT teams I can access bc of them.

Rest
Recover
Repeat

💗

art: dearcelesteau

…is there any wonder why we are the way we are?!?
😆

BONUS SQUARED: If you’re also a retired military member who raised kids volunteered for all the things and basically never stopped EVER 😅

We can access the space by pausing ✋🏽
🖤Without it
the space between stimulus and response
is infinitesimal
🤍With it
the space between stimulus and response
🫷🏾e x p a n d s🫸🏾
Giving us time to
Perceive ✔️
Acknowledge ✔️
Choose ✔️
and
THEN
Respond ✔️

I had a wonderful conversation with a sister-in-arms yesterday and we inevitably came to the dreaded SHOULDS
and
because I'm a slow processor
it took me until later in the evening to realize
the antithetical to
SHOULD
is
I AM
that's it.
Even as I said it to myself, and chewed on it a bit
I found myself trying to turn
I AM
into a PLAN
or
an ACTION
but
it's neither
it's a complete sentence
STATEMENT
an
ASSERTION
as it is
I AM

I SHOULD implies
lack of,
need to,
less than
But
I AM declares
completeness.

What we WANT to do is one thing.
We can pursue and apply our energy to what we value and hold dear
because we WANT to
rather than because we SHOULD

Next time you think
I SHOULD
challenge that thought with
I AM
Perhaps what you WANT becomes a bit more clear

That's , folks










🇺🇸

🤷🏽‍♀️
Some people just can’t let go, I guess

🇺🇸

make meal prepping more meal and less prepping. I recently re-discovered mine and I think I heard it thank me for bringing it out of the dark pantry. But the kids and I are the grateful ones—crockpots give the gift of convenience and abundant portions. Perfect for a busy family and perfect for answering the question: “what’s for lunch/dinner?” and reducing decision fatigue
All part of the plan

Taking :15 minutes to enjoy your meal,
to revel in the sensations of smell and taste and sound, is a great part of a practice

🔎Identifying is tricky
It is not clearly defined in DSMV as psychological diagnosis
BUT
☝🏽The International Classification of Diseases 11th Edition just added it to the list of mental disorders
One study specifically looking at burnout found that:
Those with mild burnout were 3 times more likely to meet criteria for major depression
Those with severe burnout were 46 times more likely

Like depression, burnout is also associated w much higher rate of su***de; unlike depression, it is not tracked as cause of su***de.
A 2018 Gallup poll found 23% of employees reported feeling burnt out at often or always, and 44% felt burnt out sometimes
Much higher rates than depression
By learning about burnout and its effects, we become aware of the progression of symptoms leading to burnout and can better , , and .

Emotional and Physical Exhaustion can present just as it sounds.
😰You’re gassed.
😮‍💨Veritably gasping for air.
😵No amount of sleep seems to cut it.
Your relationship with Netflix is getting deeper than your relationships with other humans.
A Reduced Sense of Accomplishment feels like
😒Nothing is good enough and you’re unable to perform the way you used to.
🏋🏿‍♀️PT
🫡Leading, and mentoring
👩‍👩‍👧‍👦Parenting all feel like tremendous amounts of work for minimal returns or effects.

Job/Mission Devaluation feels like
😑You simply can’t muster up the same motivation or enthusiasm for your job or role or mission anymore.
😔You may find yourself wondering what it’s all for
🫀🧠Your heart and brain are just not in it anymore

If these feel familiar, know
👥You are not alone
🫂You are still a valuable member of your family and team
😴You deserve respite

Burnout is not a resiliency problem; it’s a lack of rest problem.

Palmer, C. M. (2022). Brain Energy: A Revolutionary Breakthrough in Understanding Mental Health--and Improving Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, OCD, PTSD, and More. BenBella Books.