Here are the topics recently explored in our mental health discussion group, Stronger Together:
11/6/25: Gratitude
It is easier to feel grateful when life is going smoothly and joys abound. But during challenging times, gratitude can feel much harder to access—and yet it can be especially meaningful and supportive for our emotional well-being during those moments. We’ll talk about why practicing gratitude matters, particularly in difficult seasons, and share ideas for how we can nurture gratitude intentionally in our daily lives. We’ll also watch a short five-minute video that highlights the mental health benefits of gratitude and offers simple ways to cultivate it. Please join us.
11/13/25: Connection and Community
I think we all agree that our supportive church community — and the smaller groups that grow out of it, like Stronger Together — offer us a foundation that nurtures our mental health.This week’s video highlights the importance of community to our well-being and introduces the speaker’s concept of Social Health. It opens the door to a meaningful conversation about the role of connection in our lives. Please join us as we watch and discuss it together.
11/20/25: Sound Therapy
Sound is all around us, and whether we know it or not, it’s always affecting how we feel. Yogis have been aware of the healing power of sound for thousands of years. This week we’ll read “A Guide to Sound Healing” and “What is a Sound Bath?” We’ll also explore some sound compilations and try it for ourselves. Join us to discuss!
11/27/25: No gathering; Thanksgiving
12/4/25: Tradition and Ritual
As we enter the Christmas season, so rich with traditions and rituals, let’s look at how these traditions and rituals support our mental health. We’ll watch this video together. Join us to discuss.
12/11/25: When the holidays make you blue
The Christmas season is beautiful and exciting, and conversely, depending on the day, your mood, or your circumstances, can be sad and lonely. We’ll watch this video together about managing the emotional pitfalls of the holidays, and talk about managing them for ourselves. Please join us.
12/18: Don’t Feed the Monkey Mind!
The information is on this site – https://jennifershannon.com/
Some of the worksheets/quizzes are here – https://jennifershannon.com/worksheets/
Are your thoughts rapidly leaping about, preventing you from relaxing or focusing? We call it the Monkey Mind, and it can be an unwelcome distraction. Can we calm it? How do we live with it? Please join us as we discuss it together.
12/25 – No meeting (Christmas Day)