Jan 10, 2024 | Mental Health Ministry, Stronger Together Support Group
Hello friends,
The quote, “change is the only constant in life” is typically attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus, though I prefer two alternate translations: “all entities move and nothing remains still” and “everything changes and nothing stands still.” I like these two translations because they frame change as a natural state of being, rather than as a disruptive force.
Who am I kidding, though: change feels inherently disruptive.
That’s why this week we’re going to watch a quick video titled, “The Four Stages Of Coping With Change” and talk about our own experiences managing (or maybe just suffering through) these stages of change. This is a good time of year to contemplate how we might better cope with change in the months ahead… or at least better prepare ourselves for the possibility of change.
Our warm-up question for this week:
When you were a kid, what was a big change/hope/dream you wished for?
See you soon,
Alex
Jan 2, 2024 | Mental Health Ministry, Stronger Together Support Group
Hello friends,
I realized at 11:59 pm on New Year’s Eve that I didn’t have a resolution ready to go, so I quickly searched the web for some ideas for how I might improve myself over the next 527,040 minutes. Here were some top hits from my (literally) 11th hour search:
- Order every drink on the Starbucks Menu.
- Stop blaming my own foul odor on the dog.
- Perfect my favorite celebrity impression.
- Learn to fold fitted sheets.
- Look busy while doing nothing.
Perhaps sensing the existential dilemma I created for myself, Dee emailed over a couple of helpful resources that got me back on track. The first is a super short video on the problem with New Year’s resolutions, delivered by an “influencer” who really speaks my language.
The video helped me get in the right headspace for the more challenging and provocative opinion piece titled, “This Year, Make a Resolution About Something Bigger Than Yourself” (PDF version also attached, with source link in the file header). I don’t want to give anything away here because it’s better if you read it for yourself; it’s a short essay that will only take a couple of minutes. Suffice it to say I’ve scratched the top hits for resolutions from my last-minute internet search.
Our warm-up question for this week:
What’s a New Year’s resolution you wish someone dealing with mental illness would make?
See you soon,
Alex
Aug 23, 2023 | Mental Health Ministry, Stronger Together Support Group
Hello friends,
As Christians we believe–really, we have to believe–in the ability of people to change. While it’s easy to look back on our lives and reflect on how we have already changed, it’s a little bit more difficult to imagine how we might change in the future (spoiler alert: we’re all going to continue changing and growing, no matter how much we might insist otherwise). It’s enough to make you wonder…what types of things change us? Major life events, of course, but surely there are “small” things that change us over time, too?
This week we’re going to talk about one way in which people change: by listening to the personal stories of others. We’ll listen to a ~5-minute excerpt (starting at 3:45) of a podcast episode titled, “Communications to Power Mental Health” by none other than our very own Carrie Fox! In this episode, Carrie interviews Schroeder Stribling, President and CEO of Mental Health America, who tells her story about how she was inspired to be the leader she is today. As you reflect on her story, think about how it makes you feel, and perhaps how similar personal stories have changed the paths you’ve journeyed along throughout your life.
Our warm-up question for this week:
What’s a song that you love dancing to, or (if you’re like me and desperately try to avoid dancing), a song that you danced to for a memorable occasion?
