Mindful Living: Prioritizing Your Needs in Busy Seasons

Mindful Living: Prioritizing Your Needs in Busy Seasons

Written by: Alyssa Ray, LCSW

As the summer months have been in full swing, I have felt the weight of nonstop plans, summer projects, vacations, and time with family. The summer months can be full of fun and exciting adventures, but can also lead to a sense of overwhelment and exhaustion. So how do we balance all of our summer plans while keeping ourselves grounded and centered? This is where the idea of mindful living can be crucial. For me, mindful living consists of four main components: awareness, intentionality, gratitude, and sustainability. 

When thinking about awareness in the terms of mindful living, I like to think about it in two ways: awareness of the here and now and self-awareness. Awareness of the here and now is all about being present in the moment you are in. It can be hard when we are busy to not think about the next thing we have planned or the tasks we want to accomplish and that is where self-awareness is important. When we are able to practice self-awareness we can get a sense of what our minds and bodies need in that moment in order to stay present. Practicing compassionate self-awareness is allowing yourself to tune into your thinking patterns and body sensations in a nonjudgmental way. It allows you to meet yourself with curiosity and self-acceptance. The more aware we are of our environments and ourselves the more we are able to recognize when we are feeling centered versus dysregulated.

Once we are able to recognize when our minds and bodies are no longer centered, we can incorporate daily practices to help us become grounded. When we are intentional with how we spend our time and give our energy, we can live in a way that fosters calmness and connection. When thinking about mindful living, we need both awareness and intentionality. Intentionality without awareness can lead us to frustration if we are not attuned to what our bodies and minds need in a given moment. Intentionality moves us from awareness to action. It empowers us to use the information we gleaned from tuning into ourselves and our environments to make deliberate decisions about how to spend our time in a way that will honor our mind and body’s needs. When thinking about mindful living, intentionality is about creating balance in your life. During busy seasons it can feel very difficult to incorporate intentional slowness in your time because there can be a pull to “go, go, go.” I know for myself I have to be very intentional about planning moments of stillness into my day in order to keep myself centered during the busy summer months. 

One way I am intentional about keeping myself centered is by practicing gratitude. Practicing gratitude as a part of mindful living has many benefits. A daily gratitude practice has been shown to decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety, help build deeper connections, and lead to more positive outlooks on life. Gratitude can also help us to be more present and increase our awareness. A daily gratitude practice can look as simple as naming five things you are thankful for each morning. Just this small act can lead to a more mindful life and help us stay grounded among the business of our summers.

The last component of mindful living is sustainability. Sustainability is the reason we practice awareness, intentionality, and gratitude. It can be helpful to think in terms of sustainability when we are tuning into ourselves and practicing self-awareness. When we think about the busy summer months it helps to be mindful of our capacity. I know for myself it can be easy to start planning all these activities and I don’t stop to think about how filling my schedule with activities is not sustainable for me. The more self-aware I am, the more I will be able to know at that moment that I do not have capacity for what I may have planned. I can then be intentional about giving my mind and body what it needs in order to sustain my lifestyle. It can be helpful to think about what you are going to intentionally incorporate in your life to sustain you during busy seasons. 

Mindful living is all about knowing your needs and prioritizing them in the midst of business. I know that in some seasons it can feel nearly impossible to prioritize your needs. Whether it is because you have kids who are out of school during the summer and you now are responsible for entertaining them, you are working a demanding job, you’re being pulled multiple directions by different summer plans, or a different stressful situation; prioritizing your needs will allow you to be more grounded and centered. Prioritizing mindful living will allow you to be more connected to those around you and to yourself. As it is about time to transition into the new school year, I hope we can encourage each other in our journeys of mindful living.

Embracing Diversity and Intersectionality in BIPOC Mental Health: A Path to Resilience

Embracing Diversity and Intersectionality in BIPOC Mental Health: A Path to Resilience

Written by: Vanessa Newton, LCSW-S, Owner of COAC

At Colors of Austin Counseling, we are dedicated to fostering a therapeutic environment that celebrates our unique experiences, acknowledges the challenges faced by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities, and empowers individuals through the process of storytelling, connection and developing a sense of belonging to oneself first. Our commitment to these values is rooted in the belief that every person, regardless of their background, deserves access to compassionate, culturally competent mental health care.

Healing in the Therapy Room for Communities of Color

Diversity in therapy goes beyond recognizing differences in race, ethnicity, and culture. It encompasses a broad spectrum of identities, including gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religion, and more. Each of these factors contributes to an individual's unique experience and perspective and our team of clinicians strive to create a safe and inclusive space where all clients feel seen, heard, and respected.

Celebrating diversity in the therapy room means acknowledging the systemic inequities that affect mental health. For instance, BIPOC individuals often face racial discrimination, cultural stigmas, and socio-economic challenges that can exacerbate mental health issues. By understanding these factors, our therapists are better equipped to provide empathetic and effective support. Beyond that, we understand that healing is not linear and does not only happen in the therapy room. It happens over the dinner table, in community, at the library and so on. It’s important to acknowledge that the act of developing a sense of belonging must extend into the spaces that you frequent allowing you practice courage and vulnerability. 

We support that process. We honor that process and if that doesn’t exist for you yet, we will help you in creating it.

The Importance of BIPOC Mental Health

Mental health within BIPOC communities requires particular attention to historical and ongoing injustices. Disparities in access to mental health care, cultural stigmas, and a lack of culturally competent providers contribute to these challenges. At Colors of Austin Counseling, we recognize the importance of addressing these barriers and advocating for mental health equity.

Intersectionality in Therapy

Intersectionality is a critical framework in understanding how overlapping identities—such as race, gender, sexuality, and class—interact to shape an individual’s experiences and challenges. This concept, coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, helps us recognize that the struggles faced by individuals are not just additive but intersecting, creating unique and complex dynamics.

In therapeutic practice, applying an intersectional lens means:

• Holistic Assessment: Taking into account the various facets of a client’s identity to understand how they collectively impact mental health.

• Personalized Treatment: Developing individualized treatment plans that address the specific needs arising from a client’s intersecting identities.

• Advocacy: Empowering clients to navigate systems of oppression and advocating for broader societal changes that promote equality and justice.

Building Resilience

Resilience is the ability to adapt and thrive despite adversity. For BIPOC individuals, resilience often involves navigating systemic barriers and societal prejudices while maintaining mental and emotional well-being. At Colors of Austin Counseling, we believe in fostering resilience through:

• Strength-Based Approaches: Highlighting and building upon clients' inherent strengths and coping strategies.

• Cultural Affirmation: Validating clients' cultural identities and experiences as sources of strength and pride.

• Community Support: Encouraging the development of supportive networks within and outside of therapy, including family, friends, and community resources.

By embracing diversity, integrating an intersectional approach, and fostering resilience, Colors of Austin Counseling is committed to providing exceptional mental health care that honors the rich tapestry of human experiences. We believe that through understanding, compassion, and empowerment, every individual can achieve mental well-being and lead a fulfilling life.

For more information on our services or to schedule an appointment, please visit our contact page or email us directly at connect@colorsofaustincounseling.com. Together, we can navigate the path to healing and growth.