“The Wiz” – A Mental Health Check-In

“What would I do if I could feel”? The lyrics to a song that the Tin Man belts out in the Wiz. He’s pleading for the Wizard to give him a heart and the song truly has to be heard. Ne-Yo did it justice in the latest live studio version on tv; Queen Latifah gives a jaw-dropping performance as the Wizard.

The depth and complexity of human life is wrapped in feeling one way or another. Your favorite football team wins the Super Bowl, you feel elated. Your mom tells you on a Sunday morning that your grandmother passed away – six weeks after being diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. You’re sad, shocked, maybe grateful that she’s no longer in pain.

Reflecting on the latter experience, my own, I recall being so numb on the day of the funeral. The wide range of emotions I felt culminated in one scene. My grandfather kissed his wife of 40-plus years goodbye. He cried softly and wore sunglasses to cover his presumably bloodshot eyes. To keep hidden everything he was feeling. He‘s gone too and I feel so much better knowing they’re together again.

Today I want to tell you that I don’t feel great. Someone probably asked me how I was doing earlier and I said “I’m chillin bro” or “Can’t complain”; I lied, but we all do. As humans we are blessed – or cursed – with a wide range of words to articulate how we feel. We are also all subject to the same range of emotions, which can combine and manifest in countless ways. Here’s Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotions so you can see what I mean.

I’m going to get better, though; if you’re feeling like me, so are you. The James Baldwin Society recognizes that we all struggle with keeping our heads and hearts in this game called life. I want to share with you a few helpful tips that work for me. If you get the chance, come to our next General Body meeting. We’re going to open up the floor to talk with you about us getting better!

“Take time to laugh. Hang out with a funny friend, watch a comedy or check out cute videos online. Laughter helps reduce anxiety.” – MHNational

“Has something been bothering you? Let it all out…on paper. Writing about upsetting experiences can reduce symptoms of depression.”- MHNational

“Focus on positivity. Identify and challenge your negative and unhelpful thoughts.” – NIH

“Life throws all sorts at us, and during hard times, we may feel hopeless and not have the energy to plan for the future. Things to look forward to, including fun activities, can help us cope with difficult situations.” – Mental Health UK

Ask for help. Others cannot help you if they do not know what you need. Asking for help can be hard. It is important to remember that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. – HereToHelp

What we eat can affect how we feel both immediately and in the longer term. A diet that is good for your physical health is also good for your mental health. It can be hard to keep up a healthy pattern of eating at work. Regular meals, plus plenty of water, are ideal. – Mental Health UK

Go off the grid. Leave your smart phone at home for a day and disconnect from constant emails, alerts, and other interruptions. Spend time doing something fun with someone face-to-face. – MHNational

Practice forgiveness – even if it’s just forgiving that person who cut you off during your commute. People who forgive have better mental health and report being more satisfied with their lives. MHNational

Fam, I love y’all. I want all of us to be well, whatever that means for you. Tomorrow isn’t promised and I won’t, I can’t waste today. If you’re ever feeling down, watch The Wiz and check out these the tips above. If you need some community, some people striving to be well, holla at the James Baldwin Society, we wanna holla at you back!