ON BECOMING THE STRONG ONE - by Oluwatoyin Odunuyi

What a month it has been so far!I don’t know if you’ve seen that reel ‘I trust God with my future,‘ then the next clip says,’ No, she doesn’t. She cries every day. She even yelled at me yesterday.’That was me throughout last week.It was genuinely a tough week. So, if you see me glowing, know that my tears and my mother’s magnesium pills have to do with it.But let me talk about something quick before you get to work and grind for your daily 2m. Last time, we talked about taking care of our bodies, getting that tummy tucked in, feeling good, and making sure they are thriving.Whether that meant lifting a few dumbbells, squeezing in a quick workout, or just taking a daily walk around the estate. How’s that been going?Well, we thank God regardless! As for me, the summer body is still very much under construction.Now, I want to talk about mental health.Speaking as someone who sometimes struggles, I can tell you that your mental health won’t be taken seriously unless you take it seriously yourself.Two years ago, I had a counseling and therapy session, and I will only say this: those psychologists are very inquisitive and observant; the thing you are hiding, they will bring out. If you’re considering therapy, know that no stone will be left unturned. That thing you forgot in secondary school, they will bring it out.So, therapy was something I actually needed to go for, because that’s what my mental health needed at that time.I often worry about many things, but one thing that helped me was learning not to stress over what I can’t control. Sometimes we get upset and complain about things beyond our control, and it only ends up hurting us. It can affect our sleep, our appetite, and even how we function.So, I’m here to give my own tips for taking care of your mental health.One, talk to someone you trust and love. This is one of the best tips because being an adult has made many of us feel like Wonder Woman or Captain America.You know that saying, I can do this all day?’ No, you can’t. You need to stop sometimes and ask for help. You need support, and sometimes when things get tough, all you need is to call a friend to distract you or pray with you.Another tip of mine is to let things go. There are things I can control, like my own results, but when it comes to Nigeria, I have very little control.I can have my PVC, pray, and hope for change, but my worries alone can’t make our leaders better or stop disasters in the world.’Let things go and let God handle the rest. This is honestly how I live now.Lastly, I do one more thing: I cry. I know what you’re thinking. Why cry? I even set aside time for it. With how busy adult life is, I can’t just cry at work or on the bus, so I pick a night during my prayers and let it out. If anyone says crying is a sign of weakness, remember that everyone has their own way of letting out emotions.Some people scream in their cars or drive around to release their feelings.Do whatever works for you, but don’t bottle up your feelings. Take this as a sign to talk to a friend, mute group chats, protect your peace, and also do whatever it is to make you feel better.Also, talk to God. You may think that He wants to hear about serious things, but God gave me a word three years ago that He is particular about every area of my life.So, I’m going to remind you that even that talking stage that is crumbling, or your belly fat that won’t quit with all the green tea you consume, he wants to hear all about it.So talk to Him today!If you have your own boundaries or favorite self-care tips, share them with me by responding to this email. I hope you’re feeling better.And don’t forget to go outside and connect with nature; it really helps, and if it takes going to therapy, please go.Love, Twi-Twi,The becoming strong one

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