Mental Health Message

Maat E's Mental Health Message

2012-02-09T13:00:00.000-05:00

Let's Talk About Mental Illness & Bring about Mental Health Talking about the stigma of mental illness is critically important to ultimately improving care and access to quality mental health services. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, one in five (21%) of adult Canadians will suffer a mental disorder. Most will experience a form of anxiety or depression. What many people may not realize is that there is no health without mental health because the two are intricately linked. Fighting the stigma which stands in the way of mental health can begin with getting everyone involved and understanding that we are all susceptible to mental health problems just as we are vulnerable to other health concerns. Let's talk about mental health!

Ma'at E's Mental Health Message

2012-02-05T16:32:00.001-05:00

Make everyday a Black History Day. Although the month of February is Black History month, the multitude of achievements and accomplishments of people of African descent make one month (especially the shortest month of the year) wholly inadequate to reflect on all of the contributions within Black culture. Each of us has a unique spark from the Divine that makes us who we are and provides each of us with our own gifts to make a contriubtion to society. With these gifts we can do something everyday to make a story of our own lives and make history within the greater society. Know that you are great and have something, no many things to contribute to the world. Start by giving love and creating peace everywhere you go. Don't worry so much about how you will make your mark as much as having faith and a belief that you will. The Creator will take care of how you make history just start with living your story today.

Ma'at E's Mental Health Message

2012-01-29T16:15:00.001-05:00

Food really does affect our mood. We all know that when we eat a candy bar the sugar among other substances inside it affects how we feel. There is an almost immediate sense of eurphoria or elevation that comes from the sugar turning in to glucose and acting as fuel for the brain. The high is great, but it soon turns to a low as the sugar causes a quick spike in blood glucose levels and then drops off leaving us feeling a lack of energy. Now if sugar can do this so can many other substances we injest and research is plentiful to support that fact. The point of knowing this information is to encourage us to begin to be more thoughtful about the things we eat and how they potentially can affect our mood. We can start by simply paying attention to how we feel when we eat something. Take the next five days and keep a journal of how you feel before and after you eat each meal. Try different types of meals vegetables proteins verses meats, candy or carbs. Do your own research by simply paying attention so that you can know yourself. Take those observations with you the next time you visit your nutritionist or doctor and ask lots of questions.

Maat E's Mental Health Message

2012-01-22T16:23:00.000-05:00

Let your purpose pick you!!!
Many people spend a lifetime searching for their purpose. What often happens is that our purpose picks us by giving a signal or sign, but we ignore it. For example, we all have some activity we love to do. It may be dancing, writing, talking, walking, swimming, being with kids, listening to music, reading, studying and so on. There is something that gets each of us excited, yet we tend to ignore it or find reasons to do other things. Our purpose involves that thing that can fill us with emotion or make time seem endless when we are involved. Make a list of all the things that get you excited. As you write notice your emotions. When you come to a place where you pause and feel a strong sense of emotion, you are getting a clue as to what you are meant to do. Spend as much time as possible doing what you love.

Peace, Ma'at E. L. Lewis

Maat E's Mental Health Message

2012-01-16T11:04:00.003-05:00

Spend sometime in the sun!

Our minds, bodies and spirits need sunshine. Many of us are unaware of the importance of the sun and its ability to generate vitamin D, which in turn helps the body with absorption of calcium among other things. Fish, eggs and dairy also provide vitamin D which may be important during the colder months when we tend to get less sun, but are not an option for some vegetarians. Traditionally, vitamin D deficiency is linked to rickets, a disease leading to soft bones and skeletal deformities. Recent research shows that vitamin D deficiency may also have links to higher risk for cognitive impairment in adults and other health problems including heart disease, asthma in children and cancer. The symptoms can be subtle, yet bone pain and muscle weakness are signs of a potential problem. For people with darker skin the pigment melanin reduces the skin's ability to absorb sunlight increasing the chance of D deficiency. Prevention is of course the best way to avoid deficiency and generally, spending 10 minutes in the sun will activate the body's ability to generate vitamin D. To test for deficiency a visit to the doctor and a special request to check for vitamin deficiency is needed. Do your homework and learn more about the sources of vitamin D.

Peace, Ma'at E. L. Lewis

Maat E's Mental Health Message

2012-01-08T16:38:00.000-05:00

A child's mental health is an important source of wealth.

More important than all the riches we can possess is the health of our children. They are in essence are our future and key to personal, family and communal health & wealth. Many of our children suffer with so called mental disorders known as ADD and learning disabilities. Such problems can affect a child at home and school by creating problems with managing behavior and understanding information. It is important to know that our bodies have the capacity for self-healing. Take time to learn about alternative and natural treatments. Learn and understand that the body is a whole system and so symptoms are not just isolated to problems in one area. Do your homework and learn to heal your children and your self.

Maat E's Mental Health Message

2012-01-01T16:03:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year!!!

Once again as is the case of all time, a new year has come to pass. In each of our own life times we have seen many years come and go. A great question to ask ourselves is do I live with any regret? What have I done or not done that I would hope to change. If it happened in the past we can not change it and should let it go. If we are hoping for something in the future, the time is not here yet so focus on the present. Living with any regret is simply a product of being focused on something either in the past or in the future that we probably cannot control or change. Since that is the case, it is best to focus on the present and what is happening here and now. Let go of the regret. The past will fade to black and the future will arrive in due time.
We are each blessed with a divine gift to live in the moment. When we do life opens up and we can live it to the fullest. Make the decision to let the light within shine bright right now in this present moment and it will carry you throughout the year.
Peace in the year 2012.

Maat E's Mental Health Message

2011-12-25T15:49:00.000-05:00

Establish your own traditions!!

Within the African diasporic cultures the practice of creating traditions and ritual is very important. Many communities make a point of marking occassions like births, the change in the seasons, food harvests, and age-based rites of passage with special events and celebrations. These activites establish traditions that are shared and provide for advancement of communal knowledge, emotional healing and renewal of commiment to what matters most.
For all people of African descent Kwanzaa (Dec. 26- January 1) represents the perfect opporutnity to establish tradition in the home or community. If you have not done so already start your preparations. Decorate your home with the colors red, green and black. Use cloth, art work or anything you create. Set up the symobls of Kwanzaa using a mkeka (mat), a basket with fruits and vegetable, ears of corn (one for each child in the family) and a Kikombe cha umoja or unity cup. Add the kinara, the special candleholder with the seven candles, one black, three green AND THREE RED and your celebration is set to begin. Spend each day in the ritual of lighting a candle and remember the past and celebrating the future by reflecting on each of the seven principles....Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperation), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), Imanni (faith).
May we have peace this Kwanzaa season.

Maat E's Mental Health Message

2011-12-05T08:22:00.001-05:00

Hope for the best and prepare for the best!

Many of us go through life living in accord with the saying "hope for the best and prepare for the worst." This is useful advice to prepare us for how to deal with the unfavorable events in life that we sometimes have to deal with. Unfortunately too many of us spend more time focused on the worst case scenario rather than the best possible outcome. Sometimes we prime ourselves for the disappointment and forget to prepare for a great outcome. We then end up not planning or putting ourselves in the best position to actually get what we want. In fact research shows that people tend to seek out the negative information pertaining to themselves more than the positive information. So hope for the best and prepare for the best. Be ready because things might just turn out as you hoped.

Dr. Ma'at E. L. Lewis

Maat E's Mental Health Message

2011-11-07T19:25:00.001-05:00

If at first no one hears your message, say it over and over again.

We all have a purpose, a message to share with the world. Sometimes we put our ideas out there, but it seems no one is listening and giving any feedback. The audience may be big like the world wide web or small like the members of our immediate family. Don't worry about how many people you reach right away. The first step is to put your ideas out there, any where. Get them out of your head and into the universe. Repeat the message over and over again. Eventually you will be heard and someone will tell you so. Be fearless in speaking your message.
Peace.

Dr. Ma'at E. L. Lewis

Maat E's Mental Health Message

2011-11-07T07:37:00.000-05:00

If at first no one hears your message, say it over and over again.

Maat E. L. Lewis

Dr. Ma'at E. L. Lewis

Maat E's Mental Health Message

2011-11-02T19:23:00.001-04:00

To overcome wrong doing take responsibility for what happens next in your life.

We can not stop seemingly negative situations from happening to us. Someone is always going to disappoint, break our hearts, take advantage or manipulate us. Oppression will remain a force to contend with. Expressing negative energies is not separate from our own capacity and in some form we express the same energy we try to avoid, escape or resist. To fight what may seem like external wrong or oppression we must take responsibility for our lives. Commit to changing and influencing the things you can and letting go or praying on the rest. For example, if your voting rights have been violated, file a complaint, protest, and let the wrong be known. Then further educate yourself to prevent it from happening again. Relief will come from the action you take and the awareness you have that you ultimately create your own peace of mind.

Dr. Ma'at E. L. Lewis
Sent from my iPhone

Maat E's Mental Health Message

2011-10-23T17:01:00.000-04:00

Are you a force to be reckoned with!

In life there are so many opportunities of challenge and conflict that demand showing up and being seen so to speak. It happens in our relationships, work, social and political affairs, and in community dynamics. Anytime we interact with people, we have a choice to let our voice be heard, to stand up for what we know to be true. Being a force to be reckoned with does not mean being load, aggressive, pushy or hostile. It means facing challenges and conflicts head on by becoming clear on your truth, expressing it and standing by it. Show up, stand up, express yourself and be heard. You are a force to be reckoned with.

Peace, Ma'at E. L. Lewis

Maat E's Mental Health Message

2011-10-16T20:16:00.001-04:00

Live your dream by making it action!

The best form of dreaming is the kind we do while awake. That is the planning, organizing and executing of all the things we want to do to change our world. Life can be short and cut short dramatically sometimes. We owe it to ourselves to live to the fullest by carrying out our dreams right now. We bless others when we share our vision and execute our plans. For some of us that vision will change the world for others we may simply change our household. Use the lives of great people as example or use the loss of a loved one as an inspiring reason to carry on.
God bless all our visionaries.
Peace

Dr. Ma'at E. L. Lewis

Maat E's Mental Health Message

2011-10-09T16:08:00.000-04:00

Educate, don't just celebrate.

Take time to educate yourself about the history of the holidays. Many holidays, particularly in American society are tainted by the reality of there being two sides to every story and the fact that what is reason to celebrate for one group may be a reason to mourn for another. We all have a right to acknowledge our truth and what is joyous, freeing or emancipating for us. Yet, it is important to remember that one's joy may come at the expense of another's pain or one's freedom may be another person's imprisonment. Living in such a culturally diverse society demands that in addition to honoring ourselves we must respect others. Take time to educate yourself about all sides of his-story.

Peace Ma'at E. L. Lewis

Maat E's Mental Health Message

2011-10-02T15:32:00.001-04:00

Wake up wishing every morning!

Start each day asking the powers in the universe for what you want. Many times our wishes do not seem to come true, but the problem may be that we are not asking for what we we want and certainly not often enough. Each morning or night before bed, put your wishes out there and request what you need. Be very specific in your request and believe that what is yours will come to you. Asking each day is a great start, but don't be ashamed for more frequent requests if it helps you focus and remember your wishes. No matter how often you ask the response will come exactly when it is suppose to at just the right time.
Have a peace-filled day.

Ma'at (Erica) Lewis, Ph.D.

Maat E's Mental Health Message

2011-09-25T15:46:00.000-04:00

Treat your loved one as if he/she were awarded to you like a grant (i.e., like a gift) instead of taking him/her for granted (i.e., like the act of possessing).

It is so easy to turn on the people we love because they are close to us and usually love us back. We may begin to forget that our mates do not have to be with us or for us and can stop having our back. When a gift is taken for granted it can soon be lost or taken away. In the case of a loved one or mate he/she may choose to just walk out. Remember it takes work after you "fall in love", but what you give out will come back. Have faith in your purpose and bond if you are a couple and always treasure your gifts.

Maat E's Mental Health Message

2011-09-18T16:02:00.003-04:00

Trust the process not the person.

If you understand and believe that things happen for a reason and that all our experiences are opportunities to learn, than you can learn to trust life and not specifically the people in our lives. The people are simply a part of the processes we need to go through in order to learn what we need to know. Trust that the actions of the people in your process are about what you need for your process not about the person. Once we learn to trust the process we can handle the problems with people.

Maat E's Mental Health Message

2011-09-18T15:47:00.001-04:00

Make sure your name is remembered when you are gone.

One of the greatest honors is to be remembered. Living a life of service to help other people is one way of achieving the honor of remembrance. Think about what it is that you are or want to be doing with your life. Then ask yourself, am I doing my best being committed to my purpose. Next, ask yourself who knows about by service. You do not need to affect massive or large groups of people, but aim big and influence as many people as you can. Whether in moments of crisis or everyday life be someone worthy of remembrance.

Ma'at (Erica) Lewis, Ph.D.

Maat E's Mental Health Message

2011-09-11T16:33:00.001-04:00

Make sure your name is remembered when you are gone.

One of the greatest honors is to be remembered. Living a life of service to help other people is one way of achieving the honor of remembrance. Think about what it is that you are or want to be doing with your life. Then ask yourself, am I doing my best being committed to my purpose. Next, ask yourself who knows about my service. You do not need to affect massive or large groups of people, but aim big and influence as many people as you can. Whether in moments of crisis or everyday life be someone worthy of remembrance.

Ma'at (Erica) Lewis, Ph.D.

Ma'at E's Mental Health Message

2011-09-04T16:24:00.000-04:00

According to many wise cultures learning to just be---the state of living or existing (as opposed to doing)---is one of the greatest ambitions we can have. Instead of approaching life's activities with an attitude of always doing or staying busy try existing with the flow of the life. Try being present in every moment and taking in the experiences you have. Slow down on the multitasking. For example, when it's time to eat, just eat. When it is time to listen to quiet music, actually relax. As the fall season approaches this is a great time to renew and do new things, but remember to approach life activity with an attitute of being.
Peace,
Ma'at E. L. Lewis

Maat E's Mental Health Message

2011-08-29T07:39:00.001-04:00

Count your blessings, good luck, second chances, windfalls or whatever form of grace you are given. In an instant life can not only change but it can end. Events like natural disasters give us reason to pause and reflect on life. Take time to give thanks for surviving, living or staying out of harms way. Focus on making the best of your time here on earth and putting forth your personal best in everything you do. Have a peaceful day.

Ma'at (Erica) Lewis, Ph.D.

Maat E's Mental Health Message

2011-08-14T22:52:00.000-04:00

Go back to school!

It is time to learn something new. It dosen't matter if you are a toodler preparing for head start, a teen preparing for high school, a young adult going to college, a late bloomer or mature person reinventing yourself. It is time to learn something new, time to go back to school. Your classroom can be formal education or a life experience. Just open yourself to learning something new and let the lessons present themselves.
Peace,
Ma'at E. L. Lewis

Maat E's Mental Health Message

2011-08-11T10:19:00.000-04:00

The main thing we have to fear in life is our own negative thoughts.

It is not what happens to us that we have to struggle with but our own thinking about what happens to us. When tragedy strikes or bad things happen it is natural that we feel pain, sadness, anger or frustration among other feelings, but it is important to note that thoughts are not the same as feelings. For example, if you lose your job it is natural to feel angry, sad or frustrated emotions. It is another thing to call yourself names or beat up on yourself with negative thoughts. The emotions will come the negative thinking does not have to follow. Replace negative self-talk with supportive affirming statements. We can do anything despite any of our shortcomings.

Peace
Ma'at (Erica) Lewis, Ph.D.

2011-07-11T14:08:00.001-04:00

Are you hoping what you want is possible or making possible what it is you want?

Anything is possible! That is a strong statement, yet for most of our dreams and aspirations it is true and there is a way for them to be fulfilled. Many times it is more the fear of our success than than failure that keeps us from our dreams. What are you afraid of? What is the worst that can happen and what will you do if the worst does turn out? Ask yourself these questions and use the answers to overcome your fears.

Ma'at (Erica) Lewis, Ph.D.