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It can seem like the answers are changing as quickly as the questions these days. Although we all wonder about the future, just keeping up with everyday life can feel like a daunting task. Part II of this engaging chat with Melissa Doman, M.A. centers on maintaining a resilient mindset through the huge challenges of our brave new world.
[0:31] A Constant State of Emergency
From concerns about the ongoing pandemic to the economic crises that present a tangible threat to our ways of life, it can seem like there is always a puzzle of some sort to solve in these troubled times. Good physical health along with economic and social stability form a dominant share of our overall wellness, and when these are placed into uncertainty by our everyday circumstances, finding a moment’s peace can prove a challenge in and of itself.
[4:15] Programmed to Panic
We think of ourselves as highly advanced creatures, but on a fundamental level we process the world around us in a very basic way. Lifestyle stressors such as economic and social concerns affect our bodies in many of the same ways that immediate physical danger affected our ancestors; your brain makes very little distinction between an eviction notice and a crouching tiger from a physiological perspective. However, this means the solutions can be equally rudimentary…something as simple as proper breathing can enhance calm and focus.
[5:47] Give it a Rest
Constant connection to the digital tools that power our personal and professional lives is a consistent contributor to our stress levels. The effects of dedicated relaxation on the body and mind have been repeatedly borne out by clinical study, and so taking frequent breaks from technology is absolutely imperative to maintaining a mindset centered on the present instead of always seeking out the next problem to solve.
[8:23] Perfection as a Distraction
An important thing to understand about life on Planet Earth is that ¨perfect¨ is a myth. Melissa holds this social construct of perfection up as one of the most harmful ideas we accept, as we all have our finest moments, and others where we struggle. For this reason, in her view, a key piece of the mental health puzzle involves creating moments for check-in on all of these states of being. By regularly taking time with friends and colleagues to examine what´s going well and what may need attention, we can create moments to practice more self-acceptance.
[10:28] The Harmful Myth of Colorblindness
While there are very few individuals in the world having an easy time of it at the moment, these unpredictable hours have a disproportionate impact on people of color. Systemic racism creates a vast array of added difficulties for many members of society, from marginalization in COVID treatment and lack of proportionate access to stimulus programs to more visible concerns like police brutality. Failure to account for how these factors affect the experience of the impacted creates incomplete solutions that may even be detrimental.
[17:48] Uncomfortable Conversations
These topics may represent unfamiliar territory for your group or organization, but these discussions represent a necessary part of the process. Though exploring the realities of mental health in the modern world may lead to more than a few uncomfortable moments, it can be encouraging to realize that even opening a forum for discourse represents a tremendous leap forward that will helps create better mental health outcomes among your team members, and in turn a more fulfilled, productive, and confident base of talent.
[19:50] Emphasizing the ¨Health¨ in Mental Health
In the end, inclusion is the goal of any viable health-focused program. Mental health involves afflictions of the mind as much as cardiovascular health involves afflictions of the heart, and in that regard, ensuring that these afflictions are appropriately addressed is non-negotiable for organizations looking for a competitive edge in the form of access to top talent.
About Melissa Doman, M.A.
Melissa is an organizational psychologist, former mental health therapist, and mental health at work specialist.
Following years of clinical work as a licensed mental health therapist in universities, EAPs, and private practice, Melissa left the clinical sector and turned her focus to consulting, advising, and speaking in the worlds of organizational psychology and mental health awareness for international, national, and local organizations and Fortune 500 companies. She is currently writing a book that will be published by Trigger Publishing, about changing perceptions and how to have practical conversations about mental health at work.
Melissa has consulted and spoken in many sectors including technology, law, finance, high fashion, automotive, higher education, insurance, and more. She has been featured as a speaker and subject matter expert at national conferences, summits, digital publications, local television shows, international mentoring programs, and as a panelist at Google U.K. discussing practical and inclusive conversations around mental health. Having lived on 4 continents and traveled to more than 45 countries, Melissa calls upon her experiences working with professionals from around the world, all the way from South Korea to Australia, in creating an open-minded and practical approach to discussing mental health, mental illness, and stress management at work. She is also a prominent thought leader on mental health at work in the United Kingdom and dedicated 3 years of her career to this space while living in London.
Throughout her 10-year career, Melissa has impacted thousands of people through her public speaking, consulting, workshops, counseling, coaching, and writing. Melissa uses her advanced education and training, coupled with her global experience, to inform how she works with leaders and companies across the world to deliver practice and inclusive workplace strategies around mental health at work.
Melissa is deeply passionate about her work and bringing these topics to the forefront of everyone’s minds in business around the world. If you would like to learn more about Melissa or her work, please visit www.melissadoman.com.
Connect with Melissa
Website: https://melissadoman.com
Email: workwithmelissadoman@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissadoman1/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCohugrElLgr_X4_hZNibOHw/