Mental Health Matters It’s OK not to Be OK Right Now “Our pain isn’t always physical, our suffering isn’t always visible” is a motto I personally attest to hold true. As someone who lost my mother to suicide when I was young, I know all too well the pain and grief when a loved one
“Just breathe.” That used to be solid advice for so many things. It works to alleviate anxiety or pre-performance jitters. Breath training is key for a woman near to giving birth, or a person living with chronic pain. Singers and actors know the power of deep breathing for performances. Yet suddenly, taking a breath can
BE ADAPTIVE, NOT REACTIVE TO CHANGE “Healthy Brain, Healthy Mind” Series Chapman University’s Director of Contemplative Practices and Well-being Advances Strategies for Coping During Crisis and Uncertainty. Navigating change is never easy. Whether it’s a health scare, personal loss, or financial hardship, it’s natural to experience anxiety, grief, and a lack of feeling in control.
Dear Friends of Chapman, The Fish Interfaith Center at Chapman University is pleased to introduce CHAPMAN HOPE! We have been working diligently in faith to create a platform for meditation, prayer, Chaplain support, and wellness resources for faculty, staff, students and our community, and support for our various spiritual and religious student groups. We are
We grieve the things we never even had, a friend once said to me after I had experienced a profound loss. Indeed, we grieve the future we were imagining, planning toward, or counting on. In normal times, we spend much of our time engaging in anticipatory causality, a term coined by Sara Ahmed, author of
Taking some exercise and walking on Chapman’s lovely (and very empty) campus today, I entered the Piazza. That’s when I noticed that the fountain appeared to be turned off. As I moved closer, I realized that it wasn’t completely off—there was still some water coming out of one of the pillars. Hmmm…interesting. Chapman makes a
A colleague recently said to me, It’s humbling to learn you’re not an essential worker, isn’t it? At times, we do feel powerless. So, what can we do in this unexpected time of COVID-19? I find the language of “call” to be helpful. We hear of people having a religious experience of being called –
This morning, I was surprised as I sat in my living room with the door open, the fresh scent of moist, cool air wafting through the door. Hearing finches chirping and hummingbirds buzzing within an unusual silence void of traffic sounds, my senses transported me back to a brisk morning when I rose early and
Warm greetings from all of us at the Fish Interfaith Center. As we navigate through these uncertain times, we recognize the ensuing stress and anxiety generated from the Coronavirus (COVID-19). From the disruption in switching to online classes or adapted work to the unexpected challenges in your accustomed way of life, please do know that