Meet Tiekeria Wilkins

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tiekeria Wilkins. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tiekeria below.

Tiekeria, sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

Overcoming and persisting through mental health challenges has been a deeply personal and transformative journey for me. As someone who experienced childhood trauma, I spent many years suppressing those painful memories, thinking that ignoring them would make them disappear. However, the unresolved trauma eventually resurfaced when I began dealing with combat PTSD, which forced me to confront my past and seek help.

Receiving professional support was a pivotal moment in my life. It allowed me to acknowledge and address the deep-seated issues that had been affecting my mental health. This journey of self-discovery and healing led to the birth of My Happy Ohm, a brand I built around the concept of taking personal responsibility for our mental health. I realized that true healing comes from within and requires a proactive approach.

I made a conscious decision to prioritize my mental health so that I could be better for myself and the people who depend on me. This meant incorporating mindfulness practices, therapy, and self-care routines into my daily life. By focusing on my well-being, I found that I was more present, empathetic, and capable of supporting others.

Through My Happy Ohm, I create social media content and write books that guide others in their quest for better mental health. My content emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, mindfulness, and personal growth. I share practical tools and strategies that have helped me, hoping to inspire and empower others to take charge of their mental well-being.

In essence, my journey has been about turning pain into purpose. By sharing my story and the lessons I’ve learned, I aim to build a supportive community where individuals feel seen, heard, and encouraged to take responsibility for their mental health. Together, we can create a world where prioritizing mental well-being is the norm, not the exception.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Thank you for the opportunity to share my story. I am the founder of My Happy Ohm, a brand dedicated to promoting mindfulness and personal development. I believe that mental health is a personal responsibility and an essential aspect of overall well-being. My mission is to provide tools and resources that empower individuals to take control of their mental health journey.

What I find most exciting and special about My Happy Ohm is the sense of community and support I have built. I offer virtual meditation courses that cater to both individuals and groups, providing a space for personal growth and collective well-being. Our private sessions are designed for those who seek personalized guidance, while our group sessions foster a sense of camaraderie and shared experiences.

In addition to our meditation courses, I have authored several books available on Amazon.com that focus on various aspects of mental health and personal growth:

Coparenting with a Narcissist: A Survival Guide – This book provides practical advice and strategies for navigating the complexities of coparenting with a narcissistic partner.

Doing Her Work: A Black Woman’s Guide to Shadow Work – This guide offers insights and exercises to help Black women engage in shadow work, a process of exploring and integrating the hidden aspects of themselves.

Shadow Work Journaling Prompts: Find Your Authentic Self – This book is filled with journaling prompts designed to guide readers on a journey of self-discovery and authenticity through shadow work.

Moreover, I run a YouTube channel where I discuss the importance of taking personal responsibility for our actions and mental health. One of the highlights of the channel is Meditation Mondays, where I post guided meditation sessions to help viewers find peace and mindfulness at the start of their week. I also provide light social commentary that relates back to how we should treat ourselves and others with respect and compassion.

I am excited to announce that we have several new initiatives in the pipeline. We are expanding our range of virtual courses to include specialized workshops on topics such as stress management, emotional resilience, and mindful living. Additionally, we are planning to host live events and webinars to bring our community together and provide deeper insights into mental health practices.

I also participate in a Parenting Support Group called The V.I.L.L.A.G.E. Which meets every Saturday morning for about 45 minutes where people come together to just lean on one another for support and encouragement as we parent or children, deal with the stresses of aging parents, and learn to reparent ourselves. You can find this group on Facebook for more information.

I want to use the platform that I have cultivated to ensure that people know and understand that they are NEVER alone in their struggles. I also want people to know that there is no shame in needing and/or asking for help. There are resources out there for all of our needs, no matter how difficult life becomes SOMEONE care and is willing to guide you in the right direction you just have to take the first step and ask.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

When I joined the military I learned a few lessons that I have kept/will keep with me for the rest of my life.
1. Be willing to and open to learn from ANYONE who is willing to teach and share. Even if you don’t think that the lessons are useful or if you doubt the person’s abilities based solely on outward appearance. Everyone has a perspective and a story and from them you have the ability to take away information that could possible save you life, energy, and time. You just have to be willing to shut up and listen.
2. The best way to learn how to be an effective leader is by knowing how to effectively follow. Not only do you have to know the job well to guide others through it, you also need to know what it’s like to work the job so that you can give proper support and show empathy for the people who are doing the work. Otherwise you just end up looking like a dictating jerk and no one will want to work for or with you.
3. Admit when you don’t know something and then seek understanding. I think this one is pretty self explanatory. You have to understand that the world is not going to blow up if you admit not knowing something. None of us has all the answers to all the world’s problems. Most of us don’t even have the answers to solve our own problems. So ask for clarification, ask for a helping hand, ask for knowledge. Which brings us right back to lesson number 1, Be willing to receive…

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

When I feel overwhelmed, I turn to a combination of mindfulness practices, self-care routines, and structured planning to regain my balance. Here are a few strategies that have been particularly effective for me:

Mindfulness and Meditation: Taking a few moments to pause and practice mindfulness helps me center myself. Guided meditations, especially those from My Happy Ohm’s Meditation Mondays, provide a sense of calm and clarity. Focusing on my breath and being present in the moment allows me to let go of immediate stressors and approach challenges with a clear mind.

Journaling: Writing down my thoughts and feelings is a powerful way to process emotions and gain perspective. I often use prompts from my books, such as “Shadow Work Journaling Prompts: Find Your Authentic Self,” to explore deeper emotions and uncover underlying issues. Journaling helps me articulate my worries and devise practical solutions.

Prioritization and Planning: When tasks pile up, I find it helpful to create a prioritized list. Breaking down larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps makes them less daunting. I use time-blocking techniques to allocate specific times for each task, ensuring that I stay focused and productive without feeling overwhelmed.

Self-Care: Taking care of my physical and emotional well-being is crucial. Whether it’s going for a walk, practicing yoga, or simply taking a break to enjoy a cup of tea, self-care activities help recharge my energy and improve my overall mood. I remind myself that it’s okay to take breaks and that rest is essential for productivity.

Seeking Support: I believe in the power of community and connection. Reaching out to friends, family, or a support group provides a sense of solidarity and understanding. Sharing my experiences and hearing others’ perspectives often brings new insights and solutions to my challenges.

Setting Boundaries: It’s important to recognize my limits and set boundaries to prevent burnout. I prioritize tasks that align with my values and goals and learn to say no to commitments that may overwhelm me. Setting boundaries helps me maintain a healthy work-life balance.

For anyone feeling overwhelmed, my advice is to find practices that resonate with you and integrate them into your daily routine. If this means that you have to write “One hour for MYSELF” on your daily to-do list then do it…set an alarm on your phone to remind yourself to stop doing and just be. Also, remember that it’s okay to ask for help and that taking small steps towards self-care can make a significant difference. By prioritizing our mental health, we can navigate challenges more effectively and lead more fulfilling lives.

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