DEI Committee November 2020 Blog
Tuesday, November 24, 2020
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WGR’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee convened Tuesday, November 17th for its monthly meeting for a discussion on “Self-Care: Caring for Your Mental Health.” Kendra Brown, Director of Public Policy at Mastercard, led this important conversation and provided practical advice on how to take actions to ensure we are practicing a holistic self-care routine that encompasses our mental, emotional, and physical health.
Kendra shared with us that self-care requires intentionality. She said, “although it’s a simple concept in theory, it’s something we very often overlook.” A good relationship with one’s self carries over into nearly every aspect of our lives including our relationships with friends and loved ones, our careers, and our overall mental and physical health. This year has posed many stress-inducing challenges that make tools for managing our stress levels more important than ever. Kendra reminded us why it’s so important to prioritize yourself during these challenging times saying, “You care best for others after you care for yourself. It's not selfish, it’s about your survival.” She also made the point that “in our career, we are not doing our best work if we are not able to show up as our best selves.” Prioritizing oneself and allowing space to quiet our minds benefits you and those around you.
After we talked about the benefits and necessity of self-care, we dived into actions and practical steps to integrate rest, quiet surroundings, and mindful consumption into our daily lives. This led to an interactive and enriching conversation among Kendra and DEI Committee members regarding their own self-care practices. Many shared how they rely on meditation, reading, therapy, and working out as ways to release stress and re-center. After talking about various self-care methods, Kendra encouraged us to reflect on our own needs and decide how we can incorporate self-care into our lifestyles. As Kendra stated, “We are all very different and need different things at different times. I really encourage you to do what it takes for you to care for yourself in a way that you need.” Once you have evaluated what you need in the form of self-care this season, then it’s time to commit and see your plan through.
Kenda then referenced the Serenity Prayer, “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” This served as a reminder that although there are many things in this challenging season of our lives that are entirely out of our control, what remains in our control is how we respond. “It is within our power to make the changes needed for us to care for ourselves.” Collectively, we can strive to respond with grace, kindness, and self-love, first to ourselves, and then to those around us.
Following Kendra’s powerful presentation, a robust Q&A took place where members opened up about their own personal struggles with maintaining self-care and mental health practices throughout the pandemic. Some of the recommendations in response to these concerns included: taking personal days away from work to recharge; acknowledging we are in a season of unknowns and taking life in smaller chunks by planning only a month or two in advance; being empowered to stick to your “no” when setting boundaries to protect your health; and protecting your energy by having encouraging resources, such as the books listed below, to turn to when something arises that begins to pull us into a negative space.
Kendra’s Book Recommendations:
The DEI Committee members enjoyed an honest, open, and empowering conversation with Kendra and walked away with tangible tips and action items to incorporate into our personal journeys of self-care. This has been a challenging year, but we are all in this together.
Register here to join the WGR DEI Committee next month on December 15th to discuss the topic of Intersectionality!
For more information on WGR’s DEI Committee, please reach out to dei.wgr@gmail.com , and join us on the WGR Community: https://www.wgr.org/members/member_engagement/groups.aspx?id=210649.
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