It Takes a Two Pizza Team… or Ten
At Amazon we have a concept called the "two pizza team", which is kind of like our version of Goldie Locks and the perfect soup temperature. If you have a project and need other people to help execute the idea, you need enough people that you require more than one pizza to feed them lunch, but lean enough that two pizzas should get the job done. Two pizza team! Lately, I've been having a lot of conversations with others about mental health and the type of support system it takes to achieve and maintain a healthy and stable system. Well, for me, it takes more like a ten pizza team. Since I was diagnosed as Bipolar I last year, I've had to add a few players to my bench. I've been seeking treatment from a psychiatrist who prescribes me essential medication. My yoga teachers have been at the center of my well-being for over ten years now, and those special people continue to add immense value to my life from near and far. I'd also consider all the Peloton instructors part of my well-being team! Family and friends provide emotional support, even though they sometimes feel an overwhelming sense of worry for me, which I personally really hate when people worry about me... probably because I hate worrying about anything, it's a soul sucking emotion. God takes away my worries, which I hope God likes pizza because They are certainly seated at the head of the table for this support party. Meditation and prayer are something I've been practicing daily for the past year now, and my mind and soul crave the benefits. I find a lot of peace through the time I dedicate in that area. Books have helped me navigate and wade through a gigantic journey of self-discovery, and I have so much gratitude for every author that has poured their life into their work for us to seek knowledge and understanding from. Someone else that is yet to be named is a counselor/therapist. Talk therapy is something I had a very brief engagement with after a traumatic car accident when I was still a teenager, but I wasn't that into it. A good piece of advice the counselor gave me was if you are depressed, maybe don't read depressing literature, read something more light and bright! That was a light bulb moment! At the time I was reading a lot of heavy memoirs such as Angela's Ashes and The Glass Castle (fantastic literature, highly recommend when you're NOT depressed). When I lived in Seattle and had a lot of trouble with anxiety and stress, I sought therapy but everywhere I called was totally full and had no appointments. Last year I had the same issues - I left voicemails all over town only to be informed no one in the area was taking on new patients, due to COVID they were all swamped. But now, I am going to try again. Personally, I'd rather lean into my prayer, yoga and self-guided reading practices, and I do love to bare my soul to my partner who definitely deserves a whole pizza and cake to himself for the immense love and compassion he's shown me throughout this experience. But I realize it's not fair to lay all of my burdens onto one person. I don't really seek outside advice or opinions often... I'm more of a listener than a talker and a lot of people in my life look to me for guidance. However, literally everyone on my support bench asks me when I'm getting therapy so primarily to ease their minds, I'm going to make it happen and give it a shot. Being open minded is important to me so I won't close my mind off to something that is so popular in the self-help and wellness world. Just wait for my future blog posts to be peppered with "My therapist said..." because everyone I know in therapy starts many sentences that way, no offense I'm sure I will turn into that person myself! I'm down to do anything to avoid having any more psychotic manic episodes... I'm not ready to share what exactly happens during those... but maybe my new therapist will help me understand them myself before I talk about them out loud. If you're reading this, you're invited to my pizza party! This blog has helped me stay sober (8 months off booze, 1 month off weed) and honest and I do have gratitude for your eyeball time!
We just went to Breath Degrees - a Wim Hof based studio that combines 60 minutes of deep, guided breath work with cold exposure. During the breath work you take a series of deep inhales through your mouth, guided by the instructor with different holding and release patterns to fully oxygenate your body. The sensation is AMAZING - you can feel the electricity pulsing throughout every cell and you get into a very deep meditative state. After the breath work you head to the cold plunge pool where you spend 3 minutes (or more if you want) in a pool of 41.7 degree water. Then you can hop into the hot tub, and go for round two of a 1 minute cold plunge. This is the "mental gym". You have to use your breath and mind to keep your body at ease under the stress of the cold water. I feel like I can do anything after I take this class! Highly recommend this type of wellness in your routine. We also sat in the infrared sauna afterwards :) I'm going to sleep like a baby tonight!
xoxo
maddymo
Currently reading:
Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett, Ph.D
Just read:
The COVID Bride: Lessons in Wedding Planning from the Girl Who's Seen It All by Sara La Chapelle
On deck/pre-ordered:
Happy Days: The Guided Path from Trauma to Profound Freedom and Inner Peace by Gabrielle Bernstein
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