Be Kind to Your Mind: Making Space for What’s Real

Picture of By Lisa Johnson

By Lisa Johnson

Founder & Manager Director

There’s a phrase we’ve used before at Honor Connor—
Be Kind to Your Mind.

It’s simple. Familiar. Easy to say.

But this year, I’ve been thinking about what that really means… especially in real life. Real grief. Real stress. Real days that don’t go the way we hoped.

Because being kind to your mind doesn’t always look the way people think it should.

💛 What It Really Looks Like

It doesn’t mean staying positive all the time.
  It doesn’t mean pushing through.
  And it doesn’t mean having the tools to fix everything you’re feeling.

Sometimes, being kind to your mind looks like something much simpler:

Letting yourself feel what’s actually there.
  Taking the pressure off.
  Not rushing yourself to be okay.

It looks like making space.

✨ Making Space for What’s Real

Being kind to your mind isn’t about controlling your thoughts.
It’s about allowing them.

Allowing the emotions that show up.
Allowing yourself to be exactly where you are—without judgment.

Because the more we try to push things away…
the louder they tend to get.

✨ A Personal Layer I’ve Been Learning to Share

There’s another part of this that feels important for me to share.

At Honor Connor, we are not a religious organization. We’ve always wanted this space to feel open and supportive to everyone, no matter what you believe.

But in my own life, my spiritual journey has become more personal… more present… and something I feel ready to share.

I’ve started to recognize how much it has been supporting my mental health.

Not by taking the hard things away.
Not by giving easy answers.

But by helping me sit with what’s real… without feeling completely alone in it.

💛 What That Looks Like for Me

There was a time I stepped away from my faith.

After losing Connor, I didn’t feel like I could trust God anymore. Something that once felt like a strong connection became something I resisted.

But slowly, I’ve been finding my way back.

Lately, I start my day with quiet mornings.  Instead of turning on the news which can make me anxious, I sit with my coffee and my dog and communicate with God. This practice has been transformational for me.   

Not because everything feels resolved.
But because I’m realizing I don’t have to carry everything on my own.

🌿 Support Looks Different for Everyone

Support isn’t one-size-fits-all.

For some people, it’s therapy.
For others, it’s community.
For some, it’s time in nature or quiet reflection.

For me, part of that support has become my faith again.

The important part is finding what helps you feel less alone in what you’re carrying.

💛 Supporting Yourself—and Knowing When to Reach Out

There are ways we can support ourselves in the moment.

Small things that don’t fix everything…
but can help create a little space when our minds feel overwhelmed.

Sometimes it starts with something as simple as slowing down your breathing.
Or grounding yourself in what’s right in front of you.
Or taking a moment to step away and ask, “What do I actually need right now?”

You don’t need a full plan.
Just one small step can help take the pressure off.

There are moments when what we’re carrying feels heavier than even these small steps can hold.

More constant.
More overwhelming.
Harder to navigate on our own.

And that’s not something to push through.

That’s something to listen to.

It may be a sign that it’s time to reach for more support.

Talking to someone you trust.
Joining a community of people who understand.
Reaching out to a therapist or counselor.
Or simply saying, “I’m not okay right now.”

Reaching out isn’t a last resort.
It’s part of taking care of yourself.

🌿 A Final Thought

If your mind feels heavy right now… you’re not doing it wrong.

You’re human.

Start here:

  • Notice what’s real
  • Take the pressure off
  • And if you need to… reach for support

You don’t have to carry it alone. 💛

Dealing with the loss of a loved one to suicide is complicated. We’re here help start the conversation & stop the stigma.  

We offer FREE mental health education for community groups, faith based groups, schools, and businesses who want to educate on suicide loss.

Monthly Webinars offered every first Thursday

For Immediate Help:

Text TALK to 
741741 
to connect with a Crisis Counselor.
Peer & family mental health support by phone, weekdays M-F 9 am – 5 pm

Additional Resources

SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

Mental Health America: www.mhanational.org

And so much more on the Honor Connor Resource Page