Tools to ease your mental state

I have a couple of tools that have been helping my mental state: 1) deleted social media off my phone and 2) speaking aloud mantras to myself. They say that we no longer sit in our boredom anymore because we have our phones to distract us. I’ve become so aware of how scrolling increases my anxiety. So, I have been embracing stillness, quiet, my thoughts. My nervous system feels more at ease, and I feel so much more present.


Mantras are helping me stay in the present. My current mantra is “it’s not about you.” In our current state of chaos in the world, all of us just want to feel seen and heard. This is why social media feels so loud to me when I scroll, everyone is fighting for space to feel seen and heard, to validate that they matter. In daily life, it’s so easy to check out, to not listen to others in a conversation, to not see how others are experiencing the world, to not be patient with those around you, to ignore a stranger in need, to stay stuck in your own challenges, needs, wants. So, I am working on purposefully listening, purposefully taking in everyone around me and focusing my attention on helping others. I’m not always perfect at it, but it really does help keep my anxiety away and hold myself accountable when I notice I am falling into a negative space.


Summer always goes so quickly, so I hope you can find some tools that help bring you to the present. Take in the sunshine and enjoy time with yourself and those you love.

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This month, 20% of our proceeds goes to Exodus Refugee.


Exodus began in 1981 with the mission to serve the legal needs of immigrants and Cuban refugees, who had arrived as part of the Mariel boatlift in 1980. Since that time, Exodus has helped thousands of refugees from more than 50 different countries establish new lives in Indiana.


In 2025, they welcomed 884 new refugees representing 18 different countries, while providing ongoing services to refugees who already call Indiana home. 


According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, a refugee is a person who, owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country.


According to the United Nations, there are at least 108.4 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, the highest level since World War II. Of these, 29.4 million are refugees – meaning not only have they been forced to leave their homes, but often friends and family, education, and career – the result of having to leave their home country.
More than half of refugees are children, fleeing violence and worse – while still at risk of exploitation, abuse, and more. Many refugee children have been separated from their family or are otherwise unsupported.


In addition to serving refugees, Exodus serves many other types of humanitarian immigrants, including Haitian and Cuban Entrants, those with Humanitarian Parole, those with Temporary Protected Status, those with Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), and those seeking asylum.


Refugee Resettlement is a humanitarian program that provides protection and opportunity to refugees fleeing persecution and war. Agencies such as Exodus provide services to refugee newcomers from the point of arrival to self-sufficiency. The United States has a long history of welcoming immigrants and refugees. The U.S. refugee resettlement program reflects the United States’ highest values and aspirations of compassion, generosity and leadership. Since 1975, Americans have welcomed over 3 million refugees from all over the world. Refugees have built new lives, homes and communities in towns and cities in all 50 states.


Once refugees arrive, they may experience disorientation, a sense of being overwhelmed, feelings of insecurity, sadness at leaving familiar things behind, grief, culture shock, identity and meaning loss, and fear of the unknown. However, despite the adversity they have experienced, most refugees who make their home in the U.S. are eager to engage the challenges and opportunities that the U.S. offers in order to make a better life for themselves and their families.
By having their basic needs met during the core resettlement period and beyond, combined with a full array of social and medical services, English language training, cultural orientation, and employment services, Exodus clients are able to establish new lives in the United States in freedom and safety.


To learn more about their incredible work, visit their website: https://www.exodusrefugee.org/

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