Sunday's Mental Health Check-In: December 28, 2025

Sunday Mental Health Check-In: Is Your Cup Too Full?

Happy Sunday, family. Take a look at the image above. Close your eyes for a second, tilt your head back, and just… breathe.

We are right at the edge of a new year. The air feels heavy with reflection, doesn’t it? Today, I want to pause and talk about what we are carrying into this new week (and this new year), and more importantly, what we need to set down.

I came across an African proverb recently that stopped me in my tracks:

"If you are filled with pride, then you will have no room for wisdom." (Origin: African / General)

The Overcrowded Room

We usually think of "pride" as a good thing—taking joy in our achievements. But in the context of our mental health, pride often masquerades as Ego.

It’s that voice that says, "I don't need help," "I already know that," or "I’m fine," when you are visibly crumbling.

Think of your mind like a living room. If that room is wall-to-wall with old furniture (your rigid beliefs, your need to be right, your defense mechanisms), there is physically no space to bring in anything new. You cannot bring in the comfortable couch of Healing if the jagged chair of Arrogance is taking up all the space.

Humility as a Healing Tool

The wisdom of this proverb reminds us that an overcrowded mind cannot learn. If you think you have all the answers, the universe (and your therapist, and your friends) cannot give you the clarity you are desperate for.

Humility is not about thinking less of yourself; it is about thinking of yourself less rigidly.

It is the quiet power of saying:

• "I don't know the answer to this."

• "I am actually really hurting right now."

• "I might be wrong about how I see this situation."

The "Emptying" Practice

So, for this Sunday Check-In, let’s practice clearing the room.

1. Drop the "I'm Fine" Shield: It’s heavy, and it’s blocking your blessings. Be honest about where you are.

2. Ask a Question: Instead of declaring a statement today, ask a question. Ask the world, God, or your own heart: "What do I need to learn right now?"

3. Breathe Like the Visual: Look at the animation again. Notice how she looks peaceful? That peace comes from surrender, not control.

The Takeaway: You cannot heal what you refuse to acknowledge, and you cannot learn what you think you already know. Make room for wisdom today. Clear out the pride, and let the healing flow in.

Tell me in the comments: What is one thing you are willing to "unlearn" or let go of this week to make room for peace?

Let’s grow together. 🤎 

Sunday's Mental Health Check-In - December 14, 2025

Sunday Check-In: Why Your Anger Can’t Cook Yams

Happy Sunday, friends.

Welcome back to our weekly Mental Health Check-In. I hope you are finding a moment of stillness today—just like the peace in today's image. Close your eyes for a second, take a deep breath, and let’s center ourselves before the week begins.

Today, I want to share a bit of wisdom that stopped me in my tracks. It’s a proverb from Nigeria (Yoruba/Igbo origins) that says:

"No matter how hot your anger is, it cannot cook yams."

Let that sink in for a minute.

We have all been there. Someone crosses a boundary, a plan falls apart, or life just feels unfair. The heat rises in your chest. You feel ready to explode. That anger feels powerful, right? It feels like energy.

But here is the reality check this proverb offers us: Heat alone doesn’t make a meal.

You can be the angriest person in the room. You can fume, you can vent, and you can radiate heat for hours. But at the end of the day, that raw emotion isn’t going to peel the vegetables, start the fire, or put dinner on the table.

Feelings vs. Function

This quote isn’t saying you aren't allowed to be angry. Your feelings are valid. Anger is a natural signal that something is wrong. But anger is just the alarm—it is not the solution.

When we stay stuck in the "heat" of the emotion, we exhaust ourselves without actually moving forward. We burn up all our energy fuming, and we have nothing left to actually fix the problem.

The Takeaway for This Week

As you move into this new week, you might encounter situations that turn up the heat. When that happens, remember the yams.

Ask yourself:

• "Is this emotion helping me solve the problem?"

• "Am I just radiating heat, or am I taking action?"

Feel the feeling, acknowledge it, and then let it pass so you can get back to the practical business of living your life. Don't let the heat consume you; use your energy to nourish yourself instead.

Wishing you a peaceful, productive week where you cook plenty of yams—and leave the unnecessary heat behind.

---

Tell me in the comments: What is one thing you are choosing not to stress about this coming week?

---