Stress has a way of turning everything into an emergency. But urgency isn’t always truth. When your nervous system is activated, even small tasks can feel like threats. Before you react, ask: Is this urgent, or just uncomfortable? Mental health means creating space between sensation, reaction and decision.
Practice:
Set a timer for 10 minutes and start the task you’ve been avoiding, then stop. Notice what stress feels like in your body. Ask yourself: Am I avoiding this because it’s hard, or because it feels unsafe? Procrastination is often a nervous system response, not a personal failure. Starting small shifts from reaction to intention.
Progress:
Each time you pause and begin with intention, you reshape your stress response. You’re teaching your brain that not everything uncomfortable is dangerous. Resilience and confidence build in small steps and quiet moments of self-trust.
Remember:
You don’t have to feel fearless to move forward. You just have to stop letting discomfort decide what you’re capable of.
C.S. Lewis once described humans and our behaviors like an egg. “You cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg,” he said. “You must be hatched, or go bad.”
The June Shift: Between Endings and Beginnings.
As June begins, we find ourselves at a threshold, the close of one chapter and the quiet beginning of another. Whether it's graduation, the end of a school year, shifting schedules, or simply the changing light, June invites transition. These moments, while often filled with celebration, can also stir uncertainty, grief, or pressure to “have it all figured out.” At MCA, we see this season as a powerful opportunity to pause, reflect, and care for our mental health, not in spite of change, but because of it. This month, we’ll be sharing tools, insights, and reminders to help you stay grounded and intentional through the shifts.
Managing Transitions: Why You Need to Name What’s Ending Before You Begin Again
n times of transition, it’s tempting to focus only on the new, new jobs, routines, roles, or seasons. But mentally and emotionally, we often need to acknowledge what we’re leaving behind to fully step into what’s ahead. Take five minutes to write down what’s ending for you right now (even small things), what you’ll miss, and what you’re ready to let go of. This simple pause can create emotional clarity and reduce the anxiety that often comes with change.
Graduation brings a swirl of endings, beginnings, and unknowns. This 10-minute reflection tool helps anchor students in what they’ve learned, what matters now, and what’s possible next, reducing overwhelm and increasing clarity.
Kim specializes in executive function coaching and assessment of learning and attention challenges. She works closely with teens and young adults to identify barriers, strengthen key skills, and build the confidence needed for academic success, college readiness and long term well-being. Her approach blends practical strategies with developmental insight to support meaningful growth and independence. Kim is passionate about helping young people become their most capable selves, and always appreciates the comfort of a good routine, especially one that includes a Law & Order rerun.
Calm & Connected is an 8-session summer series in July for teens and young adults (ages 15–25) that blends yoga, breathwork, and mindfulness to reduce stress, build self-awareness, and support emotional regulation. Each session offers practical tools to calm the nervous system, foster resilience, and reconnect with the body in a safe, empowering way.
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