Mental Health, Mind Renewal & the Power of the Brain: Why It All Matters

There’s something beautiful happening in our world right now. Conversations around mental health are no longer whispered behind closed doors—they’re being normalized, validated, and honored. And I, for one, am so incredibly thankful.

While I’m not a therapist or counselor, as a Neuro Coach, I work deeply in the mental health space every day—helping women untangle thought patterns, rewire limiting beliefs, and reclaim peace in their inner world. And this month, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I want to open up a conversation that’s long overdue.

So let’s start here:

What is mental health, really?

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It influences how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. It’s not just about a diagnosis or a breakdown—it’s about the day-to-day state of your mind, your resilience, and your relationship with yourself.

And yet, the language I often hear women use about their own mental state is... heartbreaking.

“I’m just crazy.”
“I probably sound like a psycho.”
“I’m a total wreck.”
“I’m a basket case.”
“I’m too much.”
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

Sound familiar?

These words don’t come from truth. They come from conditioning.
From shame.
From growing up in homes, churches, or cultures where emotions were dismissed.
Where perfection was praised and weakness was weaponized.

Let me ask you a hard but holy question:

Where did your thoughts about yourself even come from to begin with?

Who told you that feeling overwhelmed made you unstable?
Who told you that tears meant you were weak?
Who told you that needing rest, support, or healing meant you were broken?

Because that’s not the truth. That’s just programming—and the amazing news is: you can reprogram it.

Here’s what brain science says:

Your brain is always adapting. Thanks to neuroplasticity, your brain can literally change its wiring based on what you repeat, believe, and practice. The pathways you fire the most—whether empowering or destructive—are the ones that become your “default settings.”

But defaults can be reset.

You are not stuck because your brain is broken.
You’re stuck because your brain is loyal—to patterns it learned a long time ago.

And guess what? Those patterns can be unlearned.

3 Simple Ways to Support Your Mental Wellness This Month:

1. Interrupt the inner narrative.
   Start paying attention to how you speak about yourself. If you wouldn’t say it to a friend, don’t say it to your soul. Begin replacing “I’m crazy” with “I’m human and healing.”

2. Ground your nervous system daily.
   Try deep breathing, a short walk in sunlight, or just placing your hand on your heart and taking 30 seconds to be—without multitasking, fixing, or performing. This is how you begin to regulate your internal world.

3. Ask new questions.
   Instead of “What’s wrong with me?” try “What’s trying to be healed in me?”
   Instead of “Why can’t I get it together?” try “What support do I need right now?”

And because May is also my birthday month (cue the balloons and confetti), I want to remind you: This life is too short to stay stuck. Too precious to live in constant mental battle. Too wild and beautiful to live without awe and adventure.
In fact, I’ll be off storm chasing with my husband this month—yes, chasing real tornadoes. Because while some people find peace in quiet walks, I find it in 150mph rotating wind. 😂

I know, some people think I’m nuts, but to me, it’s thrilling. It’s a reminder that awe and adrenaline can coexist with peace and presence. That we’re allowed to do things that make us feel alive—even if they don’t make sense to anyone else. Whatever your version of “wild joy” looks like—go do more of that. Your brain, body, and soul will thank you.

And maybe that’s the deeper message here:
You’re allowed to chase joy. You’re allowed to change your mind. You’re allowed to rewrite the story.

Your thoughts matter. Your voice matters. Your healing matters.
And the way you care for your mental health doesn’t have to be dramatic—it just has to be intentional.

So this month, I invite you to:
Be curious about the way you speak to yourself.
Be willing to challenge what you’ve always believed.
Be open to God doing a new thing in your mind.

Here’s to your healing. Your peace. Your joy.
And maybe… even a twister or two. 😉

With love and bold belief in your transformation,
Erica