WHY EUSTRESSIN'?: VALENTIA ROYAL
HEY VALENTIA, WHY EUSTRESSIN’?
WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING/ HOW LONG?
HR Leader/Doctoral Candidate/Human Capital Consultant/Business Owner.
DO YOU EVER THINK ABOUT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH IN YOUR PROFESSION?
I think about my mental health and well-being as an HR Practitioner. I think about my own mental health, the mental health of the employees I support, and how mental health is positioned within the organizations I support as well. It is important to be aware of and understand how the organizational culture positions mental health.
WHAT UNIQUE CHALLENGES DO YOU ENCOUNTER SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR JOB THAT HAS AN IMPACT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH THAT OTHERS MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT?
I am an empath. Engaging with so many employees and being a safe and trusted confidant for them, means that I am exposed to and can internalize their emotions as I provide an outlet for them to express. My empathy can put a huge strain on my own mental health as I manage my own personal experiences and the experiences of others that I support in my role as a Senior HR Leader.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE THAT YOU SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER YOUR MENTAL HEALTH WHEN TAKING ON DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES?
For years as far back as 2005/2006, I had more seriously considered the need for support in the maintenance of my mental health and well being. I thought about finding a therapist but never went through with it. It wasn't until 2017 when I was embarking on my journey as a doctoral student that I finally sought out and secured a therapist. I knew that working full-time while a doctoral student would be a huge amount of stress and at the level in my career and with all of the demands I had and anticipated with the program I was certain I needed to prioritize my mental health. It was the best decision I could have made for myself.
HOW DO YOU MANAGE THOSE STRESSORS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS?
My stress management varies. Depends on the stressor, where and how I feel impacted the most etc. In short I do what feels good. I maintain my regular therapy appointments, I see my therapist once a month now (previously bi-weekly). I listen to music, watch something enjoyable on tv, I make time for fellowship and community with friends and family, I practice mindfulness, I dance, sometimes I cry (it is such a release!), there are so many things that I might do in any given day to help manage my stress. There is no one thing and no "right" thing. I do what feels good to me and for me (while not being destructive to myself or anyone else).
HOW DOES BEING MENTALLY HEALTHY HELP IN YOUR FIELD OF WORK OR ON THE JOB?
Let me start with being mentally healthy is not a static/fixed end state. Being mentally healthy is an on-going process and you may experience challenges and what might feel like set-backs on your mental wellness/health journey. Working to manage and maintain mentally healthy experiences helps me in my field because I cannot do my best unless I am at my best and mental health is at the center of my best self expression and experience. I not only strive to bring my best to my work, but I want others to see me not as an image of perfection to be aspired to, but as a whole and in-progress person as they too might be. This allows me to be relatable, authentic, and a trusted advisor/coach/mentor to the employees and leaders that I support.
WHAT DOES EUSTRESS LOOK LIKE FOR YOU AT WORK? AT HOME/AWAY FROM WORK?
Eustress at work looks like problem-solving the energy and enthusiasm of tapping into my higher self to help solve a work problem or bring new perspective to a situation or issue that puts us on the path to resolution. Eustress at home/in my social life/and community is laughter, travel, dancing, music, fellowship, fun-anything that changes the mood or distress of someone I know, love, or care about.
WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD TELL SOMEONE JUST STARTING IN YOUR PROFESSION OR A YOUNG PERSON WHO ASPIRES TO BE THE PROFESSIONAL THAT YOU ARE?
Don't be afraid to see yourself as you are-Without the mask of strength and the cloak of invincibility. Once you see yourself in it's uncomfortably beautiful fullness, you can identify where and how you experience stress and be more clear and intentional about how you will choose to address it. Therapy is a tool not a crutch or sign of weakness. Therapy in it's many forms are the ways that you become aware and responsive to your mental, physical, and spiritual needs. You cannot begin to address that which you choose not to see. Love yourself enough to See yourself and Listen to yourself.
ANY OTHER INFORMATION YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU AND WHAT YOU'RE UP TO?
In the Fall of 2019 after being in Human Resources for 15 years, I started my own HR/Human Capital consulting company, Moxy Management LLC. I am working on my dissertation for my doctorate in Human & Organizational Learning and ambitiously targeting completion in 2021. My research is focusing on the experiences of black women with media, identity, and performance. I am also a creative who enjoys acting and want to re-engage my creative expression after years of focusing solely on professional and academic advancement.
HOW CAN PEOPLE CONTACT YOU FOR MORE INFORMATION?
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