Six mental fitness skills for resilience | Angela Marie Teeple | TEDxShore Regional HS

Personal Struggles and Transformation

• The speaker describes their childhood as chaotic and dysfunctional, marked by their parents' divorce, their father's addiction, and their own experiences of witnessing abuse and keeping secrets.
• They felt labeled as "the dysfunctional kid from a broken home" and struggled to fit in, leading them to develop unhealthy coping mechanisms like overachieving, seeking validation through unhealthy relationships, and hiding their struggles behind a facade of happiness.
• The speaker reveals that they battled physical, mental, and emotional abuse, silently endured eating disorders, self-harm, and depression, and struggled with feelings of inadequacy and failure due to their family's addiction.
• The speaker experienced a severe panic attack, escalating into self-harm, which led to hospitalization.
• The speaker experienced a personal crisis that led them to seek help at a psychiatric ward.
• While in the hospital, the speaker realized the need for a change and decided to find a different way to cope with their struggles.
• The speaker describes a specific incident from their teenage years when she encountered a police officer at her home with a certified letter.
• The speaker shares that she experienced a period of inner turmoil that culminated in her being admitted to a psychiatric ward at the age of 32.

Mental Health Awareness and Inclusivity

• During their stay, they realized that mental health does not discriminate and that everyone shares common struggles despite their outward differences.
• The speaker formed connections with other patients, finding solace and support in their shared vulnerability.
• They discovered the power of authenticity and the impact it can have on others, particularly through their relationship with a fellow patient named Anch.
• The speaker's experience in the psychiatric ward led them to recognize the importance of community, mental health awareness, and the need to create a culture of inclusivity and positivity.

Resilience and Growth

• The speaker realized their own strength and resilience, finding ways to teach others what they learned through strategies like visualization, meditation, and journaling.
• The speaker developed the "Rise Up" framework, which consists of six mental fitness skills designed to help individuals shift their mindset and build resilience.
• The speaker emphasizes that while they are not a mental health professional, they bring a wealth of experience and a desire to help others.

Life Lessons and Strategies

• The speaker compares life to weather, suggesting that both can shift from calm to chaotic unexpectedly.
• The speaker asks the audience to stand if they have experienced certain life challenges, such as losing a loved one, battling cancer, or dealing with addiction.
• The speaker emphasizes that everyone experiences storms in life and that our responses to these storms are influenced by our inner struggles.
• The speaker uses the analogy of eagles, which fly directly into storms, to illustrate resilience and the ability to rise above challenges.
• The speaker acknowledges that dysfunction is a common part of the human experience and that we often focus on the dysfunction of others rather than confronting our own.
• The speaker suggests pausing, pivoting, and practicing mindfulness to take a breath during difficult times.
• The speaker emphasizes the importance of having an inner lighthouse, which represents one's "why" or what drives and motivates them.
• The speaker encourages embracing an eagle mentality, which involves turning challenges into opportunities and believing in one's ability to soar above difficulties.
• The speaker advises using the energy from storms to fuel positive self-talk and achieve goals.
• The speaker stresses the importance of unity and surrounding oneself with supportive people who provide genuine connections.
• The speaker highlights the significance of perspective and finding a silver lining in every cloud.
• The speaker emphasizes the power of gratitude as an attitude that can change one's life.
• The speaker shares that they use these strategies daily and encourages viewers to find their own trusted adults and stormchasers.
• The speaker concludes by offering three pieces of advice: dance in the rain, find renewal in every sunrise, and rise up and soar.