This mental health month, we invite you to set up camp in the workplace
and respond to this special call.
We Thrive is offering a two-part FREE leadership event
“Leading with Care: The Neuroscience and Practice of Leading a Culture of Care in the Workplace” on October 24 and November 7, 2023.
Scan the QR codes to register or click these links:
Set Up Camp October 24 (online via zoom)
Build the Fire November 7 (onsite at We Thrive Clinic-Tektite Building,Ortigas)
We’re delighted to share that “Thrive! A Parent’s Journey to Resilience” is part of the top 10 bestselling books of Anvil Publishing at the Manila International Book Fair 2023!
Copies of Thrive! are available at the We Thrive Clinic in Tektite and online through Lazada and Shopee.
The much awaited book “Thrive! A Parent’s Journey to Resilience” has recently been published!
Written by We Thrive clinicians Cherie Lo, Dr. Jabby Herrera, Malyn Domingo and Rhoanne Ramas, together with We Thrive co-founder Mel Tan and former We Thrive consultant Karyl Abog, “Thrive!” tackles the neuroscience of stress, how it affects parenting and gives concrete strategies for parents to navigate the ever-changing landscape of childrearing.
“Stress is a common experience in our lives. It affects us in different ways depending on our background, our vulnerabilities, and our strengths. Most of us can cope. Stress can even lead to growth. But what happens when stress becomes chronic, unpredictable, and intense?”
A group of clinicians breaks down the science of stress in simple and accessible language. They have compiled valuable insights on mental health practices from years of experience and research. Complete with tools necessary to develop self-care and compassion, this book will help readers navigate their road to resilience and, in turn, raise resilient children”
Here are some of the photos from the book signing at the Manila International Book Fair where the signed copies of the books were sold out!
Copies of Thrive! are available at the We Thrive Clinic in Tektite and online through Lazada and Shopee.
Mother’s Day is right around the corner so we rounded up the best advice that the moms from our We Thrive team could share and here’s what they had to say:
Raise the child you have, not the child you or others think you should have.
See your children for who they are and for their strengths, gifts and capabilities. See the best things about and make them feel really seen and heard. Rather than looking at what they are not doing, or are doing wrong, or belaboring who they are not, the invitation is to accept and celebrate our children for who they are. In so doing, hopefully our children learn to appreciate and value themselves the way we as loving parents, try to see them.
Ninin Sumpaico-Jose
As a first time mom, it helps me to remember that just like my baby, I am growing and learning too. It makes sense that I’m still figuring things out. Acknowledging my own development as a mother gives me more self compassion and gratitude for the gift of growing with my baby everyday.
Triza Guerrero-Cheng
There’s a lot of unsolicited advice, but the best I got were random advice after I gave birth to my first child – Sleep while your baby sleeps; At night, breastfeed in side-lying position, roll your baby to your other side when changing sides; and other breastfeeding-related concerns.
Most moms would say that the first months are the hardest, but going through it all with 3 kids, I must say that the hardest is keeping your identity in place while finding the balance between being a mother, wife, a house manager, and a career woman all at the same time. Most will ask how to balance time from all the responsibilities, but what I usually say is, you can’t. You can’t do all things in one sitting, some things just have to wait. And as much as possible, ask for help. Other responsiblities such as housework and teaching the kids can be better done by other people, like a househelp and a tutor. What matters most is the quality of time you give to your kids.
Dr. Janice A. Camarillo
I only have 2 simple advice – enjoy the mealtimes with your family, and sleep well.
A dear friend once told me “Remember to give yourself as much love and compassion as you give your child.”
I’ve had to keep this advice in mind everyday especially knowing that moms (actually women in general), have a greater tendency to put the needs of others ahead of themselves. In order for me to show up at my best and be truly present as a mom, I have to ensure that I take care of myself too. That means being okay with taking breaks, making room for mistakes, asking for help, saying ‘no’ to a lot of things, sitting with a lot of discomfort and trusting that it’ll be okay despite the uncertainties.
Paula Garcia-Ramos
Best advice I got in my later years as a mom: 😂
If you hate yourself, you probably need rest.❤️
If you hate everyone else, you probably need a snack.🥰Advise i can give to other moms:
Margarita “Tucci” Reyes
“Ni calvo, ni con dos pelucas.”
( Not bald, no wigs)
Which means balance, equanimity, equilibrium and not to sweat the small stuff.❤️
And here’s a look back at the interview we did with Techie Duran-Dy on everyday thriving as a mom.
It’s International Dance Day and we’re turning the spotlight on Laya Alampay as she shares her insights on dance and wellbeing.
Laya is a We Thrive clinician, Ateneo MA student and part time lecturer, UP Streetdance alum and member of The Crew
Here’s a bonus video!
In the last week of #WomensMonth2023 we were so thrilled to have partnered with Trend Micro for an incredible talk! It was an honor to share insights and connect with such a passionate audience for Women’s Month. Thank you for having us Trend Micro Careers Philippines !
Here are some photos from the event:
Yes, we’re about to wrap up #MentalHealthMonth in the Philippines but we’re keeping the mental health and wellbeing tips coming. In this video, one of We Thrive’s consultants, Carol Tongco, REACE, talks about Expressive Arts and wellbeing
Psychological research across families from all ethnic backgrounds suggests that fathers’ affection and increased family involvement help promote children’s social and emotional development.
American Psychological Association
The concept of a modern day father has garnered a lot of interest not just within the context of day-to-day life but in research as well.
At We Thrive, we believe in the father’s important role in human development and the wellbeing of the family as a whole. And we also acknowledge that mental health and wellbeing needs of fathers are not as talked about as that of their children’s
This father’s day, we want to share some insights from one renaissance dad–our very own Dr. Carlos Pizarro.
Dr. Carlos has an established career as a dentist and a mental health clinician. Outside of work, Dr. Carlos is a family man, an active leader in church and non-profit organizations and he is also a musician. Learn more from his insights on fatherhood, self-care and skills for everyday thriving:
What are your practices for Everyday Thriving?
We Thrive celebrates all the men in our lives wearing different hats, our first superheroes, and guides, this day is for you. Happy Father’s Day!
Sources:
American Psychological Association. (2009, September 8). The changing role of the modern day father. http://www.apa.org/pi/families/resources/changing-father
Stambor, Z. (2005, December). Meet the renaissance dad. Monitor on Psychology, 36(11). http://www.apa.org/monitor/dec05/renaissance
Hazlegreaves, S. (2020, February 19). Why mental health for modern day dads is a hidden but fast-growing issue. Open Access Government. https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/mental-health-for-modern-day-dads/82686/
Last month, Dr. Joanna Herrera delivered the commencement address for
Miriam College Middle School, where she shared key insights on building resilience with the graduating 7th graders.
Here is an excerpt of that address, highlighting the ABC’s of Resilience:
“You’ve probably heard the word resilience many times over the course of the pandemic. We are told that we need to develop our resilience. Resilience means the ability to bounce back from difficulties—like when you drop a ball on the ground, and it comes right back up instead of staying on the ground. How do we become resilient? The good news is that neuroscientists tell us that we can train our brains, our minds, to be resilient. If we practice resilience, it grows stronger and becomes part of who we are. So, let’s get to our ABC’s of resilience.
We talked about all those big feelings we’re having about the pandemic. We need to turn to our feelings with awareness and acceptance. Not pushing our feelings away, not blaming ourselves for having feelings, not being harsh to ourselves when we’re not feeling ok.
Resilience is not about feeling ok all the time. It’s more about being aware of our internal weather patterns—our moods and emotions and being compassionate to ourselves.
We can say to ourselves, I hear you my sadness, I hear you my boredom, I hear you my fear…let me take care of you. We might want to give our feelings some soothing breaths, in and out. Our breath is a powerful tool for calming feelings. When our feelings are calm, we can think more clearly and make better choices. And perhaps we can reach out to our parents, family members, friends and tell them about how we feel so we are not alone with our emotions.
Awareness allows us to see where we are. Building competency means strengthening our muscles—that is mentally and psychologically, to adopt a mindset and perspective that help us grow. I have a favorite quote from Jon Kabat-Zinn, a famous Mindfulness teacher. He said,
We can’t stop the waves, but we can learn how to surf.
Many times, we are not in control of situations that come up in our lives, big situations just like this pandemic, or everyday things, like getting through schoolwork. But we have a choice to get on our surfboard and not drown. Adopting a growth mindset is an important competency for resilience. Growth mindset means, changing how we talk to ourselves when we make mistakes or face challenges. Instead of saying to ourselves, “I’m not as good as others”, “I won’t try because I might fail”, “I can’t do this, it’s too hard” we can say, “I can learn and practice,” “I will succeed with effort and finding the right strategy,” “If I fail, I can try again until I make it.” People who learn to talk to themselves in this way, become more successful in accomplishing their goals in life. Start practicing now. When negativity arises, open the door of possibility. Your mind has the power to change reality when you choose the right angle to see things from—that is the angle of growth and possibility. Lastly,
Strong connections with our friends, our families, our teachers, and even our human family around the world is so essential to our wellbeing. We as human beings are wired to connect, to empathize, to care. While this is a time for physical distancing, it is not a time for social distancing. On the other hand, it is a time for presence and compassion, making each other feel we are here, and we are together. Reach out for support when you’re feeling lonely. Make it a habit to have meaningful connections everyday with your family by putting your gadgets aside during mealtimes and be 100% present. Reach out to your friends who you think might be having a hard time, listen and simply be there.
When we feel connected with one another, we feel safe, calm, and collected.
We can also practice connecting with our goals and our sense of purpose and take small actions to contribute to the greater good—it can be cheering up a friend, helping with chores at home, baking treats for your grandparents, offering a prayer for those who are sick.
Your small actions can have big impact. Do not underestimate your power to make this world a better place.
As Dr. Jabby emphasized in her commencement address, resilience is a skill that can be learned and practiced. Want to learn more about resilience and other wellbeing practices? Reach out so we can help get you started.
Everyday Thriving is not just a concept we teach in our webinars and corporate training programs—it is a set of practices we live by on a daily basis.
As a Mother’s Day feature, we turn the spotlight on Techie Duran-Dy, one of our We Thrive consultants.
Techie is a wife, mom of three daughters (Myca-26, Cara-22, Anica-21), mental health clinician, businesswoman, PhD student–and she is also active in church and socio-civic duties. How does she do it all? Watch Techie’s insights on Everyday Thriving:
In this heartwarming video, Techie talks about the biggest challenges and rewards of motherhood. She also shares her Everyday Thriving practices such as gratitude, prayer, mindfulness, communing with nature, nurturing connections, finding purpose and doing things with love.
What are your practices for Everyday Thriving? Which ones did you learn from you mom?
We Thrive celebrates and appreciates the strength of all mothers who have nurtured us in many wonderful ways. Happy Mother’s Day!