Week 3 – Scents
We’ve celebrated May as Mental Health Month for several weeks now, thinking about how Mother Nature has given us so many metaphors to describe mental health recovery.
Such simple but miraculous beauty helps us remember that oftentimes the smallest things can pull us through—a quiet smile from a person walking by, finding a penny on the ground, a phone call during a lonely time.
I shared with you how the colors of May serve to lift my spirit and lessen feelings of anxiety and depression. After thinking about the power of light and color, my mind moved to the beautiful scents and smells that occur this month.
Stay in the Present
In my years as a mental health speaker and consumer advocate, I’ve discovered that those of us with lived experience often develop, during our recovery journeys, one very important coping skill: the ability to stay in the present. This allows us to recognize the power of natural beauty and to stop long enough to notice the healing that nature can bring. During outdoor walks, scents have the same power to help alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression.
In the woods, I smell the earth warming and the scent of air that’s been cleansed by April rains. In my house, I feel a sense of hope that comes from opening the windows to warm breezes. Outside, the singular scent of freshly mown grass clears my head and my mind at the same time. The month of May simply brings a sense of renewal and hope.
If you stay in the present, what smells do you notice? In the city, you might know it’s May when you walk down a street where restaurants have opened their doors, and you can smell the aromas of delicious foods. You may be surrounded by the scents of trees, like cherry and apple, that line the sidewalks. They bloom in the spring as flowers and eventually become fruit. They, like us, proceed through a process of healing.
In May one of the most beautiful scents emanates from lilacs, a bloom that, down through the ages and across many cultures, symbolizes tranquility, confidence, renewal, and happiness. In aromatherapy, lilac is often used to help fight depression and anxiety to promote relaxation. And throughout history, lilacs have been a source of inspiration for artists, including Vincent Van Gogh, a genius who we now know suffered from serious depression.
It’s so important that we dedicate this month to becoming a stigma buster and shift the focus from mental illness to mental wellness.
About the Author
Carol A. Kivler is a nationally recognized mental health speaker, international executive coach/trainer, and author. Most importantly, she is a passionate consumer advocate for mental health. Carol is available for speaking engagements in the U.S and internationally. Email or call Carol at (609) 882-8988.
