Finding Your Center
May 2026 marks the 77th annual Mental Health Awareness Month. That’s 77 years of advocating for better mental health and fighting stigmas. In some way, shape, or form, we are all dealing with our own issues that can become overwhelming. Yet, we each need to find ways to bring ourselves back to our center so we can not only survive but also thrive in this life.
Marina Murphy, a mental health advocate who has been trained in trauma-informed care, walks us through what it looks like for her to recenter herself. Murphy, who lost her mother to suicide, knows the ups and downs of life, but she still finds peace in knowing emotions are just that.
“[It’s about] reminding myself how temporary these feelings are,” Murphy said.
Whenever Murphy finds herself spiraling, she sits with her emotions, acknowledges them, and dives into her bag of goodies to figure out how to keep moving. For Murphy, this could mean journaling, walking, breathing, skating, or doing yoga. All of these things help Murphy find her center again.
As the owner of Marina Miranda Creative Consulting Agency, she helps her community find their center through skating lessons, line dancing, creative consulting, and her apparel brand, Be Sad; Keep Going.
She said the first step is being vulnerable with yourself and allowing yourself to feel it all, no matter what it is, including sadness.
“It’s taking the time to feel whatever’s coming up,” said Murphy.
Finding the Resources
Over the years, many mental health resources have become available, but sometimes we just don’t know where to start. When we asked Murphy for advice for others, she stated that mental health looks different for everyone, so begin with starting within.
“[It’s about] giving myself more credit of knowing what I need,” she said.
For those who can, she encourages people to lean on their communities, whether that’s calling a friend or going out for a cup of coffee; do what feels right for you in the moment.
“If I’m looking for something, I’m going to ask the people I know first,” Murphy said.
She also suggests looking to social media for local mental health resources, but to do your due diligence. But at the end of the day, there is no perfect pathway or resource because improving your mental health is an everyday practice.
For more tips on improving your mental health, you can look into organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
“You have more strength within yourself than you even understand,” Murphy said. “If you take the time to feel…you get what you need.”
This article is part of the 2026 Carvd N Stone Mental Health Awareness Month Series. Throughout the series, we are highlighting Black women in the mental health field, including therapists, advocates, and wellness leaders, as they share insights, personal experiences, and practical tips to help people better prioritize and navigate their mental health.
Nyesha Stone founded Carvd N Stone in 2017 to cover positive news while attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Stone has a B.A. in Journalism. She has raised over $30,000 to award grants and scholarships. She has also been featured in ESSENCE and worked with the American Black Film Festival.
- Nyesha Stone
This was a very informative article on self-,care.