The JMP D&I Action Team and Marketing Manager Meg Hermes co-hosted a mental wellness talk on Oct. 1, featuring mental wellness speaker Courtney Leak.
The session, "Thriving through Transition: Managing Stress and Change," engaged approximately 115 viewers, with both in-person and online attendance. Leak initiated the session by asking attendees to describe "transition" in one word and rate their personal readiness for change on a scale of 1 (open) to 5 (resistant), establishing an immediate framework for self-reflection among the staff.
The central discussion focused on analyzing transitions by differentiating between our feelings, the facts, and our beliefs. Attendees were guided to recognize that while feelings are valid, they may not align with objective facts, and that past experiences often shape underlying beliefs that affect how change is perceived. The session then shifted to practical stress management, emphasizing that self-care does not require major time commitments. Simple, accessible self-care activities were highlighted, including guided breathing exercises led by Leak, taking walks, seeking sunshine, and actively connecting with one’s community.
The talk concluded by providing resources for the continued development of emotional intelligence. Leak recommended the movie Inside Out for its adult relevance in managing emotions, while attendees contributed literary suggestions, including The Rabbit Listened and Who Moved My Cheese.
A final point explored personality types in the context of transition, with an attendee mentioning Dr. Rami Kaminiski's concept of the "Otrovert," offering an additional framework for staff to better understand their own and their colleagues' responses to organizational and personal change.
Resources:
Also, see the attached Thriving Through Transition Toolkit, Thriving Through Transition follow-up, and Honoring My Feelings document.
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Watch Courtney's previous talks:
Watch now: Tune out the noise with Courtney Leak
Watch 'Control, Alt, Delete: The Wellness Reset' now!
These events are always fantastic - I highly encourage ALL at JMP to participate when Courtney comes to speak!
