Hello Bright Mind,
It is midweek and I hope the week is treating you well.
Did you learn something new last week? The newsletter last week was about neuroplasticity. If you haven't read it, go and read it.
I am still sharing my mentorship chronicles. I think I love the name. Well, my daily routine has more mentorship and coaching going on with young people.
I engage either through messages, calls or emails. There's always something to share, learn, unlearn and work on.
This week, I have had conversations about mental health, dealing with trauma and how to localise change as a young person working on a few SDGs. Oh, before I forget, I have Moments with Dr Weyoms on LinkedIn. I am currently running a series focused on young people and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Please check it out.
In my conversations so far this week, problem-solving abilities have come up, because why discuss a problem when you won't find a solution? I don't like murmuring about a problem, I like to think creatively of ways to provide a solution.
I don't see myself as a super innovative or creative person, but I do rely on learning and applying knowledge. This way, I know what works and what might need to change. I took this approach from academia. I read research papers for example on substance abuse among young people. I focus on the approach they used in reducing the prevalence of substance abuse in the author's setting, the success, the limitations and their recommendation for practice and future research. This is where I get my ideas. This is where I turn data into stories, pilot projects, commentaries or discussions etc.
This is how I grow in my personal and professional development. I harness the abilities I have to solve problems. It is my own thinking outside the box.
So when I discuss with young people, harnessing their problem-solving abilities is crucial to their change processes, the ideas they have about being changemakers in their communities and even their personal lives.
According to Susan Wojcicki, “Rarely are opportunities presented to you in a perfect way, in a nice little box with a yellow bow on top… Opportunities, the good ones, they are messy, confusing, and hard to recognize. They are risky. They challenge you.”
S o how can you solve the problem you have identified in your personal life or your community in a way that helps your change process? I know, Dr Weyoms, how can I think outside the box? Is there even a box in the first place?
Let me share a few things I read about.
Like I always tell any young person that comes to me and shares what's happening. I say, Breathe! Yes, Breathe! It will calm your system down and reduce stress. You will be able to see the bigger picture.
Take a break. Some days I get messages late at night or early in the morning, and it gives me panic vibes. I don't answer straight away. I walk away from it and allow my brain to process the problem a young person has shared whilst I focus on other things. Sometimes, I say, “Let me sleep on it and get back to you” or “Let me pray about it and get back to you.” I also encourage them to take a break from the problem.
Whilst number 2 is metaphorical, physically walking away is also a good step. Go somewhere else for a while. It will give you a wider and better perspective. It could be a short or long time out. Sometimes, I jokingly say on Twitter, “Landlord, travel and see”. For me, I believe travelling to see the world gives a better perspective and helps one know how to handle situations better because you'd engage different people and cultures.
Share the problem with someone else. We all have unique minds, and lived experiences. This helps us see challenges in different ways. That's why I love group mentorship and research. Research on setting up a garden for young people in a place like Rome, Italy to improve knowledge about nutrition, food systems, and mental health would be different in a place like Abuja, Nigeria.
Take on a reframing lens. You might be used to a certain way of achieving weight loss such as going to the gym. Perhaps, looking into your fruits and vegetables might be another healthier way to stay healthy. Your brain will start imagining new ways of tackling challenges.
I know we love those who speak our language. People who take on our views. I keep learning from my father that you have to actively seek out different or opposing views to the ones you currently hold. You don't like this, right? I don't too but I am learning to do it because it helps me consider creative solutions or actions I haven't considered before. Try it and let me know! Heads up, it is hard especially if you are online in spaces like Twitter or community-like groups, or hosted headed WhatsApp groups.
Or if that's too intense, imagine someone disagrees with you and think about what they would say. I am comfortable with this because of my academic and community development work. Someone must disagree. I am learning to be patient and not completely disregard their thoughts. It actually helps me to be a better future version of myself. Try it out too.
Lastly, everything is about mindset. If you have a fixed mindset, your change process might be very rigid and doesn’t give you the room to think outside the box. The box is what you think you know and how you have decided it should be. It is like laying cast irons. I encourage you to have a growth mindset.
Until next time
Written with love
From Uli by Dr Weyoms
Stay safe and well