Spark with Merilee

Our Mental Health is REAL.

Owning our energy is not easy when our emotions take over. We are dealing with so much. And yet, we've become Jedi Masters at burying our feelings just to keep our s**t together and function.

But when we keep doing this, the BIG emotional wave can hit us all at once. It's easy to spiral into overwhelm, feeling less than, like we're failing at life.

If this wave has hit you, if you're struggling, please give yourself compassion and grace. Easier said than done, I know.
This was 100% me this morning.

I was spiraling, so here's what I did to help me:

I tried to journal because this often helps me get clarity. But then the BIG wave hit. Emotions are meant to be felt and seen. So I let myself have a big ass cry.

After my nose was stuffy and my tears were crusty, I reminded myself that I'm human. Life is messy and stressful. It's okay to feel overwhelmed, and it's impossible to take it all on.

When my husband came downstairs, I let down my walls and talked it out with him. Admitting I need help is tough for me. But when I do, it always helps me get out of my own head.

Now that I've felt my emotions and had a good release, I'm feeling a little better. So, now what?

I'm choosing to be consciously kind to myself today. I'll focus on what I can control, one small step and one task at a time.

And if needed, I will adjust my schedule to make sure I am taking care of ME today.

As we close out Mental Health Awareness Month, remember....

You are allowed to not be okay.

Taking care of your mental and emotional health is not selfish. It is not a weakness. It is a strength and a superpower. It is owning your energy and leading your life.

And it's reminding the people around you that doing the same is not only okay — it's vitally important.

If this resonated, please share it with someone who needs the reminder. We all do sometimes.💛

Sending you tons of love and compassion today.

Cheers to being bold, beautiful, and kind to ourselves!

SparkWithMerilee.com

I’m excited to share that the next Spark with Merilee Petite Retreat is happening in Pittsburgh on June 26th. ✨

These retreats are something I get energized about because they create space for women to come together, slow down, and have real conversations about life, leadership, stress, energy, and what’s really going on beneath the surface.

So many women are carrying a lot right now, personally and professionally, and rarely give themselves permission to pause long enough to ask what they actually need.

We’ll spend time exploring the voices of our Inner Board Members, the thoughts, patterns, and reactions that shape the way we lead ourselves, show up for others, and move through stress and uncertainty every day.

This won’t be another event where you leave feeling overwhelmed or like you need to be “fixed.” My hope is that you leave feeling more grounded, more self-aware, and more connected to the women around you.

No pressure. No pretending. Just honest connection, meaningful conversation, reflection, and practical tools you can actually take back into your everyday life.

More details are coming soon, but for now, save the date. I would love to have you there!

A post-Mother's Day reminder. Your mental wellness is wildly contagious.

There were moments in my life when I felt completely overwhelmed and consumed with self-doubt.

As a young mom trying to figure out my career, I told myself I was fine. My struggles felt too small to matter. Too embarrassing to talk about.

So I kept pretending and pushing. Until I finally didn't. I asked for help. And it changed everything.

And I'm not alone in this.

As women, we put on our armor and go after our goals. We show up, give everything, and say "I'm fine. It's fine." And we keep pushing.

Men struggle too. Just more inward and silent.

Struggling with mental wellness doesn't discriminate. It just looks different on everyone.

When we don't talk about it, we don't normalize it. Those outdated beliefs and stress patterns get passed right down to the next generation. That belief that asking for help is weakness? It's costing us and the people we love and lead.

When you're not okay, the people around you know it, even when you think you're hiding it well.

Making your mental wellness a priority is one of the most powerful choices you can make, not someday, but now. Asking for help to get there isn't weakness. It's strength.

The people around you are watching and learning from you. That's not selfish. That's leadership.

If something in this spoke to you, I'd love to support you. Book your Spark Clarity Session, a focused, one-on-one conversation to help you reset and reconnect with yourself at https://loom.ly/X1s6pRA!

And mark your calendar! My next Spark Your Mindset Petite Retreat is coming to Pittsburgh on June 26th.

🌸 Details coming soon ...