Have you ever heard the phrase “Wol’ a Vibes” or have you ever done exactly what it suggests? The phrase is synonymous with an act of pure meditation and relaxation. Through her life-changing platform, mental health advocate Renecia Brissett hopes to help others find balance while overcoming anxiety and depression.
“Wol’ A Vibes is a space where people can release their emotions and express themselves through art, poetry and music, and in doing so support mental health through art therapy,” she said. Lifestyle.
Brissett explained that she started taking her mental health seriously at the start of the pandemic in 2020. Feeling constantly sad, anxious, and depressed, she was tired of those dark feelings and decided it was time to take a look at herself and become a better person.
Realizing that it all begins in the heart, she quickly became immersed in reading and became enthralled with the pages of books like: Battlefield of the Mind, Finding Your Purpose: A guide to finding meaning and direction in life and How to live life your own way.
“My mind and perspective was the biggest issue. How I interacted with others and how they interacted with me was all through my negative thoughts. I wasn’t replacing them with positive or encouraging thoughts and that was affecting how I felt. Changing that mindset has changed my life,” she said.
Wanting to help others in a similar situation, she first posted videos on social media about how to deal with depression and anxiety and develop a positive mindset. The responses of others online led her to offer helpful tips, such as meditation. She then embarked on a spiritual journey of self-improvement through yoga, where she learned the power of acceptance and resilience.
She describes her journey as nothing short of amazing, saying that going inwards helped her understand herself better and the transformational process made her mentally strong. “Negative thoughts breed negative emotions, so being positive has lifted my spirits. My love for yoga has really helped me embrace, appreciate and live in the moment,” she adds.
By starting conversations and sharing inspiring content, a virtual safe space now known as Wol’ A Vibes has grown incredibly.
“I’ve always loved art, but I had put paints away since high school. I had a lot of repressed emotions and I needed a physical release, so one day I decided to express myself by putting color on canvas. I just painted what I had been hiding,” she said, adding, “I watched a lot of poetry, and the poets’ words ignited emotions inside me.”
Through these experiences, she realised she wanted to incorporate paint, poetry and music to create a space where people could freely express themselves. Having emceed World Health Day last October, she explained that she never felt anxious throughout the planning process. “When we held the first event, the participants loved it. We got really great feedback from the audience and the main acts. They loved the energy and the environment. That’s when I realised I had created this beautiful movement and people were loving it,” she added.
Brissett, who has since hosted other events, encourages people with mental health issues to deal with their issues through meditation and find creative ways that work for them. Brissett said that so many people struggle with anxiety and depression alone. But they are not alone. The best way to release negativity is to boost and restore energy. Additionally, Brissett, a mental health advocate, said people should never be afraid to step out of their comfort zone and try something new.
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