Dr. Charisse Johnson is a licensed clinical mental health therapist, mindfulness practitioner and author. It is quite possible, right, for two things to be true at once. Feel hopeful and yet a little heavy at the same time. It is okay to be okay. Two opposing emotions can exist.
Dr. Charisse Johnson is a licensed clinical mental health therapist, mindfulness practitioner and author. She comes into the space a few times a week so that we can breathe, connect and acknowledge what is happening in life. What are you noticing as you come into this year?
It is quite possible, right, for two things to be true at once. Feel hopeful and yet a little heavy at the same time. In the midst of the storm, I can see a bright spot. It is okay to be okay.
Two opposing emotions can exist. All emotions are messengers. Here's a tool called anchor before action. Put your feet on the ground first. Breathe in through the nose. Action that follows regulation always last longer.
Kaidrosphere. It is a new year and we're back. It's so good to be back in connection with you, if this is your first time here. I'm Dr. Charisse Johnson. I'm a licensed clinical mental health therapist, mindfulness practitioner and author. And I come into the space a few times a week so that we can breathe, connect and acknowledge what is happening in this crazy thing that we call life. Tell me who you are, where you are in the world and how's your year going? Right. I want you to think about how did 2025 end and what are you noticing as you come into this year?
Good morning, Jules. Good morning, Sarah. I saw Andrea's name. If I missed you, say something again and I'll get you. One of the things that we do when we start up this time as a refresher for some and as new information for those that are attending for the first time, is we take a moment to kind of rate your week. I asked you how your year is going, so give me some words that are describing that you feel comfortable sharing how the year is going. Minnesota, my heart goes out to you. 5, but in where I want to land and I'm going to work my way there.
And it's perfect. It's the perfect segue. I'm literally living out what I didn't necessarily plan for us to talk about, but I want to. It is quite possible, right, for two things to be true at once. I could look at my week and I could think, part of my week has been absolutely incredible and productive and powerful. And then I could look at other parts of my week. Hello, Duluth, Minnesota. And I will see that it's been challenging. Oh, pause. Sarah, I am with you on 2026. Being one for the history books.
I'm feeling that I just needed to say that I am definitely feeling that vibe. Even though there's little things that I don't want deal with that it's going on in one side. There's something about this year that I'm like, this year is going to pop off. And I mean that in a good way. It owes me one because 2025 popped off in the wrong way. But that being said, two things can exist at once. So it's not uncommon in any given moment, in any given day, in any given week for you to feel two things at once.
For examp, there are a lot of individuals who might Feel hopeful and yet a little heavy at the same time. And sometimes the heaviness that you feel is not even your heavy. It's heavy from what's happening around you or the heavy that you know was going on in someone else's life. And it's okay. Hello, honey, from Griffin. So here. Here's some things that I want you to keep in mind. That pendulum, that what feels like a tug of war is very appropriate. And what I want you to remember more than anything is it is okay to be okay.
Right? It is okay to be walking through something difficult. It is okay to be watching other people walk through something difficult, and you still feel hopeful and energized. And it doesn't mean that you don't care. And even though it's a new year and it might feel a little confusing with all of the different things that are going on, please make sure that you're still giving yourself permission to say okay. In the midst of the storm, I can see a bright spot. I can see something that it's happening.
And that mix doesn't necessarily mean that anything's wrong. It doesn't mean that you're falling apart. Let's talk about it from a little place of neuroscience. Well, let me ask you this first. What two opposing or opposite emotions do you feel like you noticed or felt in the last, let's say, two months? Maybe happiness and anger, maybe hopefulness and fear. Take a moment and think about that. Put that in the chat. Two emotions that you're like, whoa, these are polar opposites. And you have felt both of them in the last few months.
What would those be? Because I do want you to identify. This is great for those of you who struggle to identify positive emotions, and you're always in the ruff, ruff, ruff. I want you to know that there were other moments that were good. And for my toxic positive individuals, it's also helpful. This is a helpful tool for you to also go, is it okay for me to acknowledge that there are also other emotions that I felt that haven't been in the realm of the positive place I like to stay and know that it doesn't change who you are, doesn't change your identity, doesn't change your character, but all emotions are messengers, and that's really the focal point of this whole conversation today, is two opposing emotions can exist.
All emotions are messengers. So you want to listen to both and ask yourself, what is this emotion trying to tell me that I need or that I'm experiencing? And what is this emotion trying to Tell me, and am I willing, willing to experience the good with the same way that I tend to experience that are not so good? Here's a tangible tool because I always want to leave you with one that you can also use if you find yourself in this place where you are kind of dealing with opposing emotions and not quite sure what to do with it at all.
Right? Remember I even said it earlier, I'm feeling this way. I don't know exactly what's creating this little mini thunderstorm over here. I'll get there. I will continue to process and use my tools and figure it out. But until then, here's a tool. It's called anchor before action. All right? So here's what you do before you take action, before you respond to something, before you do something, email something. Literally, I'm uncrossing my legs. Put your feet on the ground first, all right? I want you to think about something that maybe you even need to approach that's coming up that might be making you a little anxious.
Put your feet on the ground first. Taking in one slow breath through the nose. And name one thing that's steady. I'm going to do it. Let's do it together. You can name it quietly within yourself. Feet on the ground. I'm going to close my eyes for a moment in through the nose. And name one thing that's steady, all right? And you say it quietly. Like, right now, I am safe enough to take the next step. Right now. I know the next thing that I need to do today, right? The feet, the anchor, the right now.
All right? This tells your nervous system. I'm not rushing. I'm leading you. Action that follows regulation always last longer. It's that simple. So when you're feeling right. Feet on the floor. I took my shoes off so I could really feel the floor. Back is flat, heart is open. Breathe in through the nose. Right now. I don't have to make any decisions. Right now. I'm at peace right now. I will remain hopeful. Right? You put in whatever words are helpful for you and use that as your grounding tool.
I want to encourage you as you go throughout the week to engage in that practice and let me know how it goes. Maybe when you pop back in next week, I'll check in and you let me know how it goes. But remember, if you're feeling multiple things at once, you're human. It's okay to be okay. Let those emotions speak to you. But anchor for action and trust yourself. All right? Always great to see you. And I look forward to seeing you all soon. Have a wonderful rest of the week.
