Motivational Mondays: Listen Lucy

A NOTE FROM JORDAN: I STARTED THIS MENTAL HEALTH ORGANIZATION IN 2013 WITH THE MISSION TO CREATE A KINDER, MORE ACCEPTING WORLD. THROUGH THE YEARS, I HAVE SPOKEN AT HUNDREDS OF SCHOOLS, CONFERENCES AND COMPANIES AND SHARED MY BATTLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. I HAVE BEEN FEATURED ON MAJOR NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS, HOSTED COUNTLESS WORKSHOPS/ASSEMBLIES, AND WROTE 3 BOOKS ALL IN HOPES OF ENDING THE STIGMA AROUND MENTAL HEALTH– A STIGMA THAT PLAGUED ME IN MY HIGH SCHOOL YEARS.

LISTEN, LUCY WAS INSPIRED BY MY OWN BATTLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. AT 19 YEARS OLD, I WAS OFFICIALLY DIAGNOSED WITH GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER AND PANIC DISORDER. AT THE WORST TIMES OF MY STRUGGLE, I FELT SCARED, DESPERATE, ANGRY, HEARTBROKEN, AND SO COMPLETELY ALONE. IT FELT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED MENTAL ILLNESS TO UNDERSTAND HOW CONSUMING AND LIFE-ALTERING IT WAS FOR ME. I HAD A REALLY INCREDIBLE SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR ME– BUT IT DIDN’T MEAN THEY UNDERSTOOD WHAT I WAS GOING THROUGH AND HOW AWFUL IT WAS FOR ME. I WAS MET WITH SO MUCH SYMPATHY, BUT NOT EMPATHY AND THAT LEFT ME FEELING ALONE, JUDGED AND MISUNDERSTOOD. THIS REALLY WASN’T ANYONE’S FAULT, BUT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO CHANGE– SOMETHING I NEEDED TO CHANGE. BY WORKING AS HARD AS I POSSIBLY COULD FOR OVER A DECADE THROUGH THERAPY, COPING TECHNIQUES AND EDUCATING MYSELF, I FOUND THE HEALTHY LIFE I LONGED FOR, BUT FEARED I WOULDN’T ACHIEVE. NOW, I HAVE SPENT SO MANY YEARS PUTTING MYSELF OUT THERE, SHARING MY TRAUMA AND CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE IN HOPES TO NORMALIZE THIS CONVERSATION AND KEEP PEOPLE FROM MAKING THE SAME MISTAKE I MADE– HIDING WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN FEAR OF BEING JUDGED.

WHEN I STARTED LISTEN, LUCY, I JUST WANTED TO CREATE AN OUTLET WHERE PEOPLE COULD EXPRESS THEMSELVES FREELY AND CREATIVELY. I HAD NO IDEA THE LIFE IT WOULD TAKEN ON AND HOW MANY INCREDIBLE AND SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES IT WOULD ALLOW ME TO EXPERIENCE. THIS JOURNEY HAS BEEN A WILD ONE– BUT ONE THAT IS SO REWARDING AND SO BEAUTIFUL. WE ARE ALL DEALING WITH DIFFERENT ISSUES AND I WANT TO CREATE A COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN TELL THEIR STORIES AND FEEL FREE. MY MISSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN SIMPLE. I WANT TO CREATE A LESS JUDGMENTAL, MORE ACCEPTING WORLD. I HOPE YOU JOIN ME.

XOXO,

JORDAN