“Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” – Eleanor Brownn
This month, we have emphasized the importance of both giving and receiving hope. When we act with compassion toward ourselves and others and allow ourselves to receive others' care and kindness, we make meaningful differences in all of our lives. Wellness cannot be disconnected from our relationships with our loved ones, our environment, and the world around us.
By practicing self-care through sleep hygiene, movement, self-discipline, and mindfulness, we can re-energize ourselves and find the motivation and strength we need to keep living purposefully. And, we don't have to do this alone! By asking for help when we need it, letting others support us, and taking the time to listen to those around us, we can build our support networks and find community in one another. Together, we can grow and share hope.
3 TOOLS FOR STARTING YOUR WELLNESS JOURNEY
- Slow Down and Focus - Resting is just as important--and at times even more important--than being active. By allowing ourselves time to recharge and reflect, we can more accurately see our areas of improvement and what steps we can take toward growth.
- Don't Forget to Move Either - This month we discussed how moving with courage means moving with love for ourselves and our bodies. By taking care of our physical health, we can feel better not just physically, but emotionally as well.
- Identify Your Hope Anchors - Recognize the people, practices, and beliefs that anchor us to our goals and values. By acknowledging what motivates us, we can find the strength to persist.
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Happiness depends upon ourselves. – Aristotle
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THEME AFFIRMATIONS
Use affirmations to inspire you or reframe your thoughts
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I care for my whole body and mind when I care for my sleep hygiene.
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I find courage in moving my body every day.
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I find motivation deep within myself.
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I carry my sanctuary with me always.
APPS FOR GUIDED MEDITATION
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Noisli - This website allows you to mix together different sounds and playlists to create your own white noise machine.
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FitOn - This app provides advice, courses, guides, and workouts that will help you exercise and move your body.
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Motivate - This app shares five inspirational videos every day that will help motivate and inspire you.
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Insight Timer - This app provides guided meditations, courses, and talks that will help you sleep better and release stress and anxiety.
PODCASTS
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- Step Away from Anxiety - This episode shares a quick exercise for how we can find calm during anxious moments.
BOOKS
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Yoga for Better Sleep - This book by Mark Stephens shares easy yoga exercises for bedtime.
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A Resistance History of the United States - This book by Tad Stoermer explores the way the United States has been shaped by resistance.
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The Jellyfish Problem - This novel by Tessa Yang follows a marine biologist as she attempts to save a small island from a giant jellyfish.
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Ring Shout on Saturn - This short story collection by Sheree Renée Thomas brings together African Diasporic wisdom and Afrofuturism to examine how we can find true freedom.
ARTICLES
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In July, we acknowledge BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month, which honors Bebe Moore Campbell's advocacy for the mental health needs of Black and other marginalized communities. Recognizing the unique challenges and experiences that BIPOC community members face when it comes to mental health is vital to ensuring everyone receives the support they need. We have shared some of our favorite resources below.
- Courage to Caregivers' BIPOC and Allyship Resource page on our website has links to all of our favorite community partner resources for caregivers.
- Mental Health America (MHA) provides a list of fast facts on caregiving in BIPOC communities and the different cultural expectations that exist between different groups regarding caregiving responsibility.
- View more of MHA's BIPOC mental health resources here. View
- MHA's 2026 BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month toolkit here.
- The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) has a series of articles on supporting BIPOC communities.
- The Trevor Project shares resources for how to support young LGBTQ+ youth of color.
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Jon Moorehead II is the Director of Programming at Multiethnic Advocates for Cultural Competence (MACC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to increasing access to behavioral health care in Ohio. Founded in 2003, it focuses on cultural competence, the idea that care should consider and respect everyone’s own background, beliefs, and values. Offering mental and behavioral health education and cultural competency training to organizations, MACC aids professionals in working with diverse and underserved communities. Read our interview with Jon here.
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MANY thanks to all of the donors who have already contributed to our 7th Annual Day of Giving! Thanks to your generosity, we have raised $8,284! We're SO close to our goal of $10,000. It's not too late - help us get to the finish line! ALL donations made through tomorrow - Friday, July 31 will be matched dollar for dollar by two thoughtful donors!
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Thursday, August 20 at 6 pm ET
Join us for a Caring for a Caregivers Fireside Chat
How to Successfully Advocate for Yourself and Those You Love:
Healthcare Advocacy and Guidance
Are you struggling to navigate the complex world of healthcare? Do you need help preparing for a doctor’s visit or are you not sure if you or your loved one is seeing the right provider? Don’t know where to turn for answers?
Join Beth Dery, MBA, Healthcare Advocate, for a presentation on how to maximize the healthcare experience for yourself and the people you love. Beth will share information and strategies on how to tackle our healthcare system to ensure the best possible outcomes. She has tips to help you prepare, stay organized and connect with your care team. Join us on Thursday, August 20 at 6:00pm ET - Register via Zoom here.
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JOIN US! Saturday, August 20 from 9 am to 1 pm
Sustaining Wellness, Resilience & Recovery Symposium at Tri-C East in Beachwood. Hosted by NAMI Greater Cleveland and Courage to Caregivers, this inspiring event will bring together individuals, families, caregivers, and professionals for a morning of learning, connection, and hope.
Download/Share our flyer here with the schedule and speaker information Accepting applications for vendors RSVP via Eventbrite
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Our next Question, Persuade, and Refer/QPR Suicide Prevention training is TONIGHT
Thursday, July 30 at 7 pm ET!
Please register here to receive the Zoom link! You need only register for ONE two-hour session. Space is limited for each session, so please register only for a time you know you can attend so spaces don't fill up and prevent others from attending.
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August's theme is ADVOCACY. We will be creating our support networks, managing stress, and practicing effective communication. With micro-goals, it’s easier to take the next right step - as Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles, begins with a single step.” Check out August's Micro-Challenges Calendar here.
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Courage to Caregivers Breathing Practice for August: Equal Breath
As we support caregivers to make breathing and meditation a practice, we're pleased to share our Breathing Meditation Facilitator Cathy and her monthly breathing practice how-to videos. You can join us for August's Breathing Practice. This practice is a simple, accessible breath that can bring instantaneous calm, supporting both body and mind. You can watch August's instructional video for Equal Breath here, and remember to subscribe to our 2026 Monthly Breathing Practices playlist to stay updated each month. You can also subscribe to our Breathing Meditation playlist, where we have four years of our weekly breathing meditation recordings, and follow along on our Spotify Breathing Meditation playlist.
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The mission of Courage to Caregivers is to empower and equip carers to navigate their journey. We envision a world where healthy carers lead to healthier families and communities. We're in the caregiver burnout prevention business!
©2026 Courage to Caregivers, Inc.
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