News

A Message from Resiliency and Wellness…

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Even though we should focus on our Total Health daily as we create a culture of healthy lifestyle habits, sometimes we need a reminder to help us recenter and refocus our intentions on what is truly important. Our Mental Health and our Physical Health are mutually inclusive; we cannot have one without the other to live optimally. Creating routine and structure to our days that involve healthy living can help set the tone for a life of health, fitness, and wellness. Shift work can cause disruptions in “normal” routines but we can adjust and adapt our day to prioritize our health. Focus on Pillars of Health like quality sleep, healthy nutrition, consistent exercise, stress management, social connection, and recovery. Just like with a structured training plan, start with small incremental changes to develop a habit that lasts. The best habits become integrated into your life and ultimately create another layer of identity that we wear. Life layering is a term used to describe a multileveled identity outside our work life and our personal life. Terms we identify with can be athlete, runner, rider, yoga practitioner, photographer, lifelong learner, volunteer, or coach to name a few.

When we focus on our Total Health, we must include our Mental Health to be complete. “ We are all complete, just not completed.” We are all a work in progress along our life’s journey. We will continue to learn, grow, develop, and improve but we must be open to not only working out, but we must also “work in.” Doing the inner self reflective and introspective work helps us heal, grow, repair, and replenish. Self care is how we take our power back and live a happy, healthy, strong and resilient life, but it all starts with accepting that at some point, we all may need a boost or a lift to get back to center. Mental Toughness includes recognizing and receiving support when needed. That is absolute strength!!

Please reach out to Peer Support, Chaplains, Resiliency and Wellness, trusted friends, family and counselors if you notice you are deviating from your healthy baseline.

“Give strength to weakness, courage to fear, and hope to despair.”

Bobby Waidler – Sergeant
Resiliency and Wellness/Peer Support/Chaplain Program/Physical Therapy Program
Denver Police Academy
Desk (720) 913-1373
Nextel (720) 641-1190
Robert.Waidler@denvergov.org