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Everyone on the Zoom call exhaled with their right hand on their heart, releasing the tightness in their chests and the turbulence in their minds. 

“We don't get to do that very often,” said public speaker and social activist Thea Monyeé during her “Sustaining Joy in the Midst of Social Change” webinar as part of a San Jose State University’s Black History Month Speaker Series. 

Monyeé is a self-identified Black woman creative who is also a spiritual healer and licensed marriage and family therapist. 

This “heart clearing” exercise is one of Monyeé’s favorite ways to tackle an action-packed day filled with social activism work. 

“Ahh I feel so grounded,” expressed SJSU Associated Students Department Manager Diana Victa in the Zoom chat after partaking in the exercise. 

Monyeé continued her speech by guiding attendees on bridging their mental health and activism.  

 “The work of putting your body on the line to face hatred, to face systemic oppression is violent,” expressed Monyeé. “It's jarring,”

Monyeé recalled her time as a therapist at Cal State Los Angeles when student activists were protesting against conservative speaker Ben Shapiro and in effect, experienced negative symptoms like agitation, isolation and sleep deprivation. 

“Often in activism work we are looking at the belly of the beast, we are staring in the eyes of a person who may not see me as a person,” said Monyeé. 

Monyeé continued to talk about the disrespect and mental strain many people may feel when someone else acts in a way that denies their equality. 

“I definitely feel it as an Asian American and Pacific Islander woman living during these times,” related SJSU public health senior Marleen Mamaradlo. 

Monyeé responded by emphasizing the importance of acknowledging these tensions that come along with activism work and giving it space and time in one's body and mind. 

“The freedom that you've made possible for others can't happen if you're ignoring your own need for connection and for health and well-being,” advised Monyeé. “Enjoy the life you are fighting for.”

Attendees started to pitch their personal ways of self-care when they feel overwhelmed with their activism work.

“I love walking or watching waves at the beach,” added San Jose resident Andrea Pierce in the Zoom chat. “Those moments definitely allow me to practice mindfulness.”

Putting joy at the center of activism and allowing for change is essential to mental health according to Monyeé. 

“‘Does this bring me joy?’ is a question that excavates choice and power and exploration, which are all things that liberated people do,” said Monyeé. 

Monyeé encouraged others to look for alternatives through self-reflection if joy is not at the center of the work. 

“How can we shift this so that [we] can get things done,” asked Monyeé. “How can [we] create a community here that we're doing the hard stuff, and we're centering joy?” 

Monyeé said she asks herself these questions on a daily basis in order to gain motivation. 

“Give yourself permission to change; change your mind, change your views to expand, to become a different type of leader, to shift to a different role in your activism work,”  shared Monyeé. 

Monyeé concluded her webinar by encouraging others to practice nonjudgemental mindfulness. 

She said that judgment during a time of mindfulness is not letting the body, mind and spirit foster a unique brand of mindfulness. 

“Move all the controlling elements out,” said Monyeé. “Make it your own.”