Your world with Dr. Beatrice Hyppolite
Hello,
I am Dr. Marie Beatrice Hyppolite. I hold a doctorate in Health Science with emphasis on Global Health and master’s degree in social work. I have over 14 years of experience in the field of health and human services.
This podcast is primarily focused on mental health and the quality-of-life elements that affect it such as divorce, death, domestic violence, trauma, toxic relationships, and single parenthood to name a few. It is no secret that mental health challenges continue to profoundly impact modern society although not enough discussion is given due to stigma. Research has shown an increase of 25 % in mental health crises after COVID-19. It is important to have honest, uncomfortable conversations about mental health while being supportive. Although we are interdependent, change begins with the individual, hence “your world.”
I welcome you to join me on my journey and look forward to your responses.
Your world with Dr. Beatrice Hyppolite
Self-Care Essentials
Taking care of yourself isn't selfish—it's necessary. When you feel good about yourself, you radiate confidence that nothing can shake. "When your image is together, nothing anyone says is gonna turn your boat over."
This heartfelt conversation explores the multidimensional nature of self-care and its profound impact on mental wellness. From spiritual practices like prayer and Bible reading to physical activities such as walking or cycling, everyone has personal methods that help them manage stress and anxiety. What emerges clearly is that looking good and feeling good about yourself creates a foundation of confidence that helps you navigate life's challenges with grace.
Family connections provide crucial emotional support, with relationships spanning generations and continents offering a sense of belonging and identity. However, the discussion candidly addresses the importance of discernment in relationships—recognizing when constant negativity from others requires creating healthy distance. As one guest wisely notes, "There comes a time where you do have to remove yourself or spend less time with them."
The conversation takes a practical turn, highlighting that self-care doesn't require wealth—just intentionality. Simple practices like regular nail care, changing bed sheets twice weekly, and maintaining a clean living environment contribute significantly to mental well-being. These habits aren't luxuries but necessities that signal self-respect and create environments conducive to emotional health.
Perhaps most powerful is the emphasis on self-compassion. "Teach myself how to live past that mistake that I made... Forgive yourself, no one's perfect." This gentle approach to personal growth allows for learning without the burden of shame, creating space for authentic development and healing.
Ready to transform your approach to self-care? Listen now to discover how small, consistent actions can dramatically improve your mental wellness, relationships, and quality of life. What one self-care practice will you commit to today?
Hello everyone. I'm Dr Beatrice Ippolit and this is your World. What self-care practice do you find most helpful for managing stress and anxiety?
Speaker 2:I don't want to sound redundant, okay, but I'm going to go back to reading my Bible and praying. That's what helps me the most. But that's me. You know everyone has. You know what helps them. Some people it's maybe taking a ride on their bicycle. Some people might be just going hiking or just going for a walk, taking their dog for a walk, or just walking by themselves, or, but I just told you what mine is. And um, then I finish praying, reading my word, and I feel like, you know, on top of the world and I can now get my image together, which that's another thing that makes me feel on top of the world. When my image is together, I feel great, I feel confident. You know nothing that anyone says it's gonna turn my boat over because you already write it in your balls exactly exactly, and when you look good and you feel good, you know about yourself.
Speaker 2:I don't want to say take on the world, because you don't want to take on the world, okay. But you feel like, okay, I'm ready for whatever the day has for me and, by the grace of God, there's a lot of positive that the day has for us, so look for it man, a man, a man.
Speaker 1:Do that. How do you build and maintain a support network of friends, family and professionals?
Speaker 2:I do have a lot of family. I didn't mention when I spoke about myself. I was born in Panama, panama City, panama, central America. In Spanish we say El Puente del Mundo, the Bridge of the World, because we separate the Atlantic from the Pacific, our country and so I have family in Panama, I have family here, I have family all over and I'm a very family-oriented person. I love my family, not only my immediate family, my children and grandchildren, et cetera, but my extended family.
Speaker 1:How many?
Speaker 2:children, do you?
Speaker 1:have in your family.
Speaker 2:I have four. I started boy-girl. I thought I was done, and five years later here comes the next girl and the next boy. So I have boy-girl-girl-boy.
Speaker 1:And they call you sister.
Speaker 2:I love that, thank you, yes, I love that. Thank you, yes. But the funny thing is that my eldest daughter had my granddaughter as a teenager and so my granddaughter is now 22,. But she grew up with her uncles and her auntie and her mom calling me mom. So she calls me mom, which is fine with me, because when we're out and about she says mom, people believe she's my daughter, you know. And my daughter says that's your granddaughter and I say it's OK, she's my daughter still, you know.
Speaker 2:And so I love my family and my friends.
Speaker 2:A lot of them are from childhood and I'm blessed to say that I wouldn't say a lot, but a few, like I would say like four of them are from childhood and I'm blessed to say that I wouldn't say a lot, but a few, like I would say like four of them from childhood, two from third grade, two from fourth grade and one from fifth grade and we still connected, even though they may be in Florida or California or wherever we still connect, or in Brooklyn, you know, which is close enough, you know, but we don't see each other as often, but we're still connected.
Speaker 2:And you know my business associates. I love my business associates. I would call them sisters and brothers in Christ first, and then, uh, friends and business associates. But business is business, you know. But what I find that's very important is that you don't really want to expose yourself too much to people, or at all to people that constantly speak negative, that constantly may put you down or just find criticism about you. I make it a point to lift people up whenever I can, even if it's one word.
Speaker 2:I'm not talking about lying now, that's a best attitude yes, telling someone the truth, like you, Beatrice, you're fabulous All day, every day, you talk about me. You're fabulous All day, every day, you talk about me. You're fabulous.
Speaker 1:You know what you know. Let me take it as a compliment. Thank you.
Speaker 2:Yes, you're welcome, and I don't believe in lying to people. I tell the truth, but I look for where I can lift them up, you know. And so if you are around someone that's constantly putting you down or finding fault, I would say, okay, if God wants to use you to minister to them, great, you know. But I don't know how someone can stand that for too long it not affect them, you know. So I believe maybe those people you have to know avoid.
Speaker 1:You have right. You have to know when to call it right right and pray for them.
Speaker 2:Pray because, at the end of the day, that doesn't serve them right either, because obviously they may not be looking at themselves that fondly either most of the time that's the case. So we want to let God use you to help lift them up and show them what's positive about them. But there comes a time where you do have to remove yourself or spend less time with them. If you can and I found that you know, with God, all things are possible. He can use you to turn them around and show them that there are things in life that are positive. And yeah, I might be somewhat overweight, yes, I might have, you know, but at the end of the day, you know, can you say something good about me, you know? And because I'm going to say something good about you and teach you how to lift people up, because I believe that's what we should do, how to lift people up, because I believe that's what we should do.
Speaker 2:Someone once said that there's nothing she didn't believe in criticism. She didn't believe in I'm going to say constructive criticism. We learned that in college about constructive criticism. But she said there's nothing constructive about criticism. And if I'm not, if it's okay for me to say. It was a lady, her name was Mary Kay Ash, and she said there's nothing constructive about criticism. And I thought about it and I said you know what? She's right. When I find something that I can't say good about someone, I pray about it for them. But when I can say something good, I lift them up, because I do believe that God gave us all gifts, talents and abilities and I do believe there's so much good in all of us and the enemy I'm just going to say the enemy steals, kills and destroys, but in the same scripture, if I may say John 10.10, the Lord came to give us life, and more abundantly.
Speaker 1:But sometimes we allow the enemy to use us. No, it's true.
Speaker 2:It's true.
Speaker 2:It's so true, and that's why I believe it's so important to be discerning, to discern and know, to be discerning, to discern and know. You know, when it is a positive spiritual being, my God is Jesus, okay, or it's you know the enemy trying to just bring people down, let people feel that they're nothing, or they need drugs to live, or to take a drink every minute, or whatever it is, or to binge. You know I'm eating and you know there's so many. I guess you would say I don't want to call them cushions. There's so many things that people turn to instead of turning to. What I believe is that spiritual being, whatever your God is, mine is Jesus, but that will help you deal with life and all what comes with it. But when you take care of yourself coming back to our topic, god when you take care of yourself and you feel good and you look good and you smell good and you even look a little younger than you are, okay, it makes a difference.
Speaker 2:It makes you feel like I can take on the world you know, whatever comes and help others do the same, yeah, so you want to go around and spread that blessing.
Speaker 1:Yes, my last question what role do you think community and social connection play in maintaining good mental health and good self-care?
Speaker 2:Well, coming back to what people think, you know people say you shouldn't care what people think, but I believe it does make a difference. And when you're in a community, a community that values you and respects you, that can go a long way. How do you obtain value and respect from a community? Again, self-care and Self-respect. And when you care about yourself, when you respect yourself by not doing or doing certain things, those that are around you will follow in kind and See your value and see like, wow, you know, she's someone that I should respect. You know and admire your self-respect and then start to feel the same about themselves and show the same self-respect for themselves, because there are a lot of people that don't have self-respect oh yeah you know, exactly unfortunately yes so it's crazy.
Speaker 1:It is, it's crazy uh, the other day, you know so, I had a conversation with, uh, someone who asked me, beatrice, what happened, and I was like what it's like where that respect goes? Women used to have a lot of respect, you know, for for themselves, the way they speak, the way they behave, the way they carry themselves, and it seemed it's gone. What's going on? And I had to pause and I'm like you're right. We had a lengthy conversation about it, which you know I won't have time to address.
Speaker 1:That will be a whole different topic yes, you know to to talk about but I agree with you and not only women. So it's happened. It was just a man who asked me that question because of whatever that he is been dealing with few women out there, but young men too, or men in general. You know the decency, you know. So it seemed that you know we live in a world now. You know bad behaviors is a lot, so it's like I can say whatever I want, I can do whatever that I want. So it's like no question will be asked and I don't owe nobody any explanation. You know I'm old?
Speaker 2:You're not old at all.
Speaker 1:Compared to those who are in their 30s.
Speaker 2:Oh, I understand, but you're not old at all.
Speaker 1:So it's like, you know, sometimes when I talk, you know people may think that, oh, she's old fashioned, but I don't think it's not being old fashioned. I remember one time you know it was like maybe two years ago I was walking on Flatbush. It was Flatbush and Avenue J. There is a big gas station at that corner, okay, you know, flatbush and J, avenue J, and I saw there was a big truck entering the gas station and, I don't know, I was going to an event that day. So I was all sued up, you know, looking like a wheel professional and the truck driver it happened there was a lady who was like right in front of me, walking almost naked.
Speaker 1:I realized later on he used me to make a statement. Until the lady replied back to what he said. He just looked at me and said thank you for being classy and beautiful. Oh, praise god. Until the lady used the word F toward him, I realized there was somebody walking around naked and I'm like it didn't address her, but she felt that he was talking to him and I'm like, even if he was talking to you, you felt that the message was for you. You know, in a way he acts and directly he asks you, when you walk out on the street, to put some clothes on right. But for you to turn around and curse him out was not important, was not important, and you know the sad part of it.
Speaker 1:She had a child with her wow and I'm like as a mother you're supposed to be a world model.
Speaker 2:Exactly Lead by example. You know yes.
Speaker 1:So not only you were walking with no clothes on, but for somebody to make a point and you felt so upset and felt the need to address him by using profanity in front of your own child.
Speaker 2:Lord have mercy.
Speaker 1:Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. So that's the end. Lord have mercy.
Speaker 2:I just want to add one little thing, beatrice Nails and feet, and take care of your nails, even if you can't go to a nail salon because of your budget. I think it's better to cut them all off, keep them clean, you know. And the same with your toes and feet. Some people just like it like that Clean and natural and cut. But that's important because we carry a lot of bacteria and germs through both of them Until you can. Some people just like it like that Clean and natural and cut, but that's important because we carry a lot of bacteria and germs through both of them and that's how people end up with fungus and all kinds of things in their feet. So, even if you can't go, do it yourself, you know, buy some nail files, clippers, you know, and take care of your nails and feet. I did that for quite some time myself. Until now I go to the salon on a regular, but this is very important.
Speaker 1:Very much so.
Speaker 2:You don't need a lot of money to take care of yourself, you know.
Speaker 1:And sometimes you may not have the money to do the long and fancy ones Right right, you know, but the simple manicure.
Speaker 2:The simple manicure.
Speaker 1:You know, I think they do both for $40 or 30 something dollars sometimes. You, you know.
Speaker 2:So, like you say, yourself treat yourself right and it doesn't matter if you are, even if it's one someone, so it's like once a month it it's good.
Speaker 1:Because, let's say, for example, we make budget for other things. A bottle of Huvrazi Gromania may cost us $68, but you will buy that almost every week. Yes, you know so, which is not good for you. You know for you to consume. You know a whole bottle for you know in a week, but you still do it because you say I love to drink.
Speaker 1:It's the same thing you have to love to taking care of yourself and your hair, if you can't go to the salon, wash it, put it back in a ponytail and it looks so cute.
Speaker 2:But whatever it takes, if you can't go to a salon, you know they have so many slick back hairdos. Wearing your hair like natural and low is another way. That's very um becoming and beautiful.
Speaker 1:You see your features even better, you know, and so there are ways to take care of yourself, your hygiene, in every part of your, your body in addition to that, I understand that you know everything you know is on a budget, but there are some budgets that we can cut down on, like I mentioned, the big battle of germania for 68 or 70 dollars.
Speaker 2:Right, instead of buying they want for 70 dollars, buy the one for 28 dollars.
Speaker 1:Wow, you know then you will have 40 dollars to taking care of their hair. You know to taking care of their hair. You know to take care of their nails. You know to have a nice pedicure and manicure or to have a nice haircut. Or go to the barber shop. You know have, you know, have the barber shave you.
Speaker 2:You don't have to just do a little tidying a little because it makes you feel good, also your environment, a little because it makes you feel good also your environment, your bedroom. You know, sometimes it can get out of hand one day at a time.
Speaker 1:You know, cuz that's part of self-care, change the sheets yes, self-care at least you should change that sheet, like you know, twice a week, right, because bacteria? Yeah, twice a week you should have new sheets on the bed Sweep, mop the floor and the pillowcases, change them, you know, on a regular. And what else should we mention? Don't keep the garbage, you, no, no it's true, some people love to eat in their room, you know and I understand that. Yes, you get comfortable watching tv. You bring the food into your home that attracts what we don't want yeah don't know.
Speaker 1:Take that tracks what we don't. Take the garbage out. Yes, you know so, because you don't want, you know so, to be in that environment. And the towers? Yes, don't use the towers, the same towers for a whole week, two weeks or a month. Yes, or taking that, or it's not dirty because it's black or dark, blue or dark. Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2:No, yes, you no, yes, you know change that, for that reason alone, you should have light colored towels, right you know? So that you can know it's time. Yes, no.
Speaker 1:but if you make it like a wood, that towels need to be changed every two days? Yes, every two days. You just change it.
Speaker 2:It's like when you go to a hotel you expect that Every two days you change them.
Speaker 1:So, keep your environment clean. It doesn't need to be fancy, so they're simple. Sometimes they're better, great for your health. Keep it clean.
Speaker 2:Keep it clean, mental health as well, it's good for your physical health.
Speaker 1:It's good for your mental health and, trust me, if you keep your environment clean, you take care of yourself the way that you're supposed to, you will see the benefit of it. You make time to nourish your mind, your body and spirit. Listen to your needs and take care of yourself accordingly. Seek support from friends, family or mental health professional when needed or has needed. Practice self-compassion. Sometimes we're too hard on ourselves, you know. Whatever that happens. So whatever mistake that you made, you know that's what they call it mistakes. I understand. You know what. If I were to do that again, I probably will reconsider, but it's already happened. I cannot go and undo it, but I have to teach myself how to live past that mistake that I made. Teach myself how to live past that mistake that.
Speaker 1:I made Practice self-compassion and treat yourself with kindness and understanding.
Speaker 2:Yes, and forgiving yourself.
Speaker 1:Yeah, forgive yourself.
Speaker 1:I can repeat that, yeah, forgive yourself, no one's perfect. No, no, no. So it's like if you were you know. Oh, so what you know? So you made a mistake. You choose to be with the wrong person. No, there was something that you didn't kind of assess. You know deeply but you realize, hey, you know what, I should not be with that person. That was a mistake that I made. Now so it's okay. So when I make a mistake, I don't beat myself up over a mistake that I made. So I've learned from it. Yes, absolutely, you know, to better my next move, Because that's how we go. You know that's how we go, Because if we were to beat up ourselves for every mistake that we made, we will reach a point where we'll have to kill ourselves. Engage in activities that bring you joy and fulfillment. Some people love to go to the movies. Some people love to go to the Broadway show. Some people love to travel.
Speaker 1:Some people love to go you know I love to sit in a nice restaurant. I love Broadway shows, so I may have you know.
Speaker 1:I may have things that I love. You may have things that we all know what we love. Engage ourselves in those activities, be around people who will lift your spirit up. You know, if you know, every time you're around her and she's always putting you down, it's time to say you know what? Hey, that's not the environment that I want to be, exactly, you know. So it was a pleasure Same here, you know to have that conversation with you and I want to thank you.
Speaker 2:I want to thank you for having these venues to help the world at large. You know God is really using you to make a difference and thank you. And thank you for the privilege and the honor to be interviewed by you. It's been a pleasure, it was my pleasure.
Speaker 1:I remember the first time we met, so it was so funny. We're not going to tell people how we met. We keep that as a secret.
Speaker 2:That's our secret. That's our secret.
Speaker 1:And I remember you know like, you know the passion that you had, you know the passion you displayed that day for self-care. And I'm like, wait a minute. And you were coming from the gym all dressed up. I said, oh, I need to change some of my gym's outfit attire. Yes, so it's good. So you look good. So keep it up, thank you, and keep on spreading the good spirit around, and I assume that you have inspired many other people. So, hey, keep it up. Thank you, praise God, thank you, thank you for everything that you do for the church, for the community, for the people around you. Hey, keep it up, thank you, thank you. Thank you for everything that you do for the church, for the community, for the people around you, for your family and for your business, thank you. Thank you so much. You're so welcome.
Speaker 2:Praise God. To God be all the glory, and it's a total pleasure. And again, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1:Okay, that's it for today. It was with you, dr Beatrice Ippolite, with your world.