Keynote Address by Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo – Chairperson WIMBIZ Executive Council & Head Coverage Rand Merchant Bank
Good Morning Ladies and Good Morning also to the brave gentleman in our midst. My name is Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo – Head of Coverage at Rand Merchant Bank and Chairperson of the Executive Council at Women in Management Business & Public Service. It is a pleasure to Chair the 2020 Pride Women Virtual Conference.
When I was approached in to participate in this year’s conference, the theme being considered was ‘’Women: Work, Relationship & Marriage”. As the year unfolded bearing its gifts of a global pandemic, a slump in oil prices and sluggish demand for Oil – our predominant source of external revenue, rising food costs, job losses, homeschooling, and restrictions on movement, it quickly became apparent that a pivot – my new favourite word, was required.
There is no doubt that we are in uncertain times. A global pandemic with very real consequences for us nationally and personally. Widespread infection, mounting deaths, curtailment of personal freedoms, job losses, rising inflation, threats of recession and feelings of despair and gloom have all dealt very heavy blows to our emotional well-being. No-one it seems, has been spared.
Getting up every day to face another day has become more difficult and in the turmoil and stillness. I say stillness because the parties, social and business gatherings and functions that in the past created avenues to distract and help us suppress our emotions, vanished overnight and we have been forced to confront a very real issue. Our Emotional Well-being and its impact on our physical and mental health.
It is against this backdrop that the Pride Women’s 2020 conference has chosen the theme ‘Maintaining Your Emotional Well-Being in Uncertain Times’.
Overall health includes physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and spiritual aspects. When they are all in balance and alignment, human beings thrive. Sadly, we have often prioritized certain components to the detriment of others, especially emotional health. And we have now been presented with a once in 100-year opportunity to take a step back, breathe and focus on our Emotional well-being.
So what is emotional well-being? – A quick search online and you’ll find that Emotional well-being is defined as referring to the emotional quality an individual experiences. It is essentially a person’s ability to accept and manage feelings through challenge and change.
Emotional health is an important part of overall health. People who are emotionally healthy are in control of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. They’re able to cope with life’s challenges. They can keep problems in perspective and bounce back from setbacks. They feel good about themselves and have good relationships.
Emotional health includes both emotional intelligence and emotional regulation. Knowing and managing. As our daily life offers a continuous series of ups and downs, progress and setbacks, emotional wellness will help us cope with stress & adversity, build resilience, optimize our productivity and help us reach our full potential.
Emotional Well-being also affects your physical health. Research shows a link between an upbeat mental state and physical signs of good health. These include lower blood pressure, reduced risk of heart disease, and a healthier weight
And It is influenced by a variety of demographic, economic, and situational factors. Unsurprisingly, it is estimated that the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, lowered emotional well-being by 74%.
The good news is that emotional health is a skill. You can get better at managing your emotional health through practice. It’s like a muscle. You need to use it, feed it and flex it.
And what happens if you don’t? The implications of decreased emotional well-being are related to mental health concerns such as stress, depression, and anxiety. These in turn, contribute to physical health concerns such as digestive disorders, sleep disturbances, and general lack of energy.
Being emotionally healthy doesn’t mean you’re happy all the time. It means you’re aware of your emotions. You can deal with them, whether they’re positive or negative. Emotionally healthy people still feel stress, anger, and sadness. But they know how to manage their negative feelings. They can tell when a problem is more than they can handle on their own. They also know when to seek help.
Here are some tips to enhance Emotional Well-Being
- Be aware of your emotions and reactions. Notice what in your life makes you sad, frustrated, or angry. Try to address or change those things.
- Express your feelings in appropriate ways. Let people close to you know when something is bothering you. Keeping feelings of sadness or anger inside adds to stress and doesn’t help you or anyone.
- As women, we are often primary caregivers in the home, and if we have aged or infirm parents, the burden of care also falls disproportionately on us. Added on is the need to nurture relationships with spouses, family and friends and it’s easy to see how stressful our lives are. Find a healthy balance between work and play, and between activity and rest. Make time for things you enjoy. Focus on the positives.
- Take care of your physical health. Exercise regularly, eat healthy meals, and get enough sleep.
- Connect with others. Make a lunch date, join a group, and smile & say hello to strangers. Zoom has a free call option and you can set up zoom meetings with friends and family to connect.
- Find purpose and meaning. Figure out what’s important to you in life, and focus on that. This could be your faith, family, work, outside interests. Find avenues to volunteer your time. You get so much joy & fulfilment from giving. Spend your time doing what feels meaningful to you.
- Forgive yourself for making mistakes and forgive others. Everyone makes mistakes and I can assure you that I will make a mistake today so will you. So don’t dwell or carry around bags of guilt. Learn from your mistakes and move on.
- Don’t take yourself too seriously – Laugh often and dance freely.
And I will end by sharing a few lines from “Advice like youth, probably just wasted on the young” an article written by a lady called Mary Schmich 23+ years ago for the Chicago Tribune newspaper which soon went viral and was even made into a Song “Everybody is free to Wear Sunscreen” by the Australian, Baz Luhrmann. You might have heard it on the radio about 4 years ago when it was re-released.
“Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and see how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine
Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing Bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that Never crossed your worried mind;
Do one thing every day that scares you. Sing
Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.
Remember the compliments you receive; forget the insults.
Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements
Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone
Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room
Travel”
I look forward to a memorable and outstanding Pride Women Conference. The line-up of speakers is exceptional and I encourage everyone to listen intently, engage and reflect deeply.