We had such a wonderful conversation with Dr. Breigh Jones- Coplin about mental health in the floral industry for our June Masterclass Series. It is so important to listen to yourself and your body when it is time to take a break to recharge. Your personal perception as well as the relationships you create dictate so much of your mental being. If you were not able to join us for the session, here is a full recap!
Breigh started in the floral industry during the pandemic. She fell in love with flowers by visiting the flower market and creating arrangements for fun. She realized that flowers have a positive correlation with mental health. With a background in Clinical Psychology, she wanted to bridge the gap and help others in the industry.
Creating Positive Relationships
Relationships are so vital in our everyday lives. From the beginning stages of our development to our daily business interactions--the way we react to our environment has a large impact on our relationships. The Attachment Theory has a lot to do with how we treat our family and friends but our colleagues too.
"Attachment theory focuses on relationships and bonds (particularly long-term) between people, including those between a parent and child and between romantic partners. The central theme of attachment theory is that primary caregivers who are available and responsive to an infant's needs allow the child to develop a sense of security. The infant learns that the caregiver is dependable, which creates a secure base for the child to then explore the world." (What is Attachment Theory)
The best way to understand your attachment style is to take this assessment.
Addressing Burnout
We all experience burnout--We are human! It is so difficult to be on your A-Game consistently. The same routine can become tiresome. When a team starts feeling the symptoms of burnout, the morale dips, and productivity decreases. As a business owner, it is important to recognize the signs of burnout for your team and yourself. Take the time to ask your staff how they are doing and if there is anything that can be done for them to recharge. Team building days are a great way to show appreciation for your team and to take a break from the day-to-day pressure of work.
We have a few blogs that dive into taking care of your mental health and some ideas for fun team-building exercises.
If you are starting to look for therapy options, check out Psychology Today. You can filter by location, gender identity of therapist, racial identity, and what type of insurance you have.
You Are Your Own Worst Critic
During our Masterclass, we talked about Impostor Syndrome and comparing yourself to others in the industry. Impostor Syndrome is when you believe you are not worthy of your own accomplishments in your professional and personal life. Many florists experience this when they think unkindly about their achievements. Social Media has done great when it comes to promoting designs and a brand as a whole. The whole phenomenon of follower and like count can consume a fresh designer's mind. It is so easy to compare your design style to others with thousands of followers. It is a terrible practice to put down your own work and experiences based on what is perceived on social media.
Everyone is on their own journey in life. Instead of wishing your style matched someone else with a large following--think about how much your work has impacted your surroundings. You have a successful business and clients are so happy about your talents. You have a team that is standing behind you at all times to help conquer the next big project and make your dreams a reality. There is no guidebook on how to stop comparing yourself to other designers. It is all about recognizing your worth and appreciating all of the hard work it took to be where you are today.
We want to give a tremendous thank you to Dr. Breigh for her knowledge and for taking the time to teach us about mental health. Click the photo below to watch the entire June Masterclass--you do not want to miss the great conversation!
About Dr. Breigh Jones-Coplin
Dr. Breigh Jones-Coplin is the owner of Black + Blossomed-- a floral design company. Breigh creates floral arrangements for special events, photoshoots, and everyday decor. She created Black + Blossomed to showcase Black art and ignite a movement away from merely surviving as a community to thriving. Aside from her floral business, she is also pursuing her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Denver and is passionate about intersecting the world of flowers and mental health.
Black + Blossomed is a floral design business at the core. We provide floral art for various events and contexts. Apart from that, Black+Blossomed is a movement. Black floristry within itself is a movement of going from survival mode to really give ourselves the space to be who we truly are capable of being. Black + Blossomed embodies representation and permission. Representation in the sense that Black humans need to see other Black humans creating– creating art, creating beauty, creating change. We have internalized an image of ourselves that is so limiting and small because of our history and the way we’ve been treated in this country. Permission goes along with that. The idea that we have permission and space to be something other than and bigger than what we’ve been seemingly allowed to be. I hope that when people have any interaction with Black + Blossomed, they are inspired and empowered to do the thing that scares them. To do the thing that’s “taboo.” To be the unicorn. To look beyond the limits created for them and really be motivated to grow, evolve, expand, and of course– blossom.