Mental health activist and small business owner, Mallory Gothelf, launched Find Your / Self Boxes during the pandemic in hopes of promoting kindness, self-care, and mental health action during COVID-19.
The Inspiration
According to an article she wrote for Channel Kindness, Mallory believes that her personal battle with mental health is what led her to the path she’s on today. In her article, she shares about being diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder when she was 15 years old and her experience navigating it all, stating “Oftentimes, it was the love and kindness shown by my people that carried me through to see the sunrise the next morning.”
Today, Mallory’s life has come full circle. Ten years into her own mental health recovery, she now runs a business that allows others to give their loved ones the same love and kindness that she was once given. In an expression of awe and gratitude, Mallory wrote to Channel Kindness, “…as I stand in my office looking around at the company I’ve built it seems like all of those moments of darkness put me here, exactly where I am meant to be.”
Find Your / Self Boxes
It’s no secret that 2020 was a whirlwind for many. Like countless others, Mallory lost her job when COVID hit and had to find creative new ways of supporting herself. Meanwhile, she watched as the uncertainty of the pandemic and the loneliness of isolation led to significant increases in mental illness. And so came the inspiration for Find Your / Self Boxes: a business venture to help those struggling with mental health during the pandemic reconnect to themselves and their wellness.
As if people sending each other self-care boxes wasn’t sweet enough, Find Your / Self Boxes takes it a step further by allowing customers to custom-build their boxes, tailoring them to meet the specific needs of their loved ones.
According to the Find Your / Self Boxes mission, “Self-care is supposed to be a personal practice, connecting you to yourself, and to the people around you. In the throes of a mental illness, it can feel difficult to find meaning or connection. Find your / Self boxes are custom packaged to fit your unique style of healing.”
Let’s Talk About It
Mental health can be tough to talk about. Mallory’s self-care boxes create an important opportunity to start a dialogue with people when we notice they are struggling. As Mallory states in her article, “Instead of tip-toeing around their loved ones unsure what to say, what to do, or how to connect, these boxes serve as a way for people to say ‘I see you, I hear you, and I’m here with you on this journey.’”
So a giant thank you to Mallory for the kind work she is doing in the world. We’re inspired by her bravery and openness in sharing her own story toward helping others navigate theirs. Motivation to spark these conversations is something we are very grateful to see. The hope is that with conversation comes action. And just like that, something as simple as a self-care box sent to a loved one can become the thing that changes their life for the better!
