It's not that simple!

Art by - Isha Misra

''Sometimes your mind plays tricks on you. It can tell you you’re no good, that it's all hopeless. But remember this; you’re loved, and important and you bring to this world things no one else can. So hold on’’ – Charlie Mackesy

I came across this quote and it stayed with me longer than I expected. For the majority of people, the last one and a half years have been tough, to say the least. Everybody has had their own set of challenges and muddles to deal with. It's almost like we have been collectively on the edge regarding almost everything.

We often tend to overlook how we have been feeling by going for a holiday,

hanging out with friends, or going out for dinners. We possibly do everything to avoid that one particular feeling or talking about that one discomfort that is really bothering us and therefore hampering other domains of our life. One of my clients mentioned that she wanted to study further but is unable to do so because she is unsure if she will be able to manage without support. Another client wants to get back to taking flights alone. Someone wants to sleep well at night. Someone wants to eat well and not feel heavy in their abdomen. None of my clients have mentioned that they like to wake up in the morning with a feeling of impending doom, none of them likes to feel as if they are not doing enough in life, none of them stated that they like to start the day with a ‘not okay’ feeling. These may sound like very elementary sentences but ask a person who is going through it. Their entire life is revolving around it. ‘That unexplained feeling’ is extremely exhausting and draining. Intentionally working on oneself requires a lot of effort and immense courage to learn and unlearn various behaviors which one has imbibed over a course of time. However, it is easier said than done. One has to be mindful of their thoughts and behaviors and eventually work on them. There is a difference between ‘being aware’ of one’s thoughts and behavior and ‘accepting’ the same. Emotional intelligence as well as emotional bandwidth is not something that is developed overnight. It is a slow process that is developed in due course. It is something which has to be worked on from our early days. The ability to recognize what we are feeling is extremely essential for both adults and children. Often individuals refuse to take professional help, they brush it off and resort to friends and family to vent and talk about the problems. Talking to friends and family is not wrong, it does make your mood a little better but it is brief. One should always encourage friends and family to seek professional help if somebody seems to be struggling with certain discomforts. About time, we stop taking mental health extremely casually. You cannot throw anxiety out of your life but learn how to manage it. At the end of it, it is how mindful you are about yourself and what are you doing about it.