Kindness Matters
Mental Health Awareness Week
A healthy mind means a healthy life. This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and the theme is “Kindness Matters”. When I was thinking of writing a blog on Mental health Awareness, suddenly I did not really know what to say. I wanted to share everything and nothing at the same time.
Why mental health matters? Why is it important to have healthy thoughts? Why are we even talking about mental health? Mental health is not just a buzzword but one of the biggest issues that our modern world is facing.
Here are some of my findings after many years of experiencing the highest highs and the lowest lows. After any traumatic event or challenging period in your life you have two choices. You either go down the rabbit hole, or you emerge from the fire like a butterfly. Either way, you transform. Your either transform towards the light, or towards the darkness. The difference is your mindset.
I did not really know this or understand it for so long, until I started being curious to find out why I am getting angry or sad all of a sudden and why happiness does not feel happy. I did not see further than the daily hustle of work and moving up the career ladder, until I figured out that there is more to life than just working hard, saving money and occasionally enjoy some down time. I realised I am in a hamster wheel and not really getting anywhere. I was driving myself into a very dark place and I did not really see the way out.
Mindset and the importance of mental health came into my life as a part of my yoga journey. I was thinking to myself; “What! You can actually rewire your brain?” I was very sceptical about the whole thing. I thought I was healthy inside and out, I was ambitious and determined, all great qualities, right?! I am kind with most people, I am loving and patient and supportive; always there for others. I just could not look at myself in the mirror with the same kindness, I hated every part of my body and every part of my life. I felt like all the wounds were written all over me and I thought I am not good enough to be anybody on this world. I felt ashamed of being myself and taking up room. I thought I should be just sitting quietly in the corner and be grateful for what I have got. The concept of “if I am changing my thoughts I can change my life” was non-existence until I realised my ill thoughts were driving me to alienate myself and lead to anxiety and physical pain. The only way I could describe it that there was a massive house party in my head where I was not invited. So, I went there and chucked everyone out.
After years of struggling alone with all the negative thoughts in my head I made a conscious decision that I would learn how to create a healthier place for me to live. I wanted to feel peace. I wanted to take back the control of how I live. For me mental health means to be able to live free of my stories that were holding me back. It took me years to be able to come home to myself. I am not feeling a complete failure and my demons are not chasing me. I understand that there is life outside this my head and whatever happened in the past, it is not going to determine my future, unless I give power to it.
Everyone has stories and limiting beliefs. There is not one person who has not felt lost from time to time. There are many of us who live in fear day after day. There are loads of people who grew up in difficult circumstances. There are many of us struggling with anxiety or physical and mental pain caused by stress. Many people have gone through depression or know someone who suffers from it. Loads of us have mental battles in our head. Not mentioning the fatal ending of one’s mental hardship.
When your head is cluttered and unable to see clearly, your decisions and life choices suffer. However, like any muscle in your body, your mind can be healed over time. You will always carry your scars with you, wherever you go, but these scars make you who you are. Bringing light and clarity into your life takes time. You will bound to go through emotional roller-coasters. The most important thing is knowing you are not alone and there are tools and techniques that can be learnt and practiced. The decision is yours how to move forward and either way, know you are not alone…
I was fortunate enough to start the week with a wonderful collaboration with my favourite yoga mat brand, Yogi Bare (RITACOX10 would gets you 10% discount). We did a live practice on their Instagram page that you have access below. Roll out your mat and enjoy. :-)