GROW THROUGH WHAT YOU GO THROUGH : MindsetOpediaDMHC Blogs

Change is the only constant in life and positive mental health can be maintained if one is able to continuously adapt to these life changes.

To adapt means to be able to adjust ourselves to new situations and conditions we face. The fact that you are reading this right now confirms that you have successfully adjusted to and survived 100% of your bad days and considering the roller coaster of a year that most of us faced, you need to give yourself a pat on your back.

Like everyone else, I also went through several rough patches in the last year. It is rightly said that a problem keeps coming back until you learn from it. Hence, while reflecting on my year, I decided to put down a few key learnings to take into the new year.

I believe that when people share their stories, it brings a sense of validation, comfort and shared learning for those around them. With a hope of doing the same and just maybe being able to help 1 person reading this, I wish to share what I learnt.

1. I believe that when people share their stories, it brings a sense of validation, comfort and shared learning for those around them. With a hope of doing the same and just maybe being able to help 1 person reading this, I wish to share what I learnt.

2. Acceptance of the situation you’re facing. Sometimes we feel exhausted of dealing with everything that is on our plate and try to be in denial about the situation that we’re facing. Bhagavad Gita explains that adversity is inevitable but suffering is a choice. Choose to not suffer, accept whatever it is that you’re going through and believe in your capacity to deal with it.

3. Your emotions are valid. We often tend to invalidate the emotions we feel in response to certain situations. We get angry at ourselves for feeling anxious a lot. Decide to be gentle to yourself and let yourself fully feel whatever it is that you’re going through. Remember, it is completely normal and OK to feel this way.

4. One day at a time, has been my mantra in the last year. I see it in the light of a technique that claims that one should divide their tasks into smaller bite-sized ones to make them seem manageable. That is exactly how it feels when you decide to take one day at a time.

5. Mind over matter. A kind friend of mine reminded me to hold onto self-belief when I was going through something that I just refused to believe I would get through. Just believing, reminding myself and repeating that “I can get through this”, proved to be almost magical.

6. Seeking help when you need it. A lot of us don’t feel good about sharing our negative emotions with others. Studies, for years have said that even just expressing or sharing your emotions tends to make you feel better and has a positive impact on your mental health. When life gets tough, remember to seek some support from your loved ones.

7. Taking, what I call it, a mental health break. The society that we live in, only encourages the ‘Hustle culture’. We have started feeling like we need to ‘earn a break’ by checking off all the tasks from our to-do list. As important as it is to stay on track with our work, it is also equally essential to let yourself rest when you feel mentally exhausted. Taking a break will not get you behind on your tasks, it will only energise you to take them on and be even more efficient.

“Grow through what you go through” has been quoted by many and it stands for the value it poses. You are bound to have experiences in life, both positive and negative. The only way to embrace all of them without judgement is if we see them as learning opportunities and grow from them.

Written By : Ms. Arushi Suri Council member- WICCIDMHC