A healthy relationship with our minds is the way to a joyful life. Almost a decade ago, I wasn’t aware of the importance of mental health practices, until I experienced the symptoms of burnout and depression.
The thing about mental illness is that it is invisible. You may look the same physically, but something doesn’t feel right on the inside. There’s nothing wrong with you, but the colours of life start to fade. Things that used to make you happy suddenly don’t anymore. The work you do, doesn’t seem fun anymore, the kind of music you used to love, starts to lose its meaning, the tiredness increases, and so does the loneliness. The meaning of life gets a question mark – why is everything so heavy?
It is probably because we were never taught to slow down. To take things easy, to relax. Our culture rewards high accomplishments, which normally come at the cost of stress and pressure for more. Faster, better, or you will be replaced. Did you miss a deadline? You didn’t plan well enough. Did you make a mistake? You’re not good enough. Did you do a good job? Worked on the weekends? Promotion. Bonus. You’re doing it right, you’re getting there.
Getting there? Where? In my experience, I was getting far away from my peace of mind, from my relationships, from myself. Far away from a life of joy, from my belly-aching laughs, from the person that I used to be. And I thought that had to do with “adulting”. Why would life have to be so miserable? What was all that grinding for? To pay the bills?
What did I have to do to get out of that place? First, I had to acknowledge I wasn’t at my best. And that was the hardest part because I didn’t have any apparent reason to justify my misery – life was looking “great” on the outside.
Until I’d catch myself crying for no reason. More than once. The thing is that asking for help was something I had never learned to do. Saying “I’m not OK” didn’t sound like me.
But I remember what helped me get back on track, and that’s what I came to share in this blog post. If you’re feeling lost and unhappy, here are some tips that can help you move forward:
#1 – Have a to-do list with the things you want to accomplish.
Life without dreams leaves us without a sense of direction. It’s easier to say yes or no to people, invitations, and situations, when they match your goals (or not). I remember writing that I wanted to start practicing yoga and running and learn more about self-development and astrology.
#2 – Journal every day.
Journaling is a way to catch your thought patterns, and your inner narratives, as I mentioned in the previous blog post. It is a way for you to understand what’s on your mind without necessarily identifying yourself with it. Sometimes our minds trick us, and just the fact of taking the time to clear them out with free writing can take us a lot of mental garbage off the way.
#3 – Practice gratitude.
Our minds have been programmed to notice the negative, the problems, and what could go wrong. Practicing gratitude is a way to reprogram our minds to the positive, the good, the safe, and the beautiful. For me, it’s like muscle training. Note: I’m not saying that you should close your eyes to the negative, but that you should give at least the same amount of focus to the positive. In my opinion (just like Buddha’s too 😉), life is all about balance.
#4 Move your body.
Don’t sit around all day and expect your life to move forward. Movement helps your cells get more oxygen, and your body more vitality. It helps you connect with the present moment and leave your thoughts aside – that’s when inspiration normally comes.
#5 Forgive yourself.
Stick to your goals and objectives, give them your best, but don’t take life too seriously. Forgive yourself for your mistakes and your imperfections. Learn to accept what’s not in your control and let life be.
I hope this post left you with the eagerness to move yourself toward a life you’ll be proud of. 😊. If you like my energy and want to be part of our community, subscribe to our newsletter and stay up-to-date with our upcoming programs.
See you soon,
Sofia. 😊.