Let’s Talk: The Collective Needs Healing-Why and How?

Hey guys, gals and non-binary pals.

Let’s Talk:

The Collective Needs Healing: Why and How?

It is a truth universally acknowledged that mental health is taboo and extremely stigmatized. Is that what Jane said? No? Well she should have. Society brushes that under the rug way too much. In fact, they go beyond the rug. No amount of shovels could ever dig up the depth that we have buried this topic. It’s become demonized and seen as something to be ashamed of, a showcase of weakness — -that to recognize the state of your mental means to proclaim insanity. No one wants to become alienated, ridiculed or seen as inferior so we do our best to hide those not-so-pretty parts of ourselves. We bear it all alone, facades in tow, in effort to “protect” ourselves. Oh how we couldn’t be any more misinformed? These stigmas manifest from misguided views. A lack of education and information, if you will.

The ideology that taking care of one’s mental health as well as feeling and experiencing mental turmoil is something to be shunned is damaging and extremely dangerous. This sets many of us back tremendously and creates a space where suffering and negativity is fostered and even encouraged to thrive. The long term effects of such a standard being upheld by the wider society are individuals who are unable to communicate their feelings, those who suffer in silence, the belief that looking after oneself or taking care of one self is unattainable as well as not of particular importance, low self worth or the belief that something may be wrong with oneself, suicidal thoughts or tendencies, feeling alienated or isolated from others and many other terrible implications result from this.

Many of us live in silent suffering because of this when we can actually seek out assistance and live in a better and more conscious reality for ourselves. Having to suppress and endure these struggles is absolutely NOT a necessity and we always have the choice to decide what we wish to live with. Mental illness is not contagious, being depressed or unhappy is not a prerequisite of the human existence. We feel a range of emotions, it’s entirely natural! However we must allow our emotions to flow through us and PASS. Harboring these emotions stagnates our energy and confines us to low vibrational feelings and thoughts.

It is essential that we end the stigma, one step at a time. Fight the restrictions and limitations that our society has placed upon us from birth. Nourish and console the inner child and honor yourself----your feelings and boundaries unconditionally. What has transpired thus far cannot be reversed, but we can alter the present moment and future. Change your narrative. Prioritize your wellbeing, no one else will and you owe yourself that much. Do not neglect and sabotage yourself for the uniformed words and views of others.

Mental Health was never a priority to the wider society and now we’ve truly paid the price: we are a damaged collective that has normalized our wounds. We have learnt and continue to teach the extremely harmful narrative that we must hide our suffering, that we shouldn’t feel things and that if you speak up you are attention seeking or weak. Although there is no way to undo the damage that has been dealt, we can be the change that our society so desperately is in need of.

 Let’s educate, advocate, implement and diversify our perspectives. Let’s heal, together. My endgame is to be a conduit of mental and spiritual healing for the collective.

What’s yours?