It’s Ok Not To Be Ok

It’s ok not to be ok.... It’s not ok to stay there for too long. And just because you don’t understand, it doesn’t mean it isn’t so.

Sometimes is really hard to decipher our mind. Our mind at times can trick us. Why you suddenly feel an urge to isolate yourself from the rest of the world, curl up in a ball and cry your chest out?

Rough patch, a bad day, a major setback. Sometimes, it seems like one thing goes wrong after another. And another, and another....

Sometimes you feel lost, not knowing what to do.... You feel stuck. And some days you just feel like you have nothing left inside of you.... Zero motivation to do anything.

And you think, for different reasons, you always have to be strong. That you’re not allowed to cry and express that you are not ok.

And once again I repeat:

It‘s ok not to be ok.

Why do we always feel the need to be strong? Why do we feel guilty when taking a time-out? I was overwhelmed with such guilt. How can I sit here and cry and feel sorry for myself, when I have some much to be grateful for? There’s so much work I need to get done, I don’t see anyone else making excuses for themselves.

With this Global pandemic, almost every person in this planet is somewhat suffering from some kind of mental health, loneliness, loss... and I could keep going. How many people lost their jobs? How many people lost their houses? How many people lost loved ones or are unable to see loved ones?

All this is not only affecting people mentally, but also physically.

I know we try to be positive and be appreciative of whatever good things and great people we have right now. But is this enough not to be ok?

People always says, time will heal. The question is, how long it will take? It can take days, months or even years.

And we get those negative thoughts asking ourselves: “why am I so unlucky to go through all these?”

Never compare yourself to other people. We never know what they hide behind their smiles. Most of us go through pain, struggles. This is part of growing and learning.... becoming stronger. And it’s important to really feel those feelings instead of avoiding. They will catch up with you eventually.

It takes baby steps

Every time you try to climb towards the light, and you fall back, you will find yourself standing back up faster than before.

But know that you are making some progress, even if it’s just 1 percent. It’s better than –1%, better than –10%.

It is okay to feel vulnerable but you stand back up.

Being sad and allowing yourself to cry is the process by which you heal.

You may feel yourself landing back to square one after doing so much but your mindset isn’t. It has gone through phases and phases of sadness, feeling vulnerable and then getting back up again. That is a sign that you have already moved forward, just that you didn’t realize it.

Here are some tools I use when I’m not ok.

1- Meditation

This is a funny subject. I’ve always thought meditation was silly. A lot of people always recommended and I wasn’t really open to try. During one of my sleepless night, I decided to give it a try. And from that point became a routine and my sleep habits and my daily activities have been improving since.

Meditation, which is the practice of focused concentration, bringing yourself back to the moment over and over again, actually addresses stress, whether positive or negative. Meditation can also reduce the areas of anxiety, chronic pain, depression, heart disease and high blood pressure.

2- Exercise

Trust me, the people who knows me, would be able to verify this. I was the kind of person that would pay a gym membership for years and years and only stop by for tanning. Not because I am lazy, but because working out wasn’t something I enjoyed doing it. Gym isn’t a place I like to spend my free time.

But exercise not only improve our mental health, our body, our self steam. And once you understand that, exercise becomes part of your life. Because it makes you feel good. Whether you enjoy the gym, or hiking, or even dancing at home. Improves your metabolism, your sleep, gives you more energy to fight over those bad days.

Physical activity or exercise can improve your health and reduce the risk of developing several diseases like type 2 diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. Physical activity and exercise can have immediate and long-term health benefits. Most importantly, regular activity can improve your quality of life.

3- Eating healthy

They say that old habits die hard, especially old eating habits, but things only truly die when you completely forget about them.

We forget about the coldness and brutality of winter when we are exposed to the beautiful, blossoming life that spring always brings. Why do we tend to forget about the darkness once we are exposed to the light? Put more simply, what I mean to express is that memories possess the power to reincarnate the existence of things that have left the earth. We cannot forget to remember; otherwise, we have lost all potential to blossom from the seed of our adversities.

- Why eating healthy?

The nutrients in the foods you eat support the activities of day-to-day living, protect your cells from environmental damage and repair any cellular damage that might occur. Protein rebuilds injured tissue and promotes a healthy immune system. Both carbohydrates and fats fuel your body, while vitamins and minerals function throughout your body in support of your body’s processes. Vitamins A, C and E, for example, act as antioxidants to protect your cells against toxins, and B vitamins help you extract energy from the foods you eat. Calcium and phosphorus keep your bones strong, while sodium and potassium help to transmit nerve signals. Without a healthy diet, you might compromise any of these essential functions.

A nutritious, well-balanced diet – along with physical activity and refraining from smoking – is the foundation of good health. Healthy eating includes consuming high-quality proteins, carbohydrates, heart-healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and water in the foods you take in while minimizing processed foods, saturated fats and alcohol. Eating in this manner helps you maintain your body’s everyday functions, promotes optimal body weight and can assist in disease prevention.

- Please Note

If you are not used to eating a healthy diet that promotes your well-being, making gradual changes can help you improve the way you eat in the long run. You can substitute water for high-calorie, sugary drinks, for example, and switch from full-fat to low-fat dairy products. Selecting lean meats instead of fatty cuts and whole-wheat grains instead of refined grains can lower your intake of unhealthy fats and increase your dietary fiber intake. Fresh fruits and vegetables contain less sodium than canned, and snacking on fresh, crunchy produce like carrots, apples and cucumber slices is healthier than the fats and salt in chips.

Overall

It takes time to make those changes. And it’s ok. Every person is different. Don’t rush... Take little steps towards what you think is better for you. Find hobbies, take time for yourself. Learn how to enjoy every minute of your life. And always remember - BE YOUR OWN REASON TO SMILE.