|
"Depression is the flaw in love. To be creatures who love, we must be creatures who can despair at what we lose, and depression is the mechanism of that despair."
~The Noonday Demon: An Anatomy of Depression, Andrew Solomon~
Many people do stock takes over new years, whether it’s every January or Chinese New Year or any other new years, marking the commencement of another cycle in time. These stock takes are opportunities to review our progress and how far we have come along – or not.
I tend to do such reflections on World Mental Health Days, every October 10. Each year, I inevitably arrive at the same point:
“I could have done XYZ but have not…”
“I should have done more of this, this, this, and this….”
“I have not planned anything for WMHD again…”
“How come I did not know about this event or not involved or not invited?”
So, what have I actually done? Not much, I assure myself.
I feel disappointed in myself, and feel I have let others down.
|
|
I know how some might react to this, and console me to not think as such or that it will be better or that I have done a lot already. I know I have done quite a bit – we now even have a wonderful team at Bearapy, which is a HUGE progress from last year. And they have done A LOT.
Yet the sense of disappointment is real to me too. Most are quick to sweep away those potentially "negative thoughts", as if they could not bear to be in those moods with me. I wonder how I can just be with it all, pleasant or unpleasant emotions that arise. They are all part of life, disappointments, despair, rejections, unmet desires, unfulfilled needs, unrealized ambitions…
The “should”s make me judge myself, and make me wonder, how much do I stand firm with what I believe in but that might depart from majority? For instance, should I make sure this newsletter goes out every month and look “corporate” with lots of info? Or can I stick to whenever I feel like writing something about something and can it be simply, whatever you take it to be on the receiving end?
That is where the stress comes from – inside of me. Work stress is but an easy excuse.
|
|
|
Deeper than this, is perhaps my familiarity with depression and being a stranger to love. I lose and I despair, but what is love? My flaw of depression is sophisticated, but where is the love that encompasses it?
|
|
|
What is love? And what is it not?
|
|
Maybe if we can embrace love in all its simplicities and complexities, we find it in ourselves to let ourselves, and others, off the hook sometimes, ease off the pressure on all of us, and find some inner mental wellbeing that comes from our hearts. The world as it is, is messy enough, and many of us have lost our minds.
I really debated whether I'd write this newsletter today. It feels like many others will send out information more educational and informative on Suicide Prevention, the theme for this year, so I don't want to add on and overwhelm. It is encouraging, though, to see that the mental health conversation has flourished globally over the last 12 months.
All I wanted to say, on this year’s World Mental Health Day, is:
May you find love - and what it means to you.
Enoch
|
|
|
Join Bearapy's PLAYshops and workshops!
|
|
Want to have some fun but discover more about yourself? Join us in this special series of open events:
- Relax Your Mind Playfully! (17 Oct evening at Hotel Jen)
- Stressed? Tired? Come Play for your Health (29 Oct lunch at The Executive Center, Yin Tai Building)
- Authoring Your Leadership Story (30 Oct afternoon at AmCham Beijing) - Register here
|
|
|
Scan our WeChat QR code to find out more and register for the events.
|
|
|
Together we can do so much more!
|
|
A few facts and some thoughts from the Global Mental Health Peer Network Executive Committee...
(See, told you someone else has done something so much more informative! Smile)
|
|
|
FOR A MENTALLY HEALTHY WORLD
|
|
|
|
|
