Est. reading time: 3 – 5 mins | Tone: Uplifting, Insightful
Ideal reading moment: Great for a moment of calm. Take this time to breathe, reflect, reset, and bounce back stronger.
Hi, awesome professionals! As we age and mature, we realize that life is a mix of sunshine and storms. Yet, amidst all this, world doesn’t stop spinning and life doesn’t pause. There are still works to get done, bill to pay, responsibilities continue, and definitely, life to live.
Thus, it is crucial to effectively handle negative emotions so we are not spiraling into self-blame during the stormy days. Let me share my thoughts and experience on this. 🌞
Back in the school days, my diary was my daily sanctuary, particularly on the darker days. I would fill pages, sometimes once a day, pouring out my stories and worries. 🤣 Nowadays, as an adult, my coping mechanisms when feeling blue shifted to extra sleep, excessive Netflix marathon, or mindless scrolling through Tokopedia. 🥲
I know, it looks harmless and fun. But, these quick fixes often backfire. Instead, they drag me deeper into a pit of self-blame and lead me down a slippery slope of guilt, feeling like I’m just wasting precious seconds of my life.
But sometimes, on days when I’m feeling particularly wise, I decide to be more conscious by choice. Like this morning, when I was overwhelmed with sadness and anxiety, I consciously decided to disconnect and unplug. I put away my Android devices and even my Kindle (oddly, it reminds me of work). I needed a complete break from all work and the outside world.
I turned to my ‘safe’ iOS devices, which I keep free from social media and contacts. I opened my iPad, intending to read and listen to ‘Dune’. But just a minute into this calming activity, a sudden urge to journal on my iPhone hit me after I read this very paragraph.
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
Dune
I gave in to this impulse, abandoning ‘Dune’ for a solid 15 minutes of spontaneous writing. And guess what? It worked wonders.
The simple act of journaling, facilitated by Journal, a wonderfully simple and easy IOS apps without any unnecessary features, brought immense relief. ♥️ My heartbeat steadied, the sadness and anxiety faded, and I felt present again. I regained control of my breathing, forgave myself for the morning’s inefficiencies, and felt prepared to tackle the day with renewed energy.
So here’s my message to you on this fine Sunday: It’s okay to step back and embrace a moment to yourself. Find what brings you back to yourself, be it writing, reading, or just being still. You owe yourself that kindness. Let’s embrace self-compassion and turn our days around, one mindful moment at a time. 🌟
The Hayyan Chronicle 
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