These past four months brought immense darkness, introspection that led to lack of self-compassion, a feeling of constant hollowness and what not. Strikingly, there’s something addictive to this ‘hollow’ feeling, it swallows you in and in no time you’re trapped. And having reading it this far, if you feel the same, then I’m sorry you have to go through this. But let me also tell you that it’s not going to stick around, the demons will be back, but how you deal with them is what matters.
Here are some lifestyle changes that I made in the past week that made things a little better:
- Addressing the problem: This one tip I’ve known since forever, but actually implemented it only recently. Why is it that you’re feeling this way? Why do you feel lonely, cranky, frustrated or angry? I wrote down all my ‘problems’, even the minute ones, on a piece of paper. Yes, a list. Then I went ahead and labelled them as what ‘can be changed’ and what is ‘not under my control’. I realised there are so many things that are out of my hands and it makes no sense to stress over it. Now let’s come to those which can be changed: by now it was evident that I lack execution. You know how we all have ‘plans’ and ‘goals’ and wish to achieve them with little to no effort at all. Let’s face it, that’s just not how it works. This entire exercise took me just 10 minutes and gave me a whole new perspective, a blueprint of areas that need my attention.
- Reading: Ah! “Such a cliché,” you must be thinking. But (hell yeah) it works. It takes you to a whole different world, a world of imagination. I feel more engaged while I read because it demands a lot attention, unlike when I’m watching something on Netflix, because many a times, I’m on my phone or multi-tasking while watching.
- Meditating: I’ve been meditating for years now, but I got disconnected for a few weeks. And please don’t think of meditation as a complicated process. It is like a ‘workout routine’ for your mind. I know you’ve been recommended meditation a zillion times, yet you’re reluctant to put it in your routine. Just try focusing on your breath for some days, that’s all.
- Journaling: Again, this is another thing I’ve been habitual of since I was a kid, but couldn’t get hold of it for quite some time. I can’t even stress how easily I could see a pattern of suffering, triggers, and private fears.
Now I feel I’m on a journey to where I want to be. Further, I want to make changes like social media detox, sleeping on time, eating right, practicing affirmation, the list goes on. But I’m keeping it to one battle at a time.