“Don’t worry, be happy” is not an easy phrase to live by, at least for people like me, who face depression on a daily basis.
I used to envy my sister for being happy all the time. Even when she was going through hard times, she always managed to look at the bright side. Sure, people like her lifted everyone’s mood, but was she truly happy for herself? I wonder more and more now, as all these pressures and responsibilities weigh down heavier and heavier on my shoulders as much as I age.
It wasn’t until I’ve watched Inside Out that my longing for optimism died down. I remember this movie as the most accurate and funny reflection of human emotions. I saw how Joy couldn’t control everything on its own. In the end, Sadness was the one that could calm Riley, a 11-year-old girl who goes through a life-changing event, leaving everything behind and moving to a new school in San Francisco. Although her memories were filled with sadness, it was sadness that made her realize how her family and friends stayed by her side during the worst times. She was able to be comforted through sadness.
I think the pressure of words “positive vibes only” is not worth it. If you’re sad, it’s okay to be sad. Why on earth would you constantly compare yourself with people’s smiling faces on social media, just to feel more pressure to appear that way? What’s the point of trying to fake happiness, not even for yourself?
We all need time to heal. We all encounter painful events that we can’t just move on right away like nothing had happened. There are times where you just want to disappear and hide away from responsibilities. What I worry most for people who already lack the strength to even endure what they’re going through, is how they will take the words of encouragement to be merrier. What if we’re just adding weight to their exhaustion?
Sadness, hopelessness, and discouragement are all the most common human emotions we feel. Humans cannot be happy 24/7. As weird as it sounds, it’s okay to be depressed. Think of negative emotions as just a common cold passing by. No matter how severe it is, you will heal from it one day. Until then, be true to yourself and don’t hide what you naturally feel because it’s also okay to grieve a little, cry a little, and lean onto people closest to you. It’s important to note that you shouldn’t lose yourself swayed by a flood of emotions. Feel things and let things pass by. Just like that, happiness will come by too, so don’t depress yourself to be happy.
I used to envy my sister for being happy all the time. Even when she was going through hard times, she always managed to look at the bright side. Sure, people like her lifted everyone’s mood, but was she truly happy for herself? I wonder more and more now, as all these pressures and responsibilities weigh down heavier and heavier on my shoulders as much as I age.
It wasn’t until I’ve watched Inside Out that my longing for optimism died down. I remember this movie as the most accurate and funny reflection of human emotions. I saw how Joy couldn’t control everything on its own. In the end, Sadness was the one that could calm Riley, a 11-year-old girl who goes through a life-changing event, leaving everything behind and moving to a new school in San Francisco. Although her memories were filled with sadness, it was sadness that made her realize how her family and friends stayed by her side during the worst times. She was able to be comforted through sadness.
I think the pressure of words “positive vibes only” is not worth it. If you’re sad, it’s okay to be sad. Why on earth would you constantly compare yourself with people’s smiling faces on social media, just to feel more pressure to appear that way? What’s the point of trying to fake happiness, not even for yourself?
We all need time to heal. We all encounter painful events that we can’t just move on right away like nothing had happened. There are times where you just want to disappear and hide away from responsibilities. What I worry most for people who already lack the strength to even endure what they’re going through, is how they will take the words of encouragement to be merrier. What if we’re just adding weight to their exhaustion?
Sadness, hopelessness, and discouragement are all the most common human emotions we feel. Humans cannot be happy 24/7. As weird as it sounds, it’s okay to be depressed. Think of negative emotions as just a common cold passing by. No matter how severe it is, you will heal from it one day. Until then, be true to yourself and don’t hide what you naturally feel because it’s also okay to grieve a little, cry a little, and lean onto people closest to you. It’s important to note that you shouldn’t lose yourself swayed by a flood of emotions. Feel things and let things pass by. Just like that, happiness will come by too, so don’t depress yourself to be happy.
Depression Hotlines:
Text 741741 for free help in counseling through crisis, available anytime, anywhere in U.S. National Youth Crisis Hotline: 1-800-448-4663 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): 1-800-662-HELP (4357) National Hopeline Network: 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433) National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) |