This week we have seen the sad truth that money can’t buy happiness as two people that appeared to have it all have committed suicide. Mental health is a huge topic of discussion in response to these untimely deaths. It’s really sad that we live in a world where people have to suffer in silence and come to a conclusion that it is easier to just end their life. I never judge the person who made the choice because I know how life can beat you down and make you feel defeated.
I always have so many questions running through my head when I hear about suicide because when you hear people talk about the deceased person it’s always in a sense of them being strong or successful. Unfortunately when people have these positive views of you it can be a gift and a curse. It’s a curse when you don’t have the right people around you. I am constantly fussing at people in my inner circle who are overly nurturing and giving people because they don’t realize how much of themselves that they are giving up.
In my opinion your sphere of influence is your best weapon to fight mental illness. When you are surrounded by people that suck the life out of you it creates a big opportunity for depression and anxiety to take control of your life and cause you to lose control.
MY STORY: As a person considered to be strong and successful I want to share my experience with depression and anxiety because I know there are a lot of people who look at my life and think it’s great. It’s only great because I wake up every day and fight! It is not easy to live a life that goes against every rule and expectation that this world puts on you.
On social media it looks like I am traveling the world living the good life. When my reality is that I am trying to figure out how to get a work visa, where I can get an apartment for a reasonable rent, what areas of town are best to live in, and how I would adjust to a new normal (grocery shopping, transportation, etc) all while watching my ever depleting savings account while I finance this dream. The toughest part of it is knowing you are surrounded by people who love and support you, but they don’t understand you so you are still alone.
For example most people in my sphere of influence don’t know anything about blogging. So they assume I just sit on the computer or my phone and play on social media all day. When the reality is I sit in front of a computer for hours working trying to figure out affiliate marketing and how to make money from my blog. I have to sit and teach myself analytics, search engine optimization, how to create videos and how to become a better amateur photographer. I’ve been at this hard core for 6 months and I haven’t made one dime. That is enough to drive anyone in sane!
In addition to all of that could you imagine adding other people’s crap to your plate? No, and that is why I have very strict boundaries with people around me. The people who don’t respect the boundaries get eliminated very quickly because I have enough stuff attacking my mental well-being.
To all my strong and successful people I want you to start setting boundaries and making sure you are taking care of your mental health. Start by evaluating the people in your life and adjust your interaction with them based on the energy that they bring. Don’t be afraid to tell people when you need some me time to reset and recharge. Don’t allow people to make you feel like you owe them something. Most importantly don’t allow other people to tell you what is best for you!
To all of the takers (drama queens and kings), please work on reaching some level of awareness about the energy that you bring to other people. Life is a sequence of choices and actions and it is not fair for you to make bad choices and expect other people to save you. If you are complaining about something that you are not trying to change, stop it! Take action and do what needs to be done to change your story!
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