Mental Health is REAL
Just a disclaimer. This may not apply to everyone, so if it doesn't apply to you, just keep moving. I know this is only my second post, but I want to be real with you guys. The past few days have been tough for me. To be honest, I'm not exactly sure why. I'm not gonna lie, I am not a fan of admitting that I'm struggling because I strive to be as much of an encouragement to reach as many people as possible, but I feel like that is stripped from me when I don't feel in it to win it. I'm telling you this because Mental Health is a real thing. Everyone struggles with it in some way, shape or form whether they like to admit it or not. Everyone has issues under the surface. You are not alone.
Mental health can look different for everyone. For one, it may look like comparison of oneself to another, to someone else it may be depression. According to mentalhealth.gov, "Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps to determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices." I don't know about you, but that is exactly how I feel right now. Kind of like a waste of space. Worthless, a nuisance, broken, and the list goes on. Now, I want to get one thing straight. I am not telling this to you as a pity party at all. I am simply telling you this so that you know that You Are Not Alone. I don't think that this topic is talked about much. I think that social media influencers should speak on it more, but instead they try to cover it up by posting all the good moments of their life. Let me tell you something. Nobody's life is as perfect as it seems. Social media is so twisted. People want to make it seem like everything is going right, when that's not reality. Reality is that most people are fearful to show that side of their life. I know I am. But I am sharing this so that you know, you are not alone.
I know I keep saying that phrase, but I can't emphasize it enough. But, ya know what? It's okay to not be okay. I will say it again. It is okay to not be okay. We are human. We are broken. The beautiful thing is that in our weakness, we are made strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9 shows us this. "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest on me."
God wants us to boast in Him in our weakness because it is in our greatest struggles that we can see God's hand at work the most vividly. There is a great example of this. I just met a girl the other day that is going through extremely difficult situations for the past 6 months. Anyways, as she was sharing her testimony, she was praising Jesus for everything he has done and how he has had a hand on her life the whole time. I thought it was amazing! The incredible thing is, that can happen to you too! If you would allow the Lord to come into your circumstances to transform you, He will! He does not want you to walk through this life alone. People can only go so far. They come and they go. Like I said before, we are broken. But Jesus? Jesus is unchanging. He is the one person that will never leave nor forsake you. We are not meant to walk through this life alone.
I want to leave you with a verse that sums it up perfectly. Isaiah 41:10 reads, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God, I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." The Lord wants to come along side you in the good and the bad. He wants to celebrate with you in the good times, and grieve with you through the hard. He desires to be your best friend.
If you ever need someone to talk to, my DM's are always open or shoot me a text if you have my number. Don't worry about being a bother because it truly gives me life to talk to people in potentially helping them. Even just to be a listening ear. I know I value that in a person within my life and I would love to be that to others.
Anyways, I know that this has been extremely long. Props to you if you read the whole thing. I hope this has encouraged you in some way. I hope you have a great weekend and I will talk to you next Wednesday.
<3 Dez