Don’t Politicize Me

A little over two years ago, I went down a rabbit hole. I was so into politics, I couldn’t see or think straight. My beliefs were better than others. My way or the highway. I was constantly researching and felt like I had been lied to all of my life. It wasn’t about politics, it was about realizing what life was all about. Social media and the news were the external forces feeding into my never ending anxiety and depression. Once you get a handle on those two things and not give a shit what people think of you or how you are perceived, you are heading to a whole new light.

Recently, I went to a documentary regarding mental health. My counselor was featured along with two of her clients. As, I was sitting there watching the documentary, it included politics, 9/11, natural disasters, and of course, the never ending pandemic. I was triggered. Now, first let me tell you that my counselor was the star of the documentary. She actually focused on how to treat people using her techniques that have nothing to do with the effects of the news stories. I sat with her and discussed the documentary. I told her by watching it, it brought me back to the old Brooke. I instantly was anxious and then became depressed because I lived, actually watched on TV, every defeating world event they brought back to life. I had to tell myself not to go there. I asked, “What was the point in re-living these events through a screen?” Unfortunately, my guide informed me she had no idea they were going to be put there. This was feedback I didn’t want to tell her, but you know what, she welcomed it because she knew it was a trigger for me, she listened, she validated, and we communicated the “why” behind it. I instantly felt comforted and heard. Which is all of us want, correct?

Why do we need to politicize mental health? It’s a one story at a time and a one experience at a time. Who we are influenced by is different for each and every one of us. You have to turn off the outside world in order to turn on the inside. Turn off what people think of you. Are they really thinking that of you? Or are your thoughts turning against you? Read that again. Your thoughts control your reality. If you are constantly thinking people care what you are doing or are judging you, you have a long road ahead of you. Don’t worry, I used to be one of them. People are trying to survive their own world, why would they be interested in yours?

The only way to survive your life, is by living it purposefully, gratefully, and positively. It’s the only way out. Stop scrolling and comparing. Start by putting your phone down and looking up and seeing what is in front of you. It’s called endless opportunities. It’s called peace. Peace within yourself which others can gain from you by being around you. The only person you are comparing to, is yourself. Your past self. When are you going to start living in the present moment and letting the past go. It no longer exists. Yes, it shaped your current thoughts and how you are now, but those can change by becoming aware of your current state.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Receiving compliments. Two different ideas that diverge into one. Why is it so hard to receive compliments? Self confidence is lacking. Why? Past thoughts about yourself or you didn’t get them from the people you needed them from the most. Hopefully those people are no longer in your circle and if they are, become aware of how they make you feel. Feelings become thoughts. I still struggle with this big time. I receive a compliment and I am always questioning myself or questioning the other person’s intentions. This has to stop. This is an ongoing work-in-progress for me. Another hurdle I need to jump and become accepting of myself. Because you can only go forward by accepting yourself the way you are in order to accept words or actions of others and actually believe them. People do not compliment you to just get something out of something. They are putting themselves out there and being vulnerable as well. My past thoughts were that people told me nice things in order to get something. Once again those were my thoughts and they became reality, in turn, keeping me on high alert all the time. Exhausting. Now, you have to accept compliments with love and gratitude and reverse your negative thinking into positive intentions. Don’t politicize it. Be grateful someone is saying them to you. You deserve them.