Hey readers,
Today, I wanted to discuss something a little more personal to me. Over the last few months, I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs with my mental health, and I’m finally feeling like I’ve got both feet back on the ground. This time helped to highlight a lot of lessons that I needed to learn, most of which I’m still working on. One of the most essential being patience.
A few months ago, when I interviewed Jennipher Shihundu, she told me she was “working on having a more positive internal dialogue”. This concept has stuck with me ever since, and it has helped me through so much. It’s easy to feel like we’re not doing enough, or that we’re not making any progress. The truth is, mental health is an ongoing process full of victories and setbacks. Never beat yourself up for not being at 100% every day. Some days you don’t manage to accomplish everything you had hoped to. Sometimes you try to face your fears, but you’re not ready yet. Be kind to yourself, and most importantly, be patient.
Take a break. Go for a walk along the beach. Stretch your legs and lungs, and remind yourself that you made it here.
As a student, we often have our lives scheduled out and filled with deadlines and timers. While it’s important to work hard and strive for excellence, none of these describe your achievements or your passion for what you do. Remember that every day is another chance for you to be the best version of yourself. Remember that a setback isn’t a failure, but an opportunity to try again and be even better than you were before. Remember that you are loved and, most importantly, remember to love yourself.
Please don’t hesitate to comment here or on Facebook with any thoughts or questions.
Keep smiling,
Malaika
The views expressed in this blog are my own, and do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of the University of Victoria. I monitor posts and comments to ensure all content complies with the University of Victoria Guidelines on Blogging.