How Embracing My Own Journey Helped Improve My Mental Health
Please check out my other blog posts about my post grad journey (here and here) it'll give you the back story you need to understand this one.
That fucked up moment when you can't even appreciate the good you have because your mentality is on the fritz.
There was a significant time in life where I couldn't even celebrate and appreciate what I had because I chose to allow the people around me who did not celebrate with me or build me up affect how I saw my own circumstances. I'm constantly meeting goals and living up to the standards I live for my own life and I learned a long time ago to leave negative people behind, but that comes with some mental strife. Taking care of your mentality, being self aware and emotionally secure and available are some of the most important things in living a thriving, happy life. It's not a joke. All of us need some mental health work in some way or another. It doesn't make you weak, sensitive, overly emotional, or crazy. It makes you smart. It shows that you care about yourself and the people you interact with on a daily basis. We hurt each other (and ourselves), and it's our own personal responsibility to fix it. Go put in the work to heal. Your life will thank you for it.
I got real deep real fast didn't I? I have a habit of getting to the point quickly. Well lets back track...
My work means the world to me. I just want to help other people in their journey towards happier lives. I'm currently working with a focus on Equity. I'm spearheading the Marketing/Communications and Design of 2 conferences that focus on People, Communities and Growth through energy and affordable housing. A lot of people don't get what I do because there's so many layers. I'm also not helping directly. I'm not coming out of my pocket to give people affordable housing and lower energy expenses, (yet) but that's because that's not my current skillset. I'm using what I'm good at (Creative Direction and Communications...) to help. I'm doing what I've said I was going to do, just in a way I never even imagined. I can only go up from here. I've gotten this far with grains of salt, some perseverence and ambition.
No one ever told me reaching your goals could be so lonely, but they also never told me I'd be able to do it my way. That has made it all worthwhile. From here on out i'll encourage all people to travel off the beaten path. There's too much out here that is undiscovered that may be the answer to your own inner happiness that doesn't include a desk and 7am alarm clocks.
“ Loneliness is the human condition. Cultivate it. The way it tunnels into you allows your soul room to grow. Never expect to outgrow loneliness. Never hope to find people who will understand you, someone to fill that space. An intelligent, sensitive person is the exception, the very great exception. If you expect to find people who will understand you, you will grow murderous with disappointment. The best you'll ever do is to understand yourself, know what it is that you want, and not let the cattle stand in your way.”
- Janet Fitch
A lot of times the world gives us an opportunity and we get angry when it doesn't "meet all of our expectations" or come in the shiny bright package we wanted, but it probably is exactly what we needed. I think it's important to focus on your goal and to know that It gets better. This is life and there's levels to this ish. lol
Honestly, people piss me off lol. Yet I can't see myself doing anything else, but putting in work to improve our life quality and making this world better for us all. I'm that person who could survive living with one person for the rest of my life, but dishing out good shit anonymously for the world to enjoy while I live on a random island somewhere enjoying nature, that significant other and really good fucking food. lol
Sorry I have no links. My journey has been full of googling and sooo many experiences, but it's really up to you to take that first step in creating your own path.
“Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end. ” —John Lennon.
After this, there is good news. Maintain faith. Do not Weep. You do not know the final Outcome. - Luke 8
My Go-To Mantra's:
- Take calculated risks
- Have faith/trust in yourself
- Don't be afraid to sacrifice
- You are in control of your emotions/actions
- It is also okay to have emotions
- Figure it out! There is no "I don't know"
- Don't be stupid
Kimberly Rashad is a social equity and empathy motivated designer. Her design style focuses greatly on intentionality. When she’s not working with individuals, businesses and nonprofits around
the country she’s either hosting events for her local Alumni Chapter (SU ‘16) or cooking up something good in her apartment in Atlanta, GA. Connect with her on Instagram and LinkedIn.