It's Okay to Not Be Okay: Denial, Depression, and the Road to Healing

In the maze of life's complexities, we often grapple with intense feelings of anxiety and depression. We wear masks, we shut down our emotions, and we lose ourselves in the process. In this blog post, we are exploring the intricacies of the human condition, drawing inspiration from the works of Brennan Manning. We'll delve into self-isolation, emotional authenticity, and how to navigate these overwhelming emotions effectively.

The Unaffected Heart and the Human Condition

Brennan Manning, a profound thinker, once pointed out the mystery of the "unaffected heart." This heart beats dispassionately within us, often marked by lazy minds, listless attitudes, unused talents, and buried hopes. This disconnection and distrust in God, the world, and ourselves create an inability to form passionate commitments to anyone or anything.

When we fail to dig beneath the surface of our lives, we may exist, but we don't truly live. This realization is both unsettling and liberating. Unsettling because it forces us to confront our pain, and liberating because it allows us to break free from our self-imposed shackles.

Self-Isolation and the Journey to Emotional Authenticity

The journey to emotional authenticity often starts with confronting self-isolation. When we experience intense emotional pain, self-isolation can feel like a safe haven, a place where our imposter self can hide, protecting us from further harm.

However, this very disconnection serves as a hindrance to our emotional growth. The fear of expressing our true feelings - our pain, anxiety, and depression - locks us in a world of pretense, stopping us from living a life of authenticity.

Navigating Anxiety and Depression: It's Okay to Not Be Okay

Confronting our emotional reality, particularly when dealing with anxiety and depression, is not an easy feat. It requires courage and self-compassion. It's essential to remember that it's okay to not be okay.

Accepting our brokenness as part of the human condition helps us connect to our true selves. Whether we express or repress our emotions can determine if we live in deception or authenticity.

The Road to Healing: Embracing Our Brokenness

Denying our true feelings can often feel like the easier path. But, as we've learned, whatever is denied cannot be healed. So, what if we took a different route? What if we faced our fears, our anxiety, our depression head-on, and gave ourselves the chance to heal?

Let's think about the ancient Japanese art form known as Kintsugi. When a piece of pottery breaks, the artisan doesn't discard the shattered pieces. Instead, they put them back together using a special lacquer mixed with gold. The places where the pottery was broken now form beautiful, golden seams. It's a celebration of its history, of its journey.

This pottery, once broken, thought to be beyond repair, is now whole again. And not just whole, but arguably more beautiful than before. The golden lacquer didn't hide the damage. Instead, it highlighted the cracks, turning them into unique pieces of art.

Just like that piece of pottery, we too can find beauty in our brokenness and strength in our scars. Our lives gain meaning when we surrender to our personal journey, embracing the adventure we are. This process of acceptance, raw and real, is the first step on the road to healing.

In conclusion, it's a journey we are all on, individually and collectively. Remember, you are not alone in your struggle. Sharing our experiences, expressing our true emotions, and embracing our brokenness can be our path to self-discovery and healing.