One of the things, we at The Curio-City Collective have been trying to do is diversify our understanding of well-being. On World Mental Health Day, it seemed appropriate to ask around what well-being meant to us?
Particularly in times like now, when all discussion around mental health awareness week has been depressing with a lot of statistics and less life vests to hold onto. So, we decided to ask our friends and family two questions.
We received many warm responses from across the world. Here they are for you to read.
What does mental well-being mean to you?
For me mental well-being is feeling relative peace. It’s when I’m not in despair or falling apart. It’s the state I move and work towards. It can be fleeting or last days. When I’m laughing, engrossed, calm, engaged. It’s choosing to do the right thing even when I’m not feeling well — resting, working as much as I can, doing my best for both my present & future self.
27, Anonymous, Delhi
Mental well being is the ability to have the mind space and clarity to focus on intellectual tasks
32,Anonymous, Hyderabad
Mental well-being encompasses both emotional, psychological, social and physical wellbeing. The ways in which we act and behave, our abilities to manage stress, to communicate effectively with others, and to make healthy choices. Proper nutrition, sleep and physical activity are key aspects of our life that support optimal mental well being. When individuals have good mental health, not only can they pursue their own personal goals but can also contribute to the overall welfare of their communities.
43, Anonymous,Chicago
Mental well being constitutes a spirit of mind that is delicately poised between letting down it’s guard and keeping up it’s defences to allow for an authentic personhood to exist.
35, Anonymous, Chennai
Mental well being for me is to go by my day without guilt or anxiety or thinking about how much weight I lose/ gain
34, Raksha Hegde, Bengaluru
For me, mental well-being is a state of feeling at peace with yourself and believing you can deal with your day and whatever challenges it may bring.
34, Sarah, New York
I define mental well-being as happiness.
34, Michiko, Tokyo
I think right now, mental well-being to me is being able to look at the parts of myself that are less than ‘perfect’ and love them anyway, being able to respond to my negative thoughts about myself with gentleness and compassion, instead of letting them consume me.
24, Anonymous, Mumbai
I think mental well-being is when I am not anxious every moment or hints of confusion lingering. It also means I am free from stress. Else, I usually feel stressed.
31, Anonymous, Hyderabad
Well-being is a sense of connection with my inner world and an ever evolving harmonious relationship between my self as the world sees me and my inner self.
35, Prathma, Kathmandu
The word ‘resilience’ comes to mind when I think of ‘mental well-being’. What I mean is – it’s natural for anyone to experience stress, doubt, guilt, or other severely negative emotions related to self-esteem, ability, etc. But if someone is ‘mentally sound’, the person would have the ability to cope with the negativity. In other words to take a step back, to understand that the thoughts/feelings will pass and do believe that different or more positive emotions will also come. To that end, not being reactive to one’s own negativity is also important. The more one is capable of being resilient and not reactive, one gets closer to stillness and calm. In short, mental well-being would be an ability to stay calm, in the face of any challenge or adversity.
38, Niranjan, Kathmandu
What do we do that is important to our mental well-being?
We do believe that each of us in our own way tries to improve our well-being and mental health. These could be through daily tasks or some dedicated time to reflect. So the other question we asked was, What do you every day that is important to your well-being?
I don’t have anything I do daily but I do try to centre myself through one of many activities that help: yoga, reading, sleep, gardening, painting. Having multiple activities allows me to cycle through them, and each stays more effective as a tool as a result.
27, Anonymous, Delhi
Sipping tea or water all day as I work. The making of it, the refilling, all moments of pause help me ground myself.
35, Prathma, Kathmandu
It is important to have some purpose to each day. The purpose can be as small as washing ur socks and meeting a friend for coffee or something larger, like completing an assignment. I think of this as ‘finding something to hook ur day’ as opposed to letting the day just fly all over in the wind. This has direct link to planning and discipline and structure. When I plan my day, I try to stick to it no matter how I’m feeling. It’s also important to plan to do unpleasant things, or facing ur fears – going to see that dreadful relative even if that causes anxiety (if you think the person is important in some way) or taking on a challenging task if u believe that it’ll help u grow. In short, for my mental well being, i try to remain disciplined and face my fears.
38, Niranjan, Kathmandu
Spending two hrs each morning in silence; doing yoga, meditation and going about my morning routine before anyone else is awake!
32, Anonymous, Hyderabad
In order to be feel mentally well, I meditate everyday. Without some quiet time to be free from everyday sensations, I will be overwhelmed and unhappy.
34, Michiko, Tokyo
I mediate and practice yoga. Meditation, in itself has been a transformative process for me and helps me remain centered no matter what I might be encountering in the moment.
43, Anonymous, Chicago
I read something – an article or a chapter of a book, or a blog, anything really – without caring about its tangible or productive impact on my life and feel zero guilt about it. Guilt-free pleasure reading ranges from astrology to religion, from self-help/ motivational stuff to science and tech stuff, and from autobiographical accounts to philosophy. I’ll add a second thing I do everyday that works great for me: a big mug of tea in the morning (sometimes, evening if I’ve had a stressful day)
34, Sarah, New York
One thing I do is read. Anything basically. Articles I have saved on topics I like. I read slower now so a book also takes me weeks to finish like it is now. But it’s okay
31, Anonymous, Hyderabad
I bathe
35, Anonymous, Chennai
I go to zumba class
34, Raksha Hegde, Bengaluru
I exercise
23, Anonymous, Mumbai