"Blue Hibiscus", 2 Minutes Daily Therapy Lesson 1: When Life Feels Off but You Can’t Explain Why

The blue hibiscus-symbol of serenity, peace, and tranquility. Because true blue is a rare colour in the hibiscus family, it also carries deeper meanings of rarity, uniqueness, and the unattainable.

Have you ever seen a face of a cheerful friend/partner/family member - to realize months or maybe years later they were carrying a deep deep grief within ?

Or are you that person ? Who is carrying a mountain of sorrow within, with deep confusing feelings whether you are happy or sad ?

Well, let me start by saying this- you are not alone.

When you have never faced the death in a family or seen a huge setback in your career ever, the emotional confusion that comes, the numbness within, even when everything outside looks perfect- is a very natural and a human feeling.

Guess what, I have felt it too. For the longest time, I kept running away from it, finding that feeling to be a burden, or such a foreign feeling that I had never felt in my life or chest before.

On the top of it, there was a constant "should" feeling that kept nagging me. Feeling like-

1. You "should" not stop, ever

2. You are "supposed" to be strong and be at your best self

3. You "should" not rest, else life will rest

For anyone who has ever felt it, this voice is our biggest enemy. Often most of us are carrying this voice, when we were disciplined by a strict parent (no blame to parenting).

But there does come a time in your life when you have to choose a primary indicator of self love (more on that later) and the choice becomes whether you stop that critical voice, and start to have infinite compassion for yourself and really look within.

This, what I just wrote above, is the true game changer. It does take time, because there's years and years of conditioning in you (performing vs choosing compassion) for yourself.

If you are reading this and life/heart/head is saying something is off within. And that there's something in your subconcisous background that needs your attention which you have been ignoring till now- it's time you pause, reflect and ask yourself this question-

"What needs my attention today?"

I ask myself this question every morning when I wake up.

And mind you whatever answer you get when looking within- DO NOT hold any shame/burden/"shoulds" around it- it's a very natural human emotion in you that you need to be witnessed, acknowledged and may be a well thought out action too.

To wrap up, for the longest period of time, I have fought my battles alone to only realize there are so many of us fighting our own unique battles.

Remember if life's not going perfect- we all are in this together, one day at a time.

One "blue hibiscus" read at a time.

Until then, hold yourself to it.

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With loads of respect, love, and hugs

Yours Shatakshi

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If you are new hear, welcome.

Blue Hibiscus is a new initiative by Shatakshi Sharma. It is a soft corner for people navigating grief, confusion, relationships, career setbacks, and self-confidence without access to therapy.

In just 2 minutes a day, it helps you make sense of what you feel, without making you feel broken.