It's OK, to be not OK

We live in an era of image projection where Instagram gets millions of posts per day. One can find hundreds of pictures of engagement, new puppies, marriages, exotic dinners or traveling at any given moment. Although LinkedIn will also be sending you dozens of notifications each month reminding you wish your connection on a birthday or to congratulate your high school acquaintances on their job anniversary.

It is easy to get stuck up in the tendency of creating an illusion or hypothetic situations that go with our lives perfectly together. After all, there will be always four-person keeping an eye on you, who know you hardly. So, what happens when you are not OK? When depression gets in, when negative vibes get too loud or when you get things to let go, get dumped or lose your loved one. What do we do when we don't have a solution? During hard times, many people just want to skip the fact and moment of acknowledging that they aren't OK and go straight to working toward a resolution or the routine work. Admitting that you're struggling doesn't feel as manageable, or fit in with the sense of perfection. Then most people get blasted on social media these days, with reposting that posts which depict the same feeling. But personally, the ability to sit with a feeling of failure can be one of the most important skills you learn in life

Embracing tough moments, instead of swiftly moving ahead, can be incredibly powerful when practiced correctly. Framing the situation correctly is validating and acknowledging the feelings is justified, even though the situation is not ideal, one will have to accept there is nothing wrong with the fact that you're struggling. This is not about accepting and ignoring, this is accepting and moving through. The people who are authentic and honest with themselves can overcome feelings of shame, which would otherwise help in devalue themselves. Dwelling on the feeling of failure is paralyzing. Understand that sometimes your emotions take precedence over finding a solution. We often discount the value of feelings especially in the workplace but need to remember that in the end, emotions are simply information. They are facts of life like any other. Emotions exist, and when making decisions, one will have to factor them in. Suppressing negative feelings can cause an "emotional load" that causes you to burn out faster, give up more easily and ultimately be less successful.

Everyone has points in their life where they make a major mistake or feel overwhelmed by their load and tension. One needs to realize and give themselves permission to be not OK sometimes. They have to accept that there isn't a solution right now, and to say themselves that “that's OK”. This attitude will give the stamina to accomplish everything that one has too, even when times felt dark.

Sometimes, you just need a third-party opinion in order to keep things in perspective. Reach out to your loved ones, friends or counselors. Other people might be able to make a point that you had not considered, or they might just listen and validate what you are feeling. Talking honestly about how you are feeling will ground you and it will even convince the listeners to be more genuine about their emotions and help in a great manner. You will feel relief after talking about it.

We had been systematized by the society to give a sense of perfection, but it hurts more than it helps us. Humans are flawed and they have to struggle in their life just like every other Aam Adami- Normal person. The people who end up being the most successful are not the ones who don't struggle. They are the ones who know it's OK to not be OK.