Lotus Flower
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
They say that what you do in the morning affects your mood for the entire day. I’ve noticed this over the past few weeks as I’ve been feeling overwhelmed by economic news. I keep thinking about possible negative outcomes, and the more I dwell on them, the more it hurts (lol).
I’ve dealt with overthinking several times, but it always comes back under certain circumstances. When my mind starts spiraling, I often turn to work, where focusing on tasks helps me regain a sense of control. Meeting with friends provides a much-needed distraction and a reminder that I’m not alone in my struggles. And when I dive into a good book, I find comfort in the stories of others who’ve faced similar challenges, which helps me gain a new perspective and slowly get back on track. Even so, when I talk about my concerns, people around me usually say the same thing: ‘You’re always like this. But you always bounce back, right?’ This phase feels like it lasts forever, but I know others have it worse than I do.
Thinking about these conversations made me realize something important: how we handle these tough phases really comes down to our mindset. It got me thinking about how ‘rest’ and ‘pause’ are not just things we need, but sometimes they’re the hardest to embrace — especially when it feels like everyone else is moving ahead without us.
I’m curious how other people navigate their phases. I really like the idea of ‘rest’ and ‘pause,’ but it becomes more hard when you feel left behind, especially by those around you. The more I read a self-reflecting and development book, I come to find a light about this ‘phase’. It’s all starting right inside you, the subconscious.
“We are a mass of contradictions: always trying to be more, yet trying to accept and love ourselves just we are”
I believe the quote from ‘Life Lessons’ by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross captures this perfectly and is where I want to begin emphasizing the difficult phases of life. Human experiences are also a spiritual journey that allows us to rise above our suffering, also, the universe is more concerned with your experience of life.
For some people, failure is attributed to not trying hard enough. But where does that come from? It’s not necessarily true. If we base our actions and thoughts on others’ standards, that phase can indeed feel endless. The harshness of the world will always be present. That’s why the cure lies within our subconscious.
I believe you are the only one who truly understands how hard you’ve tried, how unlucky you might feel, and how you might perceive yourself, not others who point and laugh at your failures. You are in control of your thoughts, not other people. For me, 70% of the negative thoughts I have come from interacting with and observing others who have a strong thirst for achievement. I like to take a moment to pause and reflect on myself to cultivate better thinking. Then, I get back on track. If something brings me down, I pause and then get back and move forward again. That’s it
Turns out, my way of thinking is similar to some lyrics about someone’s inner trauma:
“Never ending trial failed up kill me, and I begin to bloom like a lotus flower once again”
Why a lotus flower instead of any other flower? Because the lotus blooms gloriously even in muddy water. It’s a symbol of resilience, showing that we can always get back on track, even after going through a dark phase.
Just like the lotus flower, we all have the ability to bloom in even the murkiest waters. It’s about nurturing that inner resilience, pausing when needed, and trusting that we can rise again
Let’s bloom a lotus flower. :)
