Some days, I am just not okay or chipper. Maybe it is the weather, a new life cycle, past life events, my period, lack of a good sleep or heck, maybe it is what it is, and that is okay. Society created a culture where anything short of constant happiness is seen as something we must fix. We smile through hard days, slap on fake positivity, and tell ourselves to “look on the bright side” even when we are running on empty.
But the truth is, real life is not built for permanent happiness. Real life is messy, unpredictable, and deeply human with flaws and mistakes. Some mornings, I wake up with no spark, and I know that often stems from past life hardships or challenges I have faced. Heck, I am only human. And I have learned that sitting with those less glamorous emotions, letting them be, is sometimes more healing than forcing farce happiness. Sometimes the feelings pass by especially if I get out for a walk or play classical music, but other times I just need to feel and accept my human emotions.
I firmly believe we need to loosen the grip of the idea that “good vibes only” is a badge of emotional health. If anything, emotional health includes the full range of feelings: sadness, restlessness, disappointment, shame and etc. These are not failures, they are part of the rhythm of life and what helps us thrive into stronger beings.
When we allow those moods to exist without rushing to change them, we build resilience. Something I have had to embrace and learn. Truthfully, we grow more honest with who we are when we accept our flaws and find ways to thrive from them. And if you need additional support, that should be seen as awesome, too! Not some stigma or something to be ashamed of.
So I will say it clearly: Not being happy all the time does not mean you are doing life wrong. It means you are alive and you are human! And when we stop pathologizing normal human emotions, maybe we will finally stop feeling like there is something wrong with us on the days we just feel… meh. Because meh is part of the masterpiece, too.
Mindfully curated by Debra Gudema for Well&Co.
📸: TresCharmantes