This month’s topic being Fire, I asked some people randomly, what comes to your mind when you think of fire? And I got some very interesting answers. As a psychologist/ therapist, it got me thinking..
Fire is an essential ingredient in our day to day life. It’s a force behind our physical nourishment, and Mental health and well-being is a force behind our emotional nourishment.
It also retains its natural form. Whatever we put in it, leaves, twigs and wood, it will absorb it all, not get polluted and continue burning. Nothing can contaminate fire. We too, have this capability and capacity. No matter what challenges life throws at us, what people say or don’t say, whether they approve or disapprove, we can continue what we are doing with single-pointedness and faith in ourselves and in our goal.
Fire purifies metal. The blacksmith heats and sharpens his tools in it before using them. Mental health is not just about feeling good, it’s about having a calm mind. It’s about developing equanimity in any physical, mental or emotional challenges. It’s having that calm mind that makes you productive and taking things in your stride, no matter what comes your way.
Strong emotions are like fire. For example, anger. You can use it sparingly to your advantage, but the same anger can destroy you, people around you and your relationships if not in check, just as forest fires can destroy everything around it.
Emotions need to be channelled and regulated and governed.
Mental health is our emotional, cognitive, behavioural and social well being. It affects how we think, feel and act. It helps in how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices.
We are living in the middle of a pandemic! These are very uncertain and challenging times. Fear has enwrapped us, making us anxious and angry and there are so many other confusing emotions. Our loved ones are dying and we have not been able to comfort them, say goodbye, or even grieve them. Let’s walk ahead of the stigma and the misinformation attached with mental health. Let’s get out fires burning, be passionate about spreading this awareness because there is a lonely and depressed man in that corner who doesn’t know or feel your passion. And he is pushed into suffering alone with his loneliness. Let’s show respect and acceptance, learn more about mental well-being and take care of our loved ones, and advocate it in our circles of influence.
Written by Bhairavi Khanna
Bhairavi Khanna is a clinical psychologist, with over 15 years of experience in this field.
She currently has a private practice and is also a counsellor at Seva Sadan, an NGO for underprivileged girls and at Bombay Vigilance society’s Home, an NGO for young boys. Until recently, she was also a counsellor at Sanjeevani, an NGO, for cancer survivors. Earlier in her career, she worked at St Jude’s, which provides childcare centres for cancer patients. Prior to that she spent over 10 years working in childcare as a pre-school teacher.
Bhairavi earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from SNDT University, Mumbai. She has done her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at St. Xavier‘s college, Mumbai. Additionally, she has attended various workshops in psychology hosted by Sinara.
Week 33, August 2021
