IN HER THOUGHTS

Varun Gaba Once upon a time in a small time, there lived a young man named Simon. He was a brave soul, he wore his heart on his sleeves filled with big dreams. However, little did he know his journey would be overshadowed by the pressure and expectations society placed upon him simply because his shoulders were broader and wore pants.  The weight i carry, t he curse of being a man! From an early age, Simon was taught that he must be tough and showing/expressing emotions was a sign of weakness. He was expected to provide for his family, protect them from harm, and be the pillar of strength in the times of trouble. But what about him? This is where his inner battles emanated from, to keep a balance between societal expectations versus preserving his carefree nature. These expectations weighed heavily on his shoulders as he grew older. The more he lost touch with his true nature . As he entered adulthood, the pressure to succeed became overwhelming. Society dictated that he must climb...

Do you ever speak to yourself? Have conversations with yourself in the mirror Yes, I mean the ISSA RAE on Insecure vibes I do a lot, of ... Things i never say out loud but constantly struggle with: I always feel like an impostor Uncertainty heightens my anxiety My insecurities makes me overthink I struggle with self validation My scope of potential is limited to people's validation It's not complaining it just has been suppressed for a little too long   So when i get an ear i offload all to feel the relief just for a day Until the cycle begins again Negative words are labelled bad. Don't speak too little of yourself they say. But how can you be good without confronting the bad. Isn't it just pretending? I recommend mirror conversations, talk to yourself. Be comfortable with your own company.

De'Andre Bush Even when I receive hatred in the guise of love, I welcome it. My lowliness convinces me that is more than enough. Maybe if I loved the man in the mirror, me, I would find love fulfilling. Have you ever wondered how people are in love, but it is never you? Why they do not love back and are difficult to love? I know it is wrong and questionable, but I cannot help to wonder. Why do they receive affection and emotion when they have corrupt souls or no soul at all. Have you ever felt like this before? You look at yourself and convince yourself that it should be me in their position to receive the passion, infatuation, and romance for you are a better or less sinful human being. Then you find yourself not receiving the love from whoever you lust or desire it from and fail to even receive love from yourself.  You fell in too deep into the narrative it should be and create unrealistic expectations. In the end, you subject yourself to a reality where you cannot receive love f...

  sometimes  leadership hurts us serve and protect  the solemn oath,  holding the touch being the light for others, being the change unfortunately, there is no change without loss  the narrative 'if you're not hurting you are not  a leader' puts unrealistic  expectations, to sacrifice yourself, your time,   and well being for decisions to be criticised and judged,  no one likes you yet you're breaking  your back for them I used to think knowledge was power but no one told me knowledge come at a cost you have no right to cry or feel, you've to be the light even when you're  travelling in a dark tunnel,  that's the curse of power. Photo Creative Prompt.

   The struggle with anxiety can be raw, scary, and debilitating. Panic, worry, darkness closing on you and having a little voice inside your head  telling you of what could go wrong and how it is all your fault.    Anxiety is both a mental and physical state of negative expectation. Mentally it is characterized by increased arousal and apprehension tortured into distressing worry and physically by unpleasant activation of multiple body systems—all to facilitate response to an unknown danger, whether real or imagined. - Psychology Today It is an internal battle, and not everyone knows what is going on in your head. You would be thinking, can you not hear my silent screams? So loud they echo in your dreams. My experience with anxiety had a great deal to do with feelings of not being good enough or making the cut. I fear waking up and thinking of all the things that could wrong. I fear I would never be a good enough daughter, sister, friend, partner, writer, and s...

I do not know why we have this thing between us. A forbidden union, ugly & engorged. Hidden deep within Your tongue plated with silver whispers sweet things in my ear Adorn me with words & phrases that brings me comfort in my conformity. Giving my ego that deep-tissue massage entering into ecstasy of security within a group Where I trade my autonomy for company  Applaud me and give me a standing ovation Treats me like the best show he has ever seen We have been back, back, and forth, and forth He has shown me the shortcuts, a temporary happiness There is even denial that it exists But we just let it play it out The company keeps me warm But lately I have been feeling lonely  I yearn to walk the room and still be myself Be confident and relinquish fear of acceptance But I will not stop if do not as well We have to part ways, I have met adaptability I really needed somebody, and adaptability gave me a taste of my worth I have come to know I do not have to trade  mys...

We have heard we should not conform from the Old Testament right to our daily lives. But, you know when you are warned not to play with fire, the glow of the flame tempts your soul to reach out for its warmth. Most of us are guilty of flirting with conformity. For the sole reason that we are desperately lonely. Or in need of attention.  I understand you and I am not here to judge. The beauty of conforming is the  company,  you feel like you fit in. You adopt habits from your surroundings and make them your own, you create your bubble that is unfortunately headed straight for an identity crisis. Yes, I said it. Before we get carried away or become salty, let me explain or rather answer, what is conforming? Conforming involves changing your behaviours to fit in or go along with the people around you. Sounds simple that it is actually on the ground, right? Well, conforming goes down to even the little things, whatever the group you follow perceives as  normal . The...

"When you consider how stressful and uncertain the conditions that come with working in the creative industries are, it’s all too easy to see how doing something you love can turn swiftly very sour." Our last guest is a epitome of what we want to achieve, being mentally aware and strive for wellness. As individual creatives and the creative industry as a whole, we need to think about the ways we work and the pressure we put on ourselves, and on each other. Most creative agencies throw you in a mix of juggling skills. However, the good news is you can start supporting yourself in ensuring a healthy mental state and adopt effective treatments to face the anxiety, stress or depression. As we conclude, our guest takes us through how she has become self aware and how they are taking self care as a priority: My name is Takudzwanashe Charlene Ndangana but my friends call me MaMoyo or Taku. l began blogging and podcasting last year and l must say my blog and podcast have helped me de...

Hey! Perfection Is not possible.  This sounds ridiculous when are a creative world  and anything you make or create opens up to other people in a way that makes you vulnerable. Everything we make feels like an extension of ourselves. Our way of telling the world this is who I am. And like any rejection and criticism might come off very personal. This can easily create doubt or creative imposter syndrome "when you worry if you actually have real talent and feel like you do not belong in the creative community." Welcome back to the Mental health series where we converse with different artists, explore their stance on mental health and how they cope in the industry that reeks of criticism. Meet our next guest: I’m Lauren,  I’m 27 years old. I’m a daughter and a sister. I’m the middle child in a family of 3 girls and live in with my single mom and young sis. I hold a BSc Honours Degree in Creative Art and Design. I’m a full time Graphic Designer and currently employed as an i...

You can only understand when it is you/a close person in your circle experience it. It is the smallest, well small when other people are looking in but suffocating when you are inside. The creative industry is fundamentally built around communication and free flow of ideas, mental health still seems to be something of a taboo subject.  We are exploring how the creative workplace presents specific challenges. Keeping your sanity when your work is always under scrutiny can be hard. We have seen the cancelling culture slowly raising over the years and we are nurturing it at the expense of our mental health. One mistake and you are out! It is hard earning your crust and keeping sane in these competitive environments that can breeding ground of depression, anxiety, addiction and the like. I digress, let's meet our next guest. Please tell us who you are in just 4 sentences: I am a brand strategist and designer. An artist at heart, who believes in creativity with purpose. I believe I was ...

With the title "creative" comes a big responsibility! It is very easy to carried away in your work and withdraw yourself from the outside. In creatives vocabulary that's what we call the "flow state", that is where creativity thrives best. Do you have to wait for inspiration to strike, or you can hack 'the zone'? And is there a fine line between following your bliss and denial/an escape of some sort? We sat down with Asher Mutandiro , a mental health blogger and we explored what is means to be a creative and the link to mental health. Here is what he had to say:  So as a blogger please share your mental health story, how do you cope as a creative? How do I cope as a creative? I really don't see much to it (mental health) maybe that is the problem, I don't see anything much to it as a creative. I have a passionate obsession for my creative work, so probably the passionate obsession makes me overlook or ignore the mental health problems I have. Do...