World We Imagine Part 1

When I imagine a better world I think of a place where every individual is aware of the power they have within to view themselves and others without judgment. I believe in the power of self-love. People who truly know and love themselves can't be hateful towards others. So what I'm trying to say is that self-love works as powerfully for the individual as it does for the collective of humanity. 

I have struggled with OCD and anxiety since my earliest childhood memory, but I never took steps toward healing until I was a freshman. When I was a kid, I used to get so frustrated with myself and my thoughts. I internalized a lot of anger and negativity because I did not understand myself, much less accept myself. Unfortunately, mental health was just never a conversation in school or my household when I was growing up, my parents were never educated about it so they didn't know how to identify what I was struggling with. After conducting my own google and Reddit searches, I realized I was not alone and I could receive help. I started going to therapy which was transformative for my life. I started to learn that love is the ultimate healer, and you can't heal what you try to ignore. It's hard to confront the parts of yourself you spent a lot of time pushing down, but the process of doing this brought me a new kind of compassion I had never had for myself. Eventually, I noticed my inner frustration started to lose its edge, and the acceptance I was developing for myself was projecting outwards. Good vibes don't expire, they multiply. 

I would want my contribution to a better world to be some initiative that communicates the power of self-love. I would want this initiative to have a huge focus on making mental health awareness and resources accessible in underserved communities, specifically immigrant or first-generation communities. Maybe this could mean offering resources in people's native language. I know mental health awareness has come a long way which is amazing, but I personally experienced the disparity in my community. I think if more people had the opportunity to be heard and learn to understand themselves, then this would be a small step in the right direction to a more compassionate world.