The Imbalance Of Culture Might Lead To An Instability Of What Your Mind Believes To Be True

Having witnessed how it raised eyebrows of many, I thought it is best that I share my perspective of mental health; what it looks and feels like when compared to societal scrutiny. In all fairness, the number of depression, anxiety, bipolar and other behavioral psychosis are higher in this age... if they ever existed at all in the times of hunters and gatherers - maybe the days in the sun and nights under the stars warranted so much peace and the surroundings so much love that life was meaningful -

Globalization and all changes that came with what we now know as the modern world, meant that we had to move away from home, our traditions and cultures. And no...when I speak of home, this is not the physical structure but rather, the energy that the space holds in sentiment “home is where the heart is''. These are spaces which our forefathers roamed and to this day recognize. These are spaces that hold the stories of who we are, the history embodied in our names, blood and spirits. If we had to entertain the notion of reincarnation in this sense; home would be the one place your soul would feel settled, as it has been there before.

But today's world sees things differently, home is no longer a reminder of who we are. We settle in convenience of matter and materials, and yes we might utter a few words to those that have passed, letting them know where to find us. But the mistake that we make is to think that we can replace memories and sentiments that are held in places that saw the birth of our parents, their marriages and the first days of our lives.

So what happens when you take away thoughts of love, freedom, comfort, independence, courage and confidence - we find that we fall prey to any idea that destroys what we are working towards. Fear and anxiety takes over the mind and the body follows. This is not with the intention to disregard western medicinal practices, but rather to have a holistic perspective to the underlying reasons that give rise to these cognitive and thereafter behavioral changes in a person. Life would be something else if we all wake up to the power our minds have over our lives - if you raise a child to believe they are a dog, they will grow up as such... if you raise a child to believe they are a king, they will walk about life with broad shoulders, a big chest and intellect that embodies royalty.

The interesting thing about not belonging to a religious ideology is that you get to learn from the variety of belief systems in existence. I often make reference to Islum, their discipline and respect towards their worship which is interconnected to their history as a people. Just stop and think about how beautiful and exorbitant their tabernacles are - I hope you follow. Or rather, let's bring it closer to the glorified spiritualists, the black culture; The ZCC church runs on Malopo culture and lineage to which the leader Lekganyane was born, the name itself means an “illuminating light”. In this I am trying to teach the importance of knowing where you come from as this will strengthen the belief in your prayers.

I have committed my life to help build a holistic perspective to life...not everything is black and white. We have all lost the road that would lead us back home, and I am speaking about a place that would remind you of how great you are, how worthy you are of all the things you desire. And it might sound “crazy”, but listening to stories of the role your clan played in society, might help you understand yourself, traits and interests better. Without this knowledge you might find yourself lost to an awakening of your own consciousness.

Mental health and wellness to me, means to have a positive outlook on life and its events. It means to hold dear to love from the universe, to believe that the odds are always in your favor and that your blood holds wisdom to help you overcome life's obstacles. Sometimes trusting our purpose is the only freedom we need.

Let love and light find you in your path,

Gogo Bella