Dreams Start With Patience #9

Everyone you meet struggles with mental health issues.

Life can be incredibly exhausting, or that’s how I felt a few years ago.

I was working at jobs that didn’t have my best interest at heart, spending my weekends getting f***ed up.

Then one day, I woke up to my reality. I hadn’t been learning much since the early days of high school. I spent so little time on things that actually mattered to me.

Photography, writing, family, traveling. I was boxed in based off of my horrible choices.

Free time didn’t exist. I sought to rip the notion of “free time” out of my mind.

All of my close friends and relatives were constantly choosing the easier path.

If you surround yourself with people who live for the weekend, you are 1000% more likely to end up living for the weekend

Here I am though at 20 years-old. No direction in life, miserable, broke, the majority of my relationships are in rough places.

I told myself, there has to be something out there I love to do.

What is my purpose?

Why do I need to change?

How do I change?

When you’re depressed, miserable and negative. The things you love to do will not settle for this version of you.

I was dopamine-sick, nothing pleased me anymore. My stimuli went on the fritz.

Everything changed when I decided to commit myself to an old hobby - photography

Photography brought purpose to my overstimulated brain, it helped me tell my story in a meaningful way.

I’ve never been the “good with words” type.

So, telling stories growing up was my worst fear.

I learned hard and quick, this is a way for me to express myself.

I was hooked.

Some people go to the gym because their mental health goes down the drain if they don’t exercise.

I get like this - only substitute the gym with photography.

Recognizing when I’m undergoing turmoil due to lack of creative action is a skill I’ve developed over the past few years.

I didn’t realize how much it affects me until I started looking into general psychology.

Studies have concluded that -

1. Photography can be an effective way to improve mood. Documenting your experiences allows for satisfaction. Eventually all we have left is our memories.

2. Photography can improve self-esteem, those who captured themselves felt more positive and confident.

3. Photography can be an effective way to improve your relationship with stress and anxiety. (Makes sense, photography is an art form at the end of the day)

4. You will get more women if you are a good Instagram boyfriend.
(jokes…)

TLDR:

In our often stressful lives, it's essential to find activities that ground us and give us joy.
For me, it was rediscovering an old hobby - photography.
In my early twenties, I was directionless, unhappy, and felt disconnected from my true self.
Then, photography re-entered my life.
It gave me purpose, and became a unique medium through which I could express myself, as I wasn't naturally "good with words".
Recognizing the positive impact creative action had on my mental health was crucial.
Research confirms that photography can effectively improve mood, boost self-esteem, and enhance our relationship with stress and anxiety.
Just as some people turn to exercise to uplift their mental health, I turn to photography.
Remember, we all need to find what gives our life purpose and brings us back to ourselves. And hey, it might even make you a better Instagram boyfriend!

Thanks for reading through!

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Your photographer friend who is constantly talking about self improvement
-Zachariah