The Power of Acknowledging "Small Thoughts" on Mental Health

~Amrita Milan

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In an effort to make our problems seem smaller, to get rid of them in some sense , we tend to compare our thoughts and problems to bigger ones we may have faced unconsciously or consciously. Beginning to unacknowledge the true effect of those “small problems”. We do this in a way to get rid of the feeling that resides with it - a form of defending ourselves. But is this truly sustainable?

In all truth, the idea of forgetting a small thought that had once bothered you can seem like the easiest escape at that time, the one you can mostly rely on. And very often it becomes a habit. An unnoticeable routine, but along with that we often overlook the impact these thoughts can have on one.

We think that those thoughts have been forgotten, “If I don’t see it, then I don't feel it” but in reality, it just contributes towards burdening your mental health slowly. Think of it this way, if you deem it necessary to push back a thought, to forget it, that only shows how it has created a certain impact on you that you may not want to feel anymore.That is why it is vital that we give these thoughts equal if not more attention to truly move on.

Getting over long-lasting habits can seem complicated at first but truly it is just making a consistent effort every time, the first step is realizing and acknowledging how often you do this, most of the time we remain unaware, and sometimes even after acknowledging that we don't deem it essential to make certain changes, maybe because we don't understand the true impact these small thoughts have. But to make a change it is important to believe in the cause, to believe that you are doing this for the greater good to yourself.

The second step is to confront these thoughts, instead of running away from them. It may seem exhausting, but in reality, it helps you move on instantly rather than hiding these thoughts so deeply that the impact eventually builds up. Question: why do you feel this way? Is it worth it? This would provide you with an answer that would leave you feeling much more accepting of these thoughts and leave you with a sense of pride that you are making an effort for yourself.

And finally, it is important to consistently do that, only then can we break free from this habit. Giving importance to the “small thoughts” which we think don't matter can truly bring a great change to your mental health. Think of it as doing a favor for your future self because truly, it would leave you feeling much more content and true to yourself.