What If I Don’t Feel The Way You Do?
Disclaimer: This article has a lot of questions. So put your thinking hats on.
If you observe carefully, your social media feed will have a continuous flow of posts on ‘Monday blues’ on Sunday evenings and Monday mornings. To be honest, I’d feel pressured to feel low on Mondays, because it SHOULD be the start of a dreadful week. But what if I feel joyful on a Monday? Should I feel guilty about it? Should I feel embarrassed about not feeling the ‘Monday blues’? Maybe let’s normalize being happy on a Monday too, because hey, that’s possible too.
What if you have a boss who doesn’t ask too many questions when you apply for leave? What if s/he is a friendly boss and helps you grow in your position? What if s/he is empathetic and understands your skills and flaws? Maybe let’s normalize liking your boss, because hey, not all bosses are bad.
What if you are ambivert? What if you are okay being yourself with a bunch of friends, but are quiet with people you hardly know? What if these labels of ‘introvert’ and ‘extrovert’ don’t matter to you? What if you struggle between trying to be liked by people and trying to be yourself no matter what others think? Maybe let’s normalize the struggle of trying to fit in and the fear of missing out. Maybe let’s also normalize not worrying about what others think.
Once, a fellow Christian told me I shouldn’t be very ambitious in life, but stay grateful to God for what He has given me. But isn’t God our Father that we can approach Him at any moment with any desire? Didn’t Jacob from the Bible wrestle with God till he got his blessing? But also, didn’t Hannah’s silent prayer please God, even when she didn’t pray out loud? The priest Eli ‘jumped to the conclusion that she was drunk.’ (1 Samuel 1:12–14 MSG) Maybe let’s normalize staying grateful yet being ambitious with God. Maybe let’s normalize telling God your desires and then resting in His presence. Wouldn’t our Father love that?
Dear Christians, maybe let’s normalize not just praying for roti, kapda, makaan (food, clothes, shelter) & seeking the Lord first, yet trusting God to fulfil your needs. Or maybe let’s normalize walking with God the way He leads you through His Word.
This isn’t to undermine anybody’s struggle or way of life. But what I wish to suggest here, let’s try not to impose our own understanding on others. If someone feels differently, give her/him the space. Of course, if it goes against your belief system or the law of the land, you may not agree with it. But let’s normalize thinking and acting differently.
Let’s normalize joy. Let’s normalize happiness and gratitude. But let’s also normalize feeling low and being in agony. As a friend, I’d only suggest not to delve in depression and agony forever. Well, writing on mental health would be a different exercise altogether.
Back to the issue of ‘Monday blues’, my pastor would say, we don’t need to feel the blues if we are able to rest in God knowing He is in control. That hit me hard!
Normalization is a journey, I know! Maybe we can normalize this journey too.
