mental health | Write into the Light

May 15th is the feast day of Saint Dymphna, the patron saint of mental illness. For more information click here.

We do not know for certain how we will react in a particular situation until we are actually there. Multiple factors influence our thoughts, emotions and actions at any given moment. These factors may be outside of ourselves or come from within.

As humans, we all suffer from ailments, whether it is for a week with the flu, years with cancer, or a lifetime with mental illness. We must not forget that like the flu and cancer, mental illness is not a weakness or character flaw. It is an affliction of the mind/body that colors the way our soul/spirit experiences this world. Without help it is too much for us.

Have you ever prayed for someone? Do you ever ask others to pray for you?

Today, I ask St. Dymphna to pray to God for me and for all those who have mental illness.

We feel that our past traps us in a constant state of despair and suffering. We blame others for our unhappiness. While our human condition tells us that we have to depend on things outside of ourselves for our peace of mind, this simply isn’t true. Our past experiences may have shaped who we are today, but they do not have to continue to affect us in negative ways.

We are not responsible for what happened to us as children, but we are responsible for doing something about it as adults. We have choices, now. Choices that may not have been possible before. We can remove ourselves from abusive and unsupportive environments and people. We can seek out positive and trustworthy individuals, and ask for their help. We need to find others who have found healthy solutions to difficult problems, and learn from them.

We are not unique in our experiences. There will always be others who have had worse experiences than us and others who have had more fortunate ones. Therefore, to compare ourselves and our situations with others is futile; it will only lead to either feelings of superiority or inferiority.

The way to true peace is to simply face the facts of our own situation, and accept what we cannot change while changing what we can. Praying for the wisdom to know the difference is vital to our plan of action.

Today, I will ask the Universe, the Divine Light, my Higher Power, the Holy Spirit, my God for the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

P.S. Happy Mother’s Day!