It's okay to be not okay

On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjun was the greatest warrior and, yet, he didn't hesitate in expressing his vulnerability and confusion to Krishn, who guides him towards clarity and right action. Ironically, display of such emotions by men today is considered as a sign of weakness. Boys are raised with the mindset that being emotional equates to lack of control over oneself.

Yet, this doesn't negate the fact that like anyone else, men too are emotional beings. So, instead of suppressing emotions altogether, it is better to regulate them. True emotional regulation involves acknowledging feelings without succumbing to impulses. How can men suddenly become more expressive if they have been conditioned to suppress their emotions for generations?

A possible solution lies in Indic philosophy. It recommends four paths of liberation: Jnana Marg, path of knowledge; Karma Marg, path of action; Raj Marg, path of meditation; and Bhakti Marg, path of devotion. Depending on a person's natural tendency, one can take any path for the spiritual journey. Bhakti Marg is more promising for those who are distant from their emotions.


For the purpose of emotional well-being, it is of no significance which deity one believes in but the 'strength of belief' in that god. It is the intensity of the faith in an entity outside us that gives us an anchor around which we feel less afraid and express ourselves freely.

October 10 is World Mental Health Day