We have gained independence from the shackles of the British, but what about gaining independence from the shackles of ‘Log Kya Kahenge’ ('What will People Say?') that prevents us from becoming the real version of ourselves? What about the independence that prevents us from blooming into what we always wanted to be?
How many times have we done or not done something, thinking - “Log Kya Kahenge?” (“What will people say?”) And when things didn’t turn out to be the way you wanted them to be, where were these ‘log’ (people)? They say that they are advising us out of care but we need to understand that when this care prevents you from exploring your choices for your well-being, it becomes a toxic cage.
We need to understand that our life is a series of decisions we make and when these decisions are made due to the pressure of what others will think, we lose the essence of building a life that we want, right?
Will people think that I am weak if I go for therapy? Will people say that I am ‘crazy’ if I seek help? Log Kya Kahenge has a major impact on one’s mental health. It results in less self-care, prioritizing others’ validation over yours which when not received, results in low self-confidence and self-esteem. Moreover, it gives rise to so much stigma and even results in one not seeking help for mental health concerns.
Why do we need Independence From Log Kya Kahenge?
Each person has a distinct identity, opinion, situation and that makes them different from other people. All our fingers of the same hand are not of the same size, right? We are people with different dreams to achieve. If we all do things the way society expects us to do, how will we grow?
We need a society that is not judgemental of the choices one makes for their growth. Log Kya Kahenge destroys so many dreams and thereby, so many lives!
A life led by the choices made by you due to people’s pressure is a life not lived. You have one life and you don’t want to waste it by living it the way others want you to, right?
To succeed, one needs to follow their heart and not the fear of what people will say.
You can’t make everyone happy but you can make yourself happy.
Imagine how many lives we can save if we eradicate the fear of Log Kya Kahenge? Imagine how many people would seek help for better mental health without the fear of Log Kya Kahenge.
How can you help to eradicate the ‘Log Kya Kahenge’ virus?
Know your boundaries - advise people but don’t force them to use your advice.
Avoid judging people solely on how things seem to be on the outside.
Encourage and support people to do what they want.
Most importantly, think about what YOU want to do about a situation and how it will make YOU feel instead of doing things due to the fear of Log Kya Kahenge.
Learning to incorporate these things in your daily life may be difficult at first because we have been brought up with the fear of ‘what others will think and say about us’. However, we need to understand that it’s never too late. We need to become the change we want to see. Always blaming society is wrong because society is made from you and me and together, we can bring a change. It’s high time that we kill the Log Kya Kahenge virus for the betterment of society - for you and me. Let’s strive to gain independence from it. We, together, can outweigh Log Kya Kahenge.
Your mental health matters as much as your physical health. Don't hesitate to take a step towards your mental well-being. If you’re looking at talking to a professional, book your Initial Consultation with us on https://www.themoodspace.com/freeconsultation or write to us at info@themoodspace.com. Take a step towards bettering your mental wellbeing because you deserve it!
Written by - Mahika Solanki