With the smash hit of 2023’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, everyone’s been waiting on their third instalment. The movie, Beyond the Spider-Verse, was initially rumoured to be released in early 2024. Still, due to the complex animation style and extensive plotline, it was only natural to be delayed. So it was a treat when the animators announced a short film, The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story, on 27 March 2024.
In collaboration with the Kevin Love Fund, they have created the lesson, “The Hero Within,” a lesson plan with a creative storyboard activity for students who want to express themselves through drawing and writing. The Spider Within revolves around the main character of the Spider-Verse series, Miles Morales, getting overwhelmed with his mountain of responsibilities, both as a teenager in school and as Spider-Man. One of the most unique aspects of Spider-Verse is Miles’ relationship with his parents and how caring they are. Jefferson Morales, his father, immediately senses something is wrong with Miles after he turns down a movie night.
The scene that follows is filled with terrifying imagery of Miles’ inner thoughts and he has an intense panic attack. The animation with the sound design feels as if you can feel his anxiety and stress. He finally reaches out to his dad and opens up about the current state of his mental health. The “The Hero Within” lesson plan aims to get teenagers like Miles to open up to their parents. Mental health can cause people to hold their burdens to themselves and The Spider Within shows us that it’s okay to share them.
Attaining inner peace is a common aspiration for many of us, but it can often seem like a difficult goal to achieve. However, we have discovered that embracing certain attitudes and actions can make a significant difference. It’s not about agreeing to everything that comes your way or being a pushover. Instead, it’s about saying “yes” to specific things that can help you find peace within yourself. So, let’s learn about the top five practices for attaining true inner peace.
Adopt Gratitude:
Adopting gratitude is the easiest way to unlock our true inner peace. Every morning, we should reflect on something we’re grateful for, no matter how small. Gratitude is more than saying “thank you.” It’s recognizing the good in our lives, which can significantly impact our well-being and peace of mind. By embracing gratitude, we can appreciate the present moment and find joy in everyday things. Say “yes” to practising gratitude and experiencing lasting inner peace.
Acknowledge Discomfort:
To find inner peace, it’s important to face discomfort rather than avoid it. Avoidance can lead to more distress in the long run. By embracing discomfort and confronting challenges, we can build resilience and cultivate inner peace. Acknowledge discomfort as a part of life and try saying “yes” to it instead of avoiding it.
Be Present:
Mindfulness is about staying present and engaged in the moment. It means focusing on what’s happening now rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. By saying “yes” to the present moment, we can say “no” to distractions. Mindfulness encourages us to experience the world through our senses. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth the effort. After all, the present moment is the only one that truly matters.
Accept Impermanence:
Life is a constant flow of change. Everything changes, and nothing is permanent. Accepting impermanence means letting go of our attachment to specific outcomes and learning to flow with life’s rhythm. Embracing impermanence leads to true inner peace and helps us appreciate each moment as temporary, memorable, and precious.
Embrace Compassion:
To achieve inner peace, we should embrace compassion. Recognize suffering in yourself and others and act to alleviate it. Treat yourself and others kindly, even in challenging situations. This shift replaces judgment with acceptance and opens your heart to empathy. Saying “yes” to compassion transforms relationships with others and yourself. So, what’s stopping you from saying it? Say “yes” to compassion and make a difference.
The internet is a kingdom where memes reign supreme as the digital language of our time. Be it the iconic “Distracted Boyfriend” meme to the infamous “Woman Yelling at Cat,” these bite-sized pieces of humour and relatability have become ingrained in our online culture. However, beneath their seemingly innocent facade lies a complex web of psychological effects that can deeply impact our mental health.
At first glance, memes appear harmless, serving as a quick laugh or a momentary distraction from the chaos of everyday life. Yet, their influence goes far beyond a simple chuckle. Memes have the power to shape our perceptions, attitudes, and even our emotions, often in ways we may not fully comprehend.
One of the most significant psychological effects of memes is their ability to evoke emotions. Whether it’s humour, nostalgia, or even sadness, memes have a unique knack for eliciting visceral reactions from their viewers. This emotional response can be both a blessing and a curse for our mental well-being. While a well-timed meme can provide a much-needed dose of laughter, it can also exacerbate feelings of anxiety or depression, especially when the content hits a little too hard.
Moreover, memes have a tendency to spread like wildfire across social media platforms, creating a sense of communal bonding among users. In a world where loneliness and isolation are rampant, this shared experience can foster a sense of belonging and connection. However, this sense of belonging can quickly turn toxic when memes are used to perpetuate harmful stereotypes or ideologies, leading to feelings of alienation or exclusion among certain groups.
Furthermore, the constant barrage of memes can contribute to information overload and cognitive fatigue, both of which can take a toll on our mental health. As we scroll through endless streams of content, our brains are forced to process an overwhelming amount of stimuli, leaving us feeling drained and overwhelmed. This phenomenon, known as “digital overload,” can impair our ability to focus, concentrate, and regulate our emotions, ultimately leading to increased stress and anxiety.
But perhaps the most insidious aspect of memes is their potential to distort reality and perpetuate harmful narratives. With the rise of deepfakes and manipulated images, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to discern fact from fiction in the digital realm. This blurring of the lines between truth and falsehood can have profound implications for our mental health, eroding our trust in others and undermining our sense of reality.
So, what can we do to mitigate the psychological effects of memes on our mental health? Firstly, we must approach memes with a critical eye, questioning the underlying messages and assumptions they convey. By cultivating media literacy skills, we can become more discerning consumers of online content and protect ourselves from falling prey to misinformation or harmful stereotypes.
Additionally, we must prioritise self-care and set boundaries around our digital consumption habits. This means taking regular breaks from social media, engaging in offline activities that bring us joy, and seeking support from friends, family, or mental health professionals when needed. By taking proactive steps to safeguard our mental well-being, we can navigate the digital landscape with greater resilience and self-awareness.
While memes may seem like harmless fun on the surface, their psychological impact runs deep. From evoking emotions to shaping our perceptions of reality, memes have the power to influence our mental health in profound ways. By approaching memes with a critical mindset and prioritising self-care, we can harness the positive aspects of meme culture while mitigating the potential risks to our well-being. After all, in the age of information overload, it’s more important than ever to guard our minds against the unseen dangers lurking behind every viral image or trending hashtag.
World Mental Health Day is observed every year on October 10. It was first observed back in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health. The objective behind this day is to raise awareness about mental health issues and destigmatize the topic to have an open discussion about mobilizing efforts in support of mental health. Here at Exhibit, we’re all about tech, and of course, technology does play a role in mental health. In today’s world, social media seems more happening and fun than people’s regular lives which led to a rise in these platforms having a strong link with issues like depression, loneliness, and negative feelings in general. However, social media does not comprise tech as a whole and there are many ways in which tech can play a major role in improving your mental health. Below, we’ll take a look at the way technology can help with mental health:
Apps
The search for mental health services on the internet can be intimidating, especially in a world that is so driven by technology. However, if you’ve wanted to address your mental health issues but are nervous to do so in the real world, there are many remote options at your service. Be it taking therapy online or using mental health apps, one can get help virtually if not physically.
Mental health apps are convenient and accessible, they can prove a source of support for people to occupy their minds, relieve stress, track their mood, or maintain a routine. An example could be the meditation apps which allow people to improve breathing and relax. There are also apps like Fabulous which allow users to build a daily planner and practice self-care.
Websites & Helplines
People with access to the internet and their phones can avail of a number of services to help them through a mental health crisis. People can use the tools available on the internet to find information about mental health problems, symptoms, and treatment options. In India, there are a number of online portals like Suicide Prevention India Foundation and The Mitram Foundation which provide confidential emotional support to people going through a mental health crisis in their lives. People seeking immediate mental health support in India can reach out to the numbers listed below –
Mitram Foundation – 08025722573 or 9019708133
AASRA – 91-9820466726
Lifeline Foundation – 9088030303
E-Therapy
The internet has made mental health treatment more accessible. E-Therapy programs have made it easier for people to access therapy and do so without having to leave the comfort of their homes. People do not necessarily need to sit with a therapist face to face and can get help with the help of the internet or mobile devices. E-Therapy has also allowed some people to tackle the stigma that has been attached to mental health issues for years.
Virtual Activities
With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing people into their homes, a rapid rise of virtual events was witnessed. There were virtual music shows, stand-up comedy events which were hosted from the comedian’s home, and much more. These virtual activities have now become a part of pop culture and surely help people with managing their mental health issues as they help in reducing anxiety and depression.
Minimalism is a word that’s often stylized by a number of people these days, but do we really know what it actually means and what it holds behind the curtains? Many people define minimalism as an art of effective organization where you clear the clutter and give importance to the only things that are really necessary for you, but is that enough to describe minimalism?
What is Minimalism?
People define minimalism as the ability to live with only 100 things and stick with them till the end of life, to buy a studio apartment and decorate it with only white colour, or to eat the same type of food till your appetite bursts out one day and you say “I’m done with this.” No, minimalism is not at all about repeating the same things, stuff and food, but it is all about keeping what you need the most and living life in a bare minimum and simple form.
History of Minimalism:
In the mid-20th century, most countries were at the core of post-war trauma, and everyone struggled to settle down in life. Due to war, most families were insecure about the life ahead. They were not sure about the war’s end and its consequences, which became the crucial reason people started buying tons of unnecessary stuff for future use, which is how consumerism reached its prime.
In the next few decades, people learned to adjust to post-war life, but the financial crisis was still at the doors. During the same phase, a large number of artists started preferring simple geometric shapes and lines over complicated ones. In their art forms, be it a painting, architecture, infrastructure, interior design, or other products, they influenced people in being minimalist. Though there are no specific whereabouts of where minimalism started initially, most experts say it first emerged in New York City, somewhere around the 1960s.
Misconceptions about Minimalist lifestyle:
The most common misconception about people living a minimalist life is that these people can’t afford a well-enriched lifestyle, and that’s why they prefer to sacrifice the number of things in the name of a relaxed way of living, styling themselves as minimalists. But actually, it’s quite the opposite. Decluttering your house and life in the simplest way and holding onto the most necessary things has its benefit. As the things you now hold are carefully picked and have a purpose of serving you more conventionally, which indirectly adds a meaningful experience to your life.
Practising Minimalism:
As the rest of the world enjoys billions of things, adding more clutter to their lives, it’s not easy to keep yourself away from purchasing things. But having more is not the way to live life to the fullest. Practising minimalism will surely take some time, effort and energy, but if you stick to the goal, you’ll feel more relaxed, and at the end of the day, you will learn how not to desire more.
Minimalism encourages us to live in the moment, pursue our passion, focus on our health, grow as individuals and find purpose in our lives. Following a minimalistic lifestyle positively influence one’s mental health and adds relaxation in life, which matters the most. We never thought or planned how to deal with the pandemic life, but when it hit and everything went shut, we learned the process of identifying what is essential in our life and having the courage to eliminate the rest. In short, we learned to live like minimalists. So, what’s the problem in carrying on?
Minimalism can be helpful to get rid of anxiety, depression, even schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder. Here are a few of its benefits.
> Mental Clarity
A minimalistic lifestyle encourages you to maintain a clean and peaceful environment that ultimately makes your house more spacious and helps you to have a clear approach. When you declutter things from your house, you feel relaxed as it equips you with additional space, the same thing happens with your mind, and it allows you to think more positively and clearly.
One can be more creative and productive when less materialistic things surround them as it makes the soul calm and composed. For example, when many things encompass your house and office space, your mind wanders around, recklessly offering loads of visual cues to trigger unwanted thoughts and memories, resulting in losing concentration. The very process of decluttering and minimizing your space can be great for your mental health, as it gives you mental clarity and helps you focus on your life or work.
> Have Less, Save More
It’s important to understand minimalism as a way of life means no unnecessary stuff in your house and no random thoughts on your mind. But having a full home doesn’t mean you live in clutter, minimalism is all about what you really need, and it varies from person to person.
Whenever people visit malls or e-commerce sites, they see lots of things, and most of the time, they consider buying one of them and sometimes even more, but before going ahead, they should understand that new things only give you instant satisfaction, which stays only for a few days. Though if the collectible is a necessary one, then it’s okay to shop, but if it’s not, then you’re going to enjoy it for a moment and then you’ll put it on a shelf or in a closet and never think about it again.
Following a minimalist approach doesn’t mean you avoid purchasing anything at all; it just means if you’re thinking about buying some stuff, then give yourself time, think about its use in the real world. Then after a week or two, if it still stays in your mind, go for it, but if it doesn’t, then it’s not worth having as it’s just going to add extra space in your house.
> Extra Time
Lockdown forced everyone to work from home, and we all ended up in a house trap of daily chores; before the lockdown, most of us were dependent on maids and other family members, primarily mothers. But during the lockdown, when we started helping out with house chores, we realized that real hard work lies here and having more stuff in the house doubles the work.
Likewise, in your free time, when you think of cleaning your room or when someone asks you to help with the house cleaning task, especially during festivals – you see the collection of dishes/curtains/clothes that you haven’t used yet or used in months. You see a couple of throw pillows and teddy bears on your couch, hundreds of old newspapers under the tea table, several numbers of toys/gifts in the cupboard and for the first time in life you don’t feel excited after seeing these things. Instead, you find yourself bewildered by all of the stuff as they’re going to take your free time with the additional cleaning, and the lack of space.
If you’re undergoing additional stress because of the things you own in the house, then what’s the point of having them? Get rid of them and use that daily/weekly cleaning time to do something better for yourself.
> Management
If something out of place turns on your panic mode or when you need something urgent, and you forgot where you exactly kept it last time, then this one’s for you. Practising minimalism makes you stick with only necessary items, and this leads to proper management.
Suppose you store your things in a specific way, like all the electronic items in one box, all the stationery items in another and so on followed by a naming sticker on each box. In that case, this will save your time when you’re looking for them as you’re already aware of their exact whereabouts. Such slight changes will help you to live a life that is more fulfilling and well managed.
> Saying No to Wasted Weekends
If you often find yourself in the dilemma of whether to say yes or no to someone you adored or to your friends or the weekend parties, then it’s time for you to consider minimalism. When people attend weekend parties or subsequent celebrations, they usually gossip about others’ lives, what they’re buying-wearing, who’s dating who, and discuss how someone is progressing in life, where they’re planning to go for vacations, and the list goes on.
It’s okay if you’re leaving all the party talks at the door, but if these discussions harm you mentally, then you’ve to rethink about attending such parties. As these discussions and conversations are only going to affect your mental health and add more stress to it. It’s better to evaluate your friendships and circle at the right time; sometimes, saying no is better than stressing over it, and there’s no harm to stay within your home and chill with your people, the real ones who care about you.
These are a few ways in which minimalism can heal your soul. Do hit us up on our social media channels if you’ve any suggestions; until then, stay healthy, stay safe!
