It is time to talk about The Suicide Link.
The silence is deafening.
The silence I speak of is the one about suicide. With the recent back-to-back suicides in the
news making headlines, many of you are being awakened to the epidemic of suicide.
However, it is sad to think that more deaths have to occur to wake up the rest of humanity to what is really happening as there are thousands of others in your own hometown, perhaps
your own household, which may be occurring.
It is long overdue that we begin this discussion – in ANOTHER CONTEXT.
We hear the deafening screams and cries of grief AFTER
someone passes, but rarely do humans hear
the cries for help before suicide happens,
and this is WHY suicide happens.
With everyone’s head buried in their phone… humans miss the
signals and signs of a lonely soul in despair.
Take a look around your own neighborhood, work place, household, or
school… are you aware of those around you?
Are you ‘in touch’ with your loved one’s state of well-being? Are you witnessing signs that you are simply blowing
off as “someone having a bad day that will pass” as opposed to someone’s real
cry for help?
STOP. LOOK. LISTEN. PAY ATTENTION. Perhaps it is time to do
this to a greater degree.
What can we learn going forward?
When you 'hear' something from someone - do not dismiss it believing it will pass. The truth is that the more people who believe 'tomorrow is another day' and things will get better, the reality is that for the one who is combating or dealing with what just escaped their mouth from their brain or heart will not pass... it will fester, grow, spiral into a place you cannot reach the more that days pass.
THIS IS REALITY.
With everyone in a rush to ‘get somewhere,’ ‘do something,’ ‘or
be something,’ in their own bubble, with the barrage of social media “look at
me” selfies and cute animal videos, humans miss the signs of other humans wanting to
be treated with a little respect, kindness and above all, a listening ear.
With everyone quick to rip down, tear apart, and criticize …humans
forget there is another human on the receiving end of this.
With everyone taking for granted what they have still
griping, there are millions of others who feel lost, with darkness and demons
swirling on the inside who feel misunderstood, who cannot bear any more
negative energy barking at them in stereo.
Again, I urge the world to pay attention to not only listen
but HEAR (there is a difference).
Pull back and take a look at what is going on.
The extremes of excessive
talking, truth, chattiness and incessant rambling or the silence of seclusion
and restlessness, isolation emotionally and private self-loathing – there is a
dark side that every human on the planet wrestles with at some point.
I know this world very well, I see it every day as a life, health
and wellness communications coach.
What I have learned through the work I do is that humans are
mostly on the pathway of self-sabotage or self-destruction with the words they say inside of their humans to the searching soul
within themselves as they combat the daily communications of the
external world as lone warriors.
While my work is helping just one person at a time, my hope
is that even if just one person reads this blog, that I can bring awareness to
save a life by sharing.
If you think this can help someone, please share it.
We need to change the conversation and communication.
HERE ARE SOME
PERCEPTIONS VS. REALITY SIGNS OF POTENTIAL SUICIDE:
Perception: Some
people may see self-deprecating humor.
Possible Reality:
Behind the laughter, someone is really crying.
How we can shift it: Yes,
life can be funny, but masking it with
humor is not, your feelings are real – let’s address them and talk about
them.
Perception: Some
people may see modesty in owning one’s accomplishments.
Possible Reality:
Behind the modesty, is someone chipping away at their own self-worth believing
they are not ‘enough.’
How we can shift it:
You are more than your accomplishments. While your accomplishments may matter
to you, YOU matter more just as you are.
Perception: Some
people may see an inner critic who is hard on themselves.
Possible Reality:
Behind that critic are voices who tell the critic worse things because a critic
is hardest on themselves even beyond the surface of what you hear or see,
spiraling into a pool of lower self-worth.
How we can shift it:
You became your own worst critic because you listened to the critics. You don’t need to listen to them. What you are here to do isn’t about being
judged by anyone, your contributions are uniquely yours, there is value in what
you bring, because no one else can do
this. Stop believing that you do not
matter. You do.
Perception: Some
people may see a complex individual with something to prove, or feeling the
external pressures by others to prove something.
Possible Reality:
Behind the mask of ambition lies a person who is desperately trying to
accomplish something in order to have a reason to stay alive another day or to
appease imposed proving to loved ones of why they should be here.
How we can shift it: You are not invisible. Every word and action you
do, can contribute to the highest and greatest good – as you are, you are a
catalyst for change being YOU. You can
change one life with one smile, one word, and one positive act. Feel good about
that – because that has its own special merit. You are allowed to breathe and
BE as you are, it is WHY you are here to simply be. This has its own value just
as much as doing.
Perception: Some
people may see someone ‘extremely busy’ with no time.
Possible Reality:
But in reality, they are cocooning somewhere trying to get through another day,
hoping to fill enough time to pass, or finding a reason to matter in the world
to continue to exist.
How we can shift it: You do not need to fill your schedule to the
point of exhaustion to prove your value to the world. In the spiritual bank of all you have already
done, it is an overflowing abundance of energy with its own vibration. Be easier on your soul, you deserve to bask
in JOY, it is your human right.
Perception: Some
people seem to have it all.
Possible Reality:
That isn’t what they are looking for… they are looking for something that makes
it worth having it all.
How we can shift it: Each person questions the bigger vision of
life. Everyone. One’s quest is usually to be in search of or
continue to seek the answers. Sometimes
the answers we find defy the expectations.
Other times the answers may not feel like enough to fulfill the pocket
of the question. Without any resolve, all answers to the bigger questions seem empty until the human reconciles it with the soul's urging.
READ THAT AGAIN.
But beyond this, the only way we can shift it all is to open
up a conversation. However, most humans
would rather be blind to this discussion than open the conversation.
For anyone reading
this who wants to have this conversation, I invite you to join me… let’s have
one.
What do I see? I see
behind every mask, there is really a cry that says something much more.
There are days that are hard for everyone. It is here I will
say don’t give up, but seek help, find balance and know that every moment is a
precious one and we must do our part to BE AND STAY AWARE for others as much as
we need to achieve balance of emotional and mental wellness.
No human is immune to imbalance. It is a work in progress for
all humans, no matter who you are.
But we do need to be kind to each other through the daily
struggle. We need to be mindful and
aware of how we show up and how we can help see signs from others.
I feel it is important for me to write this so that if you
have a loved one in your life appearing to be ‘A-okay’ on the outside with a
few of these above signs…
DO NOT ASSUME. CHECK IN… DO NOT buy into only what you perceive, there
could be a totally different reality than you perceive. But you won’t know
unless you ask.
The power of “How are you?” has potential to be more
powerful than you know.
DO NOT just ask it without listening. L-I-S-T-E-N to the answer.
Don’t just gloss over it in everyday conversation because
most people do NOT want to listen, rather they only want to talk. LISTENING to the answer to that question CAN
SAVE A LIFE.
It’s time to listen… AND HEAR to prevent suicide… above all
it takes the initiative to reach out, help, refer or provide a refuge of
solutions and assistance…
So here is your call to action:
If you or someone
you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Beyond this, open
your eyes and ears before it is too late.
Respectfully
providing awareness, awakening, and peaceful provisions…
Namaste.
