Serenity, a NO to anxiety, depression and stress

If Adam and Eve had refused to eat the apple, they would never have been expelled from paradise, according to the Bible. Metaphorically speaking, losing our serenity is like losing our paradise , our inner balance, that ideal state that gives us a sense of wholeness, because we feel that we lack nothing and have nothing in excess.

Maintaining that balance is the challenge in today's world, where depression and anxiety are all too common. Modern life keeps us constantly on the go, setting excessively high goals that we can't always achieve, trying to please others, and constantly adding more tasks to our schedules, disregarding the harmful consequences for both our bodies and minds. This hectic pace of life can overwhelm us, and although we know we need to eat well and get enough rest, the numerous tasks and obligations can't stop, and this constant work puts us under immense pressure.

It's not just the external world we live in that threatens our inner balance; our inner world does as well. That discomfort we feel when we shirk our responsibilities, when we're not consistent with our values, or when we postpone what should have been resolved. And there's more: illness, drugs, alcohol, loss—of a partner, family, job—or specific circumstances like having to live with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (COVID-19). Anything that leads to anxiety, depression, and/or stress distances us from that longed-for and sublime serenity.

And how can we say no to any of these threats? If we want to feel good, we have to learn to choose what is good for us and distance ourselves from those spaces, habits, people, or circumstances that diminish us and steal our precious inner peace.

We can perceive a lack of inner balance when we feel sad, nervous, or anxious; when we have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep at night, or wake up tired and sluggish; when our concentration decreases and we become irritable. When we realize that we are not happy in our daily lives.

If we want to maintain inner balance, we must take care of our mind, spirit, and body. And while it's true that there are no precise formulas for everyone, there are habits we can adopt to help us, and with that attitude, say No to anything that might take us away from Our Paradise .

• Allow yourself to be a person who makes mistakes and don't pretend to be a superhero, accept your flaws and look for ways to improve them.
• Build deep and meaningful relationships with family and friends.
• If doing several things complicates your life, simplify it by doing one at a time.
• Physical exercise is essential. It needs to become a sacred habit in your life, regardless of your age, weight, fitness level, or how much time you have in your schedule.
• Meditate, pray, do any activity that connects you with your inner self and with the higher power you believe in.
• Stay away from toxic substances.
• Rest and sleep at least eight hours a day.
• Eat a balanced diet and if for some reason you cannot do so (the pace of work does not allow it, there are foods that you do not like, you are vegetarian or vegan) look for vitamin and mineral supplements that complement your diet.
• There are surely many more things you can do or stop doing that only you know about to achieve that fulfillment they call Sublime Serenity. Focus, look for them within yourself, and be happy.

 Ramona Ávila Núñez, Ph.D.