Amid the uncertainties brought about by the ongoing pandemic, actor Baron Geisler and singer-actor Mikoy Morales have imparted some ways to help keep one’s sanity in check while dealing with the times we’re in.
The two recently appeared on Pilipino Star Ngayon’s Mental Wellness webinar series with physician and life coach Doc Gia Sison as moderator, as well as mental health advocates Dr. RJ Naguit, Roy Dahildahil and Ramon Fernandez III as fellow guests.
Baron and Mikoy have been using their voice to raise awareness after their own mental health struggles and journey.
Here are some top takeaways from the online discussion:
Take care of yourself spiritually. Baron shares that as soon as he wakes up, he makes an effort to “connect right away to God” to ask for guidance throughout the day.
The 38-year-old actor also tries to practice a mindset of kindness. “I just keep my heart open and always think about kindness. ‘Be kind, be kind.’ ‘Share the love.’ Gumawa ka ng sarili mong mantra,” he said.
Read self-help books or the Bible. Try reading books that can actually be a tool for your self-improvement, and a source for words of encouragement and inspiration.
As Proverbs 12:25 goes, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.”
Connect with your core group. Open up to someone or to a group about what you are going through.
Mikoy explained, “Madalas kasi when we theorize what’s going on sa atin tapos lalo na kung hindi naman natin siya na-cocommunicate rin ng maayos sa mga loved ones natin or sa mga kasama natin mag process ng mga bagay, it just stays in our head, and messes us up even more.”
“Just always be open to your friends and family,” Baron added.
Have low expectations but high acceptance. Less expectations can bring about less disappointments.
Baron shared, “Marami tayong gusto sa mundo ngayon. Madaming struggles. Ako, I just take it one day at a time and siguro for now, low expectations lang and high acceptance para hindi tayo ma-sad kung hindi natin makamit yung mga gusto natin.”
“So, I think ang pinaka-importante is just to be contented with what you have and value it. and Make do with what you have.”
Ask yourself the right questions. Do not forget to check in with and look after yourself.
Said Mikoy, “Don’t shame yourself for the answers you get from yourself when you ask these questions, kung okay ka ba, kung hindi ka okay.
He added, “It’s important to ask ourselves the right questions how we are, na parang it’s like a personal inventory, it’s day-to-day thing. Process it with the people who you think would understand and acknowledge kung okay ka na, kung hindi ka okay, kung defense mechanism mo lang siya, and kung may bubog na nauungkat dahil sa mga nangyayari ngayon. I think there’s no other way to deal with it but to really just deal with it.”
Try to find the positive in the negative. Overcome negative situations with positive thinking.
When asked for one word to describe how he’s dealing with the pandemic, Baron said “romantic.” “Kelangan ko kasi i-embrace ang lahat ng mga nangyayari kasi para siyang bittersweet love affair sa mga nangyayari sa akin. Parang sa isang relationship, sa pandemic na ito, there are good things, blessings na nangyari, there are also struggles, ngarag feelings and all of the above.”
“To accept everything nalang with what’s happening in our country, with my own problems and situations, so I’d rather just acknowledge everything and I’m correcting, not fantasizing or daydreaming about these things, but just enjoying the right (things)… and making peace with everyone and everything, and conditions that come in in this situation of mine.”
Just know that it’s okay not to be okay. Everyone goes through through times, but it would just be temporary.
Mikoy said, “You’re not broken. What you’re feeling right now is valid. Siguro yun lang yung perspective mo ngayon but you’re good, you’re fine. Okay lang ‘di maging okay. Okay lang di ka okay ulit but you’ll be fine.”
Watch the full video here.
