Being as the Antidote to Depression

I catch myself surprised by the painting’s wild concept. A woman celebrating within a nebula. Her body language is alive. She kicks up her foot and throws out her arms, ending with jazz hands. Her transparent shadowed self merges with the swirling cosmos. It’s a visual manifestation of an introspective celebration.

There is no ulterior motive behind this work—no strategy to go viral, no algorithm to accommodate, and no commission or sale in mind. It’s part of a larger series, existing purely for its own sake.

Removing all the outside nudges uncovers something essential within me, something I don’t always know exists until I see how it emerges from the painting. I think it’s one of the purest ways of being. Some people say it’s between oneself and God; I tend to think of it as between me and the universe.

I’ve been fully immersed in adding the finishing touches for the last two weeks, 24/7, and it seems to me that if I can finish off her knee, the painting will be done.

I am acutely aware of how outside influences can drain my energy. To counteract that, I carefully curate everything I absorb—from the music I play to the movies I choose to watch. For instance, it’s essential that I care about what happens to at least one character in a film; if I don’t care about any of the characters, I immediately turn it off. When reading articles or essays, I look for authenticity along with the author’s life lesson that shows how they overcame an obstacle. I appreciate rants as long as there’s a wise takeaway, but rants in themselves give me a feeling of hopelessness, so I nix them.

I have zero trust in journalists associated with media groups, and I refuse to go down clickbait rabbit holes. With independent journalists, I gravitate toward well-thought-out takeaways based on facts and credible sources. Their journalistic integrity gives my mind a soothing feeling and inspires my own creativity.

Curating what one absorbs, gleaning the gem of wisdom, and creating from a pure heart and purpose offers beautiful pathways into being one’s authentic self. At least for me, it dissipates depression and unlocks my inner joy.