Carla Dibello On Mindfulness, Meditation and Compassion
As we approach World Mental Health Day on October 10, the entrepreneur and celebrity style insider shares her thoughts on how giving back can have a positive effects on one’s psyche
Since the onset of the pandemic, mental health has become more of a centralised, mainstream topic than ever before. And it makes complete sense as I think we’ve all had to be more sensitive towards our own mental health throughout these uncertain times. Since the beginning of it all, symptoms of anxiety and depression have increased exponentially across the globe. Paired with conflicts and struggles of all kinds all over the world, these last few years have truly tested our mental health, collectively and individually.
With so much volatility, it’s inevitable that we have internalised some of this collective stress and made it our own – and it also makes sense that we’ve all had to incorporate some techniques or coping mechanisms to prevent it from affecting our mental health.
Creating space is something I started doing somewhat subconsciously at the beginning of the pandemic – and far more intentionally as the year progressed, as creating boundaries was absolutely essential for my mental health. It helps draw the line between what is ok for me and what is not, and separates my needs, perspective, and feelings from others. Maintaining clear boundaries also provides a buffer that prevents me from being in a constant state of reaction.
I took up my meditation practice with more consistency, limited my intake of daily news, and read books that had nothing to do with current events. I also took long, intentional breaks from any kind of screen for periods of time (there have been multiple studies that connect people spending over 4-6 hours a day in front of a screen with a higher rate of depression than people who do not). However as the pandemic continued and influenced our personal lives more and more – and as the world got more divisive, outside influences became harder to ignore.
When the entire world is going through so much at the same time, personal boundaries are a necessary starting point for mental health – but they also aren’t enough. It’s easy to become engrossed in our own difficulties and tune out to the needs of others. But that’s not good for us or for those around us. What we really need for both our mental health and for those around us, is a heavy dose of compassion.
The word compassion is literally defined as ‘suffering together.’ It is a combination of having empathy for the suffering of others and the desire to help reduce their suffering. When we attempt to put ourselves in the shoes of others to try to understand their distress, it gives us a better perspective on not only how to help, but also how to connect. And this is how we work together towards solutions that can benefit us all collectively.
With so much global unrest, it can be easy – in fact it’s only human to forget that we never truly know what others are going through. Our own emotional pain can make it difficult to feel natural compassion for others. And yet exercising our own compassion in moments like this is more critical than ever.
For one thing, there is a direct relationship between acts of compassion and an increase in personal well-being. Helping others increases our feelings of joy and being connected to the world. It also rewires our brain to see the world in a more positive way, which I think we can all agree would come in handy right about now.
Compassion is also a contagious act. It encourages others to do the same and inspires those around us to be the best versions of themselves. It reminds us that no one is perfect and that even those who do not think like us still have equal value as people.
And while it sometimes feels like humanity may have lost its ability for compassion, the good news is that compassion is just like a muscle. The more we exercise it, the stronger it gets. So the next time you find yourself frustrated with someone or in a conflict, try flexing that compassion muscle and see if you can tune in to what they are going through emotionally. You may be surprised as to how being compassionate towards others will allow you to be more compassionate with yourself, too.
Photography: Efraim Evidor. Styling: Jody Hassan. Carla Wears: Top, Dhs550; Trousers, Dhs2,286, Both Iris & Ink At The Outnet. Hair And Make-up: La Loge. With Thanks To Sls Dubai Hotel & Residences
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s October 2021 issue