By Dr. Gbonjubola Abiri
Late last week, Mr Tee showed up in my practice. He was well-dressed and appeared successful. From the outside, he looked like someone living the dream. What a lot of people didn’t realize was that the current economic realities were taking a toll on his business, health and wellbeing. He confessed that while taking stock mid-year, he felt he had fallen short significantly.
“I’ve been feeling tired. Not the kind of tired that sleep fixes. I wake up exhausted. I get irritated easily. I can’t concentrate. Things I used to enjoy feel like chores.”
He paused to think deeply and responded: “Doctor, I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
And then, I asked him a question he wasn’t expecting.
“When was the last time you checked in with yourself?”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, not your bank account. Not your blood pressure. Not your business targets. Not your children’s school reports. You. When was the last time you stopped long enough to ask yourself, “How am I really doing?”
The room fell silent.
After what felt like a long minute, he smiled sadly and said, “I honestly can’t remember.”
As we reach the halfway point of the year, there is increased pressure as many of us are reviewing our finances, evaluating our careers, checking the progress of our goals and making plans for the months ahead.We
We are constantly comparing how everyone appears to be succeeding. Very few of us take time to assess the one thing that influences every area of our lives, our mental well-being.
We service our cars regularly because we understand that neglect leads to breakdown.
We schedule annual medical check-ups because prevention is better than cure. Yet many people expect their minds to keep functioning under relentless pressure without ever stopping to ask whether they are emotionally running on empty.
Perhaps this is your opportunity.
Take a quiet moment and ask yourself a few honest questions.
“How have I really been feeling lately?”
“Am I constantly anxious, overwhelmed, or emotionally drained?”
“When last did I laugh wholeheartedly?”
“Am I sleeping because I’m rested or simply because I’m exhausted?”
“What have I been carrying alone?”
These are not signs of weakness but of self-awareness.
Life has a way of keeping us busy. We become so focused on reaching the finish line that we often ignore the condition of the person running the race.As
As you step into the second half of the year, remember that success is measured not only by what you have achieved but also by who you are becoming.
There is little value in accomplishing every goal if, in the process, you lose your peace, your joy or your health.
So today, before you make another plan or pursue another target, ask yourself one simple but powerful question:
“How is my mind really doing?”
Your answer may be the most important conversation you have with yourself this year.
Remember there is no health without mental health.
Dr. Gbonjubola Abiri is a consultant Psychiatrist, Associate Lecture and Mental Health Advocate.