Social Injustice

In today’s society many people are judged if they don’t have the latest fashion looks, materialistic objects, or ideal personality. Majority of the citizens in a civilization would do anything to be accepted into a group of people they think they belong to. However, some people face obstacles such as mental disorders that keep you from being seemingly normal. This leaves room for outcasts, hate and negativity, and regretful endings.

Specifically, I have been focusing on depressive and anxiety disorders as a form of personal study. My goal was not only to understand these fixations as much as to understand my family, friends, and myself. Over my lifetime I have noticed that I am one of these “outcasts”, but I know it is common that other people have this disposition. By being a sufferer of these problems, I always made it an option to make sure no other person would have to feel this low, to get abusive urges, or be on the verge of breaking down.

For example, I have created a friendship with an amazingly beautiful, inside and out, girl through my time being at Brashier. When I met her I knew there was more to the girl than a quiet innocence. Eventually, I came to realize that there was more... that of which many could not accept. Within in the first months of being friends with her, I discovered she had and possibly still self harmed because she was a manic depressive. When I discovered this news, I was heartbroken. Mostly because I have been in her shoes and feared the worst for her. I knew people would look down on her and make her more of an outcast by pushing her out. I didn’t want that for my friend because I knew the silly, compassionate side of her. From this moment, I wanted to protect her and keep her from these annoying problems.

A couple of months into our friendship, I spent the night at her house and met her mother, I realized why she behaved the way she did towards these stimuli. Her mother pushed her to be of the normal societal culture. She wanted her daughter to be a precious, intelligent, and respectful life-like Barbie Doll. As an example, her mother told her that she was going to start a diet the next day even though she was a perfectly normal weight. However, her daughter wanted to be herself by dressing the way she wanted, listening to the music she wanted, and doing what she wanted. All she wanted was for her mother to accept her for so long.

Since my friend had deal with problems such as this, her depression attacked her and she resulted in self harm and a low self-esteem because she felt guilty and not good enough for her family and friends that she was surrounded with. I stepped up and did all that I could to show her that she was worth it and she has a purpose in life. Also, I believe I taught her that it’s okay to be yourself even if you’re a weird person to others. Overall, she reminded me to accept myself more through her support towards me.

In conclusion, I believe my friend faced social injustice from her mother. Mainly because her mother wanted her to be something she wasn’t and wouldn’t allow her to be that way. Society tells us all the aspects of a person we can be that are considered acceptable. Yet, they tell us to be who we want to be in life which is very contradicting. This is especially hard on people that suffer depression because they are vulnerable to saddening emotions and thoughts. I wish more people were considerate of people that aren’t like them so we can cooperate more smoothly as a society.

It's More Common Than You Think!

The human mind races with streams of a sundry of thoughts everyday. Your thoughts may range from various problems with school, family, or friends, or emotions ranging from hapiness all the way to depression. According to a post written by Alina Tugend in the New York Times , "Negative emotions generally involve more thinking, and the information is processed more thoroughly than positive ones, he said. Thus, we tend to ruminate more about unpleasant events — and use stronger words to describe them — than happy ones." Therefore, I would like to pose a few questions. What if a person's life is swallowed hole by negative events with sprinkles of pleasant times? What if their life was full of positivity with few negativity?Would we still focus on all the negative?

Questions like these make me wonder if this could be a leading factor in why depression is becoming more relevent in our society. Could this mean that we are surrounded by more negative influences? Alone, I know I have a lot of conflicting thoughts and ideas due to the fact I constantly battle with severe depression every day and night and I grew up in this generation.

"You are never too lonely, as you may think you are."-Lauren Cain
I quote this for two reasons, such as: many other teenagers suffer with the same issue as I do and depression is always there to taunt with your mind.

Here is a video that explains depression and the types of depression.
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"It is a biochemical change in the brain. It affects an estimated one in eight teenagers in the United States, according to the Center for Mental Health Services, the administrator of the nation's mental health services system (Cnn.com). "

By being a person who suffers with this problem, I know from experience that it's not a weakness that only few suffer from. Information, such as the quote above, encourages me. Especially, to help others understand that you cannot focus on the negativity and you're not the only one who is experiencing this alone. This proves that people understand how you feel. From personal experience, depression is like trying to swim in an ocean with multiple cinder blocks tied to your feet. No matter how much you swim up, struggle, and pull up, you continue to drown and fall deeper into the deep silence. However, it may be hard to understand why people could feel this way, but just know that you don't want to expirence what depression is like.

Through this, another issue arises. 54% of people believe depression is a personal weakness according to the National Mental Health Association study reported in MSNBC Health Today. I am not surprised at these statistics because I have come in contact with many people in fear of depression making them look weak which it doesn't. This severely hurts me because I know many suicides could have been prevented if that person knew that depression is not a weakness and you can seek help.For this reason, if I come in contact with anyone I know that is having these problems, I try to talk them through it and suggest they seek medical help.

In conclusion, people need to see that depression is very common and need to treat the sufferers with care. Trust me, you wouldn't want to live in the mind of a depressive person. It's painful. In the future, I would like to see more awarness campaigns about depression arise because it seems to have little attention for a problem so wide spread.

Inner Reflection

Human beings naturally tend to want to express individualism to their peers, colleagues, and strangers. We do this is many ways by altering our lifestyle. For example, we tattoo our bodies, listen to certain music, pierce our bodies, wear clothes that express our feelings, etc. Between the ages of 18-24 months old we finally become self conscious of who we are. This includes our thoughts, feelings, and sensations. From this period in our life, we begin searching for self expression.

"Teens and twentysomethings try out friends, fashions, hobbies, jobs, lovers, locations, and living arrangements to see what fits and what's "just not me." Midlifers deepen commitments to career, community, faith, and family that match their self-images, or feel trapped in existences that seem not their own. Elders regard life choices with regret or satisfaction based largely on whether they were "true" to themselves." - Karen Wright


If we as humans do not reach full self expression, then we will not have a high self-confidence or gain self determination. Therefore, we wouldn't be satisfied with ourselves. I'm seeing a trend in my generation and with many other generations, young and old; people seem to follow the same ideas, music, path, etc. I notice many of the people going to my school or merely living in my community wear the same type of clothing and participate in the same activities. For example, having TOMS, wearing braids in your hair, having the most expensive name brand luxuries, going shopping, spending money here and there, and many other activities. While all this is happening I am coming to a conclusion that my generation and many others aren't fully happy, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. They follow the crowd, media, and mainstream. I don't really see any of them trying to go out of their way to prove to themselves their sole purpose for being on this planet.

My conclusion has led me to a life of more purpose and deeper thought. I want to share with everyone to find their inner self. I want them to figure out what really makes them happy. I have found my purpose by reaching inside, going beyond my limits, and learning the kind of person I am and who I want to become. I strive to be different and to be irrelevant in life. In which, this gives me the chance to make new experiences and moments in time that many others won't be able to find.

“True and lasting inner peace can never be found in external things. It can only be found within in. And then, once we find and nurture it with ourselves, it radiates outward." -Buddah.

In my opinion, this quote wraps up my thoughts well. It clearly states that once we all find our inner self, then maybe we can share that together and be a more loving and caring species. I'd like for you as my reader to think about yourself-the dynamics of you, the achievements you want to have, how you want others to see you, and what could you do to make this world a better place. Then you shall spread your wings and let it show through your smile and vibrant personality because deep down some where we are all caring in some way.

Thought

What is a thought? What does it mean to think?

This is the first thing I want to cover, even if these questions seem inept. However, have you ever really questioned yourself when it came to a thought? We think everyday, but we don't think about the fact that were thinking. Without a thought, we won't be able to spark an idea and without an idea our realities won't come true.

According to dictionary.com, thought means a consideration or a reflection. Which in our day in time, many people don't really go through their mind and just reflect about anything. In my daily life, I take time and energy to reflect on who I am and what I want to become because I want to fulfill my purpose on this planet. This must mean that thought is a powerful being, positively and negatively.

The Law of Attraction states that if you think a negative thought, you will have a negative outcome. If you think a positive thought, you will have a positive outcome. We all use The Law of Attraction everyday no matter if we recognize it or not. Many people are in bad situations because they give in and stay close-minded. They don't search for the best in a bad situation with open-mindedness. 

"This world, the way you percieve it entirly depends on how you feel about it. Do you want to see a different world? Do you want to have a different aspect? The keys are and have been in your hands this whole time, you may just need someone to show you the door. "-unknown

For instance, many people have grown up not with the best means. As a child they may have wished for a more materialistic or rich life after reflecting about how there life was in that moment. Growing up they would have followed the same  mindset to accomplish the goal of reaching that type of life by going through and completing smaller goals.

Honestly, without thoughts we would not have the very accomplishments that we have today. Someone in time thought of the idea that they should make such and such better. This person's thought could have changed the life of millions by this one THOUGHT!

From the way we humans have looked into our imaginations and chose the best idea to create and place in our own reality to the way we link our knowledge and make conclusions of the observations we make of life. Our thoughts lead to a heap of possibilities. The best way we should follow is using these thoughts together to make this world, this life, a more advanced, more clean, more loving society. Hopefully, one day everyone will consider this concept. 

This video may be long, but it's really enthusiastic and may light a spark in your soul.

About Me/ First Post

"Your entire universe is in your mind and nowhere else. To expand the universe, expand your mind." — Deepak Chopra

Hey! My name is Lauren. That quote above this sentence expresses a thought I like to convey to others very well. As much as I can, I like to encourage people to learn or become more aware of their surroundings and who they are on the inside. Therefore, I am. Well, more about me is that I love to be myself! In my free time I like to study energy works, nature, and other miscellaneous things. Sometimes I may post something funny to anything deep/wise thoughts. Which means, you will never know what to expect from me. (: All I say is go out into the world and create peace and love. So we can all merge together and share this love!

Here are some pictures that could represent me and I really like them.