No Struggle, No Story

That quote got me through some really dark times in my life. By the end of my freshman year in college, I was dealing with a lot of depression and anxiety.

I felt sad. I felt worthless. I felt completely lost.

Things got to the point where I wouldn’t even leave my room. 

It wasn't until I realized that I wasn't alone that things started to get better. Discovering that others in the world were dealing with similar struggles was the first step towards improvement.

You see, mental health is a serious issue so many people aren’t willing to talk about. 

Experiencing first-hand what it means to go through these challenges was eye-opening. More importantly, it inspired me to do more.

I wanted to help other people deal with their struggles and be a small part in a big change in the world. 

Because, well, let's face it, there’s no story without struggle in this life.

Everything changed the moment that concept popped in my head.

A Conversation Worth Having

 

That concept led to the inception of the “No Struggle, No story” podcast.

Not only did I want to aid in the effort to help destigmatize mental health, but I also wanted to make people realize they aren’t alone in their daily struggles.

Helping them understand it’s okay not to be okay is instrumental.

The premise of the podcast is to speak with highly successful athletes about how they managed to turn the adversities they’ve faced in their lives into something positive.

We are probably living in one of the toughest times this country has ever faced. Every single person is going through something every day, and the line between happiness and darkness is very thin right now.

Turn on any news channel and you’ll quickly understand what I mean.

We’re still dead-center of an ongoing fight against racial injustice and a Coronavirus pandemic. It’s easy to lose yourself in a world where stress and anxiety are around every corner.

My goal is to bring a pocket of joy, happiness, and positivity in a world filled with so much negativity right now. 

Times like these make it all the more important to take a step back and focus on what you can control. Everything happening in our society right now is also a great reminder that you can lose so much so quickly.

But there are also three things you can’t lose: faith, love, and kindness.

There are still things to find happiness in every single day. You just have to make sure you’re looking for them. The podcast is simply shedding light on people finding ways to cope and encouraging others to make the best of the life they’re given.

My Self-Worth

My personal fight with my own mental health issues has been no different.

As a tennis player, I was overcritical of myself every single day. It got to the point where a bad practice or a lost match would determine if I had a good day or not. Heck, sometimes even if I had a good week or not. I judged myself so harshly on aspects that were honestly trivial in the grand scope of things.

It wasn’t easy escaping from that mental prison.

But I truly believe the effort in continuing to find things that helped me cope with my issues made it easier to deal with those feelings.

I stopped judging myself on the negative stuff and started focusing on positivity and my process-oriented mentality. Every day is a new opportunity to grow and become a better person. No one can ever take that away from me.

Not even me.

That isn’t to suggest I’ve "solved" my mental health issues. I still deal with those same struggles often. But hey, that's okay. It’s important to understand they might never really vanish but how a change in perspective, for example, can go a long way. 

I also learned the importance of leaning on the support from loved ones. There’s usually a feeling of not wanting to burden other people with your own feelings of depression and anxiety.

I’ve certainly been there.

You can get to the point where you feel like your struggles aren’t worth someone else’s time. You can feel that way without realizing that your loved ones really want to help you be happy. There’s nothing more important than being surrounded by a strong support system of people that love you.

Those are the people that realize your self-worth. Especially in times when you might struggle doing so yourself.

A Small Part in a Big Change

My goal from the very beginning was to be a part of a bigger change in this world. Even if my podcast is only a blip on the radar, I’m fully committed to highlighting the stories of so many amazing individuals.

There are true moments of inspiration when I get goosebumps listening to these athletes open their hearts.

One of my guests, for example, talked about coming over from South Korea and constantly being told he was never going to do anything with his life. He took those doubts as a fuel to become one of the most dominant gymnasts in NCAA history.

It was certainly something to take inspiration from with the social injustice fight going on in this country right now.

Just listening to how he attacked the stereotypes he faced on a daily basis to succeed in life had me leaving that podcast motivated in every way. And based on the reactions from some of our listeners, I know I wasn't the only one.

This whole podcast experience has sparked something within me that I plan on continuing to pursue in some capacity, whether that’s through actual podcasting or a career in mental health. I really believe I’ve found my calling in helping others cope with their mental challenges.

At the end of the day, I just hope to make a difference. If only one person tells me one day that I’ve helped better his or her life, all of this has been so worth it. 

That would be my greatest reward.