Anxiety and stress are deeply connected to both the mind and body. Anxiety is something that cannot be healed simply by spending money, nor can its resolution-inner peace-be bought or sold. True peace is a matter of love and emotional balance, and whenever it is measured in terms of material value, it fades away.
Anxiety is equally linked to the physical body as it is to the mind. Food plays a major role in anxiety management, but food is most beneficial when consumed mindfully, without any distractions from electronic devices. When food is eaten with the intent of nourishing the body, its impact is much more positive. However, consuming excessively spicy food, fast food, or heavy meals like non-vegetarian dishes can cause digestive distress, such as gas buildup. When this discomfort reaches the brain, it can manifest in negative ways and eventually contribute to stress and anxiety.
Many people advocate for healthier eating habits, such as consuming salads and organic foods, yet they continue to eat heavy, slow-digesting foods like meat. This contradiction impacts not only physical health but also cognitive and mental well-being. Nature, on the other hand, has already structured things in a way that benefits people, local crops and water sources are best suited for the inhabitants of that region. Unfortunately, modern lifestyles often ignore these natural principles, leading to an imbalance in physical movement and overall health.
Our sleep patterns have also suffered due to numerous factors-poor eating habits, irregular meal timing, excessive electronic usage at night, changes in work schedules, and the evolution of work culture, especially with international remote jobs. These lifestyle changes gradually diminish work efficiency and overall mental and physical health.
We must take time to reflect on how much distress we are willing to endure and how our choices impact our well-being. Stress and anxiety are influenced not only by food and lifestyle but also by emotional states. Today, greed has become prevalent -no matter how much people earn, they always desire more. Someone earning 10 million wishes to earn 500 million, while someone with 500 million seeks 1 billion. Earning itself is not wrong, but excessive greed is harmful. As long as work remains fulfilling and purposeful, it keeps the mind engaged in a healthy way after all, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. But when desire turns into excessive greed, it leads to stress and anxiety.
A person’s old age is a reflection of how they lived their life. We must understand that one day we will be the elderly generation; no one else will take our place in aging. Doctors must also adopt an empathetic mindset, treating patients as they would their own family members. Often, a patient’s condition improves significantly just by receiving genuine care and warmth from their doctor. While medicines have their role, emotional support has an impact far greater than any prescription. Becoming a doctor requires significant sacrifice, and they deserve to earn well, but their attitude must be rooted in compassion.
Laughter is supposed to lighten the mind, yet modern stand-up comedy often does the opposite. We must be mindful of what we consume in entertainment, true comedy should bring joy and relaxation, not add stress or negativity to our thoughts.
All of these aspects such as food, lifestyle, emotions, work ethics, and entertainment it shapes our mental health. It is essential to be aware of how our habits, desires, and attitudes affect our anxiety and stress levels.
युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु ।
युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दु:खहा
yuktāhāra-vihārasya
yukta-ceṣṭasya karmasu
yukta-svapnāvabodhasya
yogo bhavati duḥkha-hā
Meaning: A person who practices balanced eating and lifestyle, engages in appropriate efforts in their actions, and maintains regulated sleep and wakefulness—such a yogi finds that their practice of yoga eradicates all suffering.
This is also mentioned in our sacred text, the Bhagavad Gita, which means we must understand its wisdom and focus on self-healing. Self-healing is essentially self-love, if we practice this, anxiety and stress will become things of the past, forgotten entirely.
