S.A.L.A.D: Self-Affirmation Letters and Detachments

Do you like salad? What constitutes your favorite salad?

While there are controversies about what is considered a ‘salad’, we can agree that the ingredients of a salad largely contribute to one’s preference. Some people prefer fruit to vegetable salad while others think macaroni salad is the best. Some people say that apples and bananas must not be included in fruit salad while others like Caesar dressing rather than vinaigrette. Lastly, just like the heated debate about pineapples as a pizza topping, there is also a similar (hopefully friendly) discussion about raisins as being essential in Filipino macaroni salad.

Now, you might be wondering why I started this article with food. While nutrition plays a vital role in mental health and wellness, I won’t be discussing the technicalities in the next paragraphs. Instead, I will be sharing a more intimate reflection I had recently — one that took me a while to write.

February ended in a flash. Despite the additional day to our year, I felt like I breezed through the month quicker than I wanted to. The month gave me opportunities to overcome challenges including consecutive therapy sessions that were emotionally demanding, my first-time hiking Mt. Pinatubo (which I’ll probably talk about in another article), and an intense panic attack that surprised even myself. March greeted me in a seemingly similar fashion which probably led me to experience levels of self-doubt and tiredness that made me take a step back from my usual pace.

While reflecting on the first quarter of the year, I remembered that I promised writing self-affirmation letters as often as I can, especially when self-doubt or self-criticism creeps in. In the next paragraphs, I’ll share a portion of a letter I recently wrote. Feel free to use it as a guide to write your own.

March 21, 2024

… I know that whatever happens tomorrow, I am where I am supposed to be…

What legacy am I living? Leaving?

You’re doing great, My! You have come a long way, and you still have a lot of room for improvement. You have gracefully used the things that hurt you, that scared and scarred you, and that brought sleepless nights and less palatable days. You are moving, on some days, slowly, yes, but moving nevertheless. You are the version your past self has only dreamt about, at some point, hopelessly imagined and cried for. You are a reminder that good things are worth the wait, the weight. You are an inspiration to some, maybe more than you can count, know, or remember. You lit up certain paths, corridors, rooms, halls, and exposed what were then elephants in these places, when they thought there were none. You are a messenger of kinder words, the ones you once struggled spelling out, even more so, telling yourself and actually believing them.

You are worthy! You matter! You are important!

As I share this letter with you, I proceed to doing my best in detaching from outcomes, from things I have no control over, from self-sabotaging thoughts that block me from the things I want, and from fears and belief systems that hinder me from going outside my comfort zone, so I can do, grow, and be better.

I know I’ll eventually have to create my own S.A.L.A.D. now and then.

So, what is your favorite S.A.L.A.D?

Do you have a question about mental health or psychology? Send an email to northluzonmonitor@gmail.com and your question might be discussed in the next article.