Member-only story
It’s okay to feel overwhelmed and sad (and to be unable to articulate why)
Eight years ago, The World of Coca-Cola held a contest calling for video submissions that captured “moments of happiness” for inclusion in their museum’s welcome video. The winning entries showcased beautiful moments of marriage proposals, weddings, baby announcements, and other joyful celebrations.
I desperately wanted to be part of this magical video, and I convinced a friend to spend a chilly fall day capturing content as part of my submission. To my delight, I made the cut, and a clip of me laughing was included in the final version.
My submission undoubtedly captured happiness — smiles, giggles, and goofy outtakes. But, honestly, I wasn’t feeling very happy. At the time, I was struggling personally and professionally, and I felt stuck, lost, and sad.
What made me feel worse was that there was nothing “wrong” with my life. There was no death, break-up, divorce, job loss, or other reasons that are generally considered acceptable for feeling down.
Through a wonderful support network and a lot of conscious, consistent effort, I was able to move past this challenging time. But I never forgot those feelings of isolation and hopelessness.
I am sharing this video as a reminder that not everyone who appears happy actually is. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed and sad (and to be unable to articulate why). Please know you’re not alone.
