Daniel Harmon is an American writer, producer, voice actor, and all-around cool guy.
He’s the creator of the popular show Rick and Morty.
A fan on Twitter recently asked him a personal, but important question…
“I asked Dan Harmon because I wanted advice from someone who suffers, but is not a professional,” @chojuroh wrote. “This is the most basic, general advice I’ve been given so far, and it’s great. I participate in 4 separate therapies, and treating depression is the least of my worries. I know what works for me, but I knew it would help others for someone in the public eye to say something. Letting out your pain can do a lot of good in the long run, even if you don’t feel better right away.” – @cojuroh
Dan’s response:
“For One: Admit and accept that it’s happening. Awareness is everything…
We put ourselves under so much pressure to feel good. It’s okay to feel bad. It might be something you’re good at! Communicate it. DO NOT KEEP IT SECRET. Own it. Like a hat or jacket. Your feelings are real.
Two: try to remind yourself, over and over, that feelings are real but they aren’t reality. Example: you can feel like life means nothing. True feeling. Important feeling. TRUE that you feel it BUT… whether life has meaning? Not up to us. Facts and feelings: equal but different.
The most important thing I can say to you is please don’t deal with it alone. There is an incredible, miraculous magic to pushing your feelings out. Even writing “I want to die” on a piece of paper and burning it will feel better than thinking about it alone. Output is magical.
Dark thoughts will echo off the walls of your skull, they will distort and magnify. When you open your mouth (or an anonymous journal or blog or sketchpad), these thoughts go out. They’ll be back but you gotta get ‘em OUT. Vent them. Tap them. I know you don’t want to but try it.” – @danharmon
‘scuse me while I get those little dust particles out of my eyes – *sniff*.
This is some of the most enlightening advice I’ve ever seen offered. None of the “try to enjoy” nonsense. A smack of reality and acceptance with a wholehearted gentle push to open and put your feelings, your energies into the universe.
Good guy Dan Harmon, everyone.
See some more of @cojuroh‘s thoughts and feelings here: https://twitter.com/chojuroh
See some more of @danharmon‘s advice and art here: https://twitter.com/danharmon
