It’s been a while in the residency program, and looking back at the person I was when I just started, I’ve noticed some subtle changes, which have mainly been contributed by my patients and also my teachers.

I have learned that our human mind is twisted, but it also has the potential to be straightened out. I have witnessed cases that made me wonder in awe. It’s not just about a person’s situation but also about their personality and genetic makeup.

Our skill set involves not just having patience and being a good listener but also being non-judgmental and open. And with each new case, the chains of my mind clang and eventually break.

Behavioral science and neuroscience have come a long way. We have molecules that calm the agitated, help with addictions and cravings, can save relationships, help function better, make sleep more comfortable, manage obsessions and anxiety related to them, and make people less lonely and more hopeful.

In all, with each passing day, I notice a subtle change in me—something that each one of us can cultivate in ourselves. The openness to accept other people’s right to co-exist, even though they are different from us.

As I meet more people who struggle with their mental health, I understand their perspective. Our brain is a WONDER, and some small circuits and chemicals govern how we think, behave, and feel.

And I’m thrilled to learn more about it with each passing day and experience human lives with all its COLOURS.

Dr. Mauni Nagda

❤️🧡💛💚🤍💙💜🤎🖤
23 June 2021