Having a Positive Mindset is Key to your Happiness

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“Having a positive mindset is key to one’s happiness” is the inspiring message that captures the journey of Mr Samkelo Chiliza, a third-year Medical student from the Wewe area in, eThekwini Municipality, who recently published a book titled: Have a better look at things.

Chiliza’s book is a rendition of his life experiences, but specifically his own mindset which affected his behaviour. ‘We always sabotage ourselves with negative inner thoughts that consume our lives. We end up with low self-esteem and fatigue daily. Anxiety starts to set in and our nervous system is now apprehended in an unrestful state. Self-sabotaging individuals may be conscious of their behaviour,’ he said.

For him, having a plan and working hard to achieve his goals saw him perform exceptionally well in Grade 12 and being accepted to study Medicine at UKZN. ‘I believe that behavioural therapy can help break rooted thought and behaviour patterns while enhancing reflection and self-control. A person’s goals and values can be reconnected with motivational therapy. Do anything you feel is suitable as long as you head in the right direction,’ commented Chiliza.

Having always had a fascination with the mind and the working of the brain, Chiliza said he studied Medicine because of his interest in learning more about the human mind and relating it to how evolution took place. He hopes that his book will inspire Medical students to overcome the mental health challenges they experience.

A study conducted at the University of Cape Town titled: The Burden of Depression and Anxiety Among Medical Students in South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Survey at the University of Cape Town found that nearly one in four Medical students reported depression/anxiety diagnoses and were on psychotropic medication, significantly more than age-based expectations. Even more screened positive for risk of depression/anxiety.

‘The truth is that everyone can achieve anything they desire through imagination. The only barrier that we have as people is ourselves.

Have a better look at things is available at Amazon from Friday, 30 September 2022.

Words: MaryAnn Francis

Photographs: Supplied