The Power of "It's Okay"

Have you ever noticed how often we say "It's okay" in our daily lives? It’s a phrase we use so frequently, yet its impact is profound. If you think about it, you'll understand why and how.

Once when I was at a family event, I observed an intriguing exchange. A woman asked Indira aunty when her son was going to get married. Unlike many typical mothers, Indira aunty responded calmly, saying her son had decided not to marry. Simple! The woman, a stranger to me, didn't stop asking more, she needed Indira aunty to 'present' the whole story. Then aunty said, "I asked my son about this, and he clearly stated he doesn't want to marry anyone. I said, 'It's okay.'" They might have continued their conversation, but I was stuck on that phrase: "IT'S OKAY!"

This moment was a revelation for me. I couldn't stop thinking about it. My thoughts raced as I had an inner conversation with myself.

"Isn’t it amazing how 'It's okay' can fix almost anything?"

"Hmm... maybe."

"It definitely is! If something isn’t going as planned, just take a moment, assess the situation, and tell yourself 'It’s okay.' How cool is that? Your mind instantly feels at peace."

"Right. Why didn’t I realize this sooner?"

"It's okay; you have plenty of time to apply this wisdom. Better late than never!"

"Huh..."

"What are you pondering now?"

"I'm thinking about all the times I could have handled situations better instead of losing control over my emotions."

"Like when?"

"Like when I was fake-smiling but seething inside because my aunt said I looked like I was 30 when I was only in my early 20s. Cringey, right? Now I feel pity for both myself and her."

"Why pity?"

"Pity for me because I should have ignored her and her stupid words. I knew what she was like. Or I could have just said 'IT'S OKAY' and smiled! Pity for her because she felt the need to criticize a girl who was like a daughter to her."

"This is nothing compared to the memory that still feels fresh."

"Ugh... How can I forget that?! It might seem insignificant to me now, but two years ago, it was a big deal. I could barely hold back my tears. It was this same aunt who had shattered my pleasant mood that day. I don't want to remember her most mocking, teasing face as she said I too had 'at least one' 'good' dress. I had just smiled at her with great difficulty, holding back tears. Does 'good' only mean her favorite brands of clothing? Or does 'good' mean the most expensive of all collections? Never mind. I am not going to dwell on this anymore."

"It's okay; let her be who she is."

"Hey, girl!"

I snapped back to reality. I was in front of a banana leaf, already eating my lunch. The catering uncle, who was serving lunch, was shouting in front of me.

"Do you want anything? Some ghee? Or sweets? You've been mixing your food for a long time."

I declined with an embarrassed smile and finished my lunch quickly.

From that moment on, I began to view life in a simpler, more blissful, and lighter way. I realized that holding onto negative emotions and overthinking complicated things only weighed me down. By adopting the mantra "It's okay," I discovered a powerful tool for letting go of stress and embracing a more carefree attitude. I encourage you to try it yourself. The next time you encounter a tough situation or someone irritates you, pause for a moment and say "It's okay," either silently to yourself or aloud to the person in front of you. Tough situations will melt away like snow in the summer.