We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Aditya Dikka a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Aditya, sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
I think mental health has never been more critical than it is now. One of the many reasons for this is that we live in a generation where people often project idealized versions of their lives on social media. This creates a world where people constantly compare themselves, as if they’re in a race, leading many (including me) to feel like they’re falling behind in life.
To overcome this, I try to meditate daily. It may sound simple and even silly, but we live in a constant rush, where our minds are constantly overstimulated. When we take a few minutes to stop and do nothing, allowing our brains to understand that it’s okay just to be, we can truly engage with the present moment. This allows us to live in our lives, rather than in thoughts about our lives.
I also make it a point to call friends just to say hello. It might seem small, it might seem brief, but those moments of human connection remind me that others are there to support me, just as I am for them. And if I can share one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: if you have someone you love—your family, friends, or anyone you care about—don’t hesitate to reach out to them. Shamelessly text them, call them, or visit them. Let them know they’re not alone. We all need a little help sometimes, and just knowing that someone cares can make all the difference.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m an actor, an artist, and also a world traveler in progress. I love music and have learned to play several different instruments. I’ve also done a few song covers on my YouTube channel and TikTok. But primarily, I’m all about acting. What excites me most about acting is that I get to live different versions of life. Acting for me is not about lying or pretending; doing it has been teaching me to know myself a little better every single day.
Every role I take on challenges me to explore different aspects of my personality and pushes me to grow both as an artist and as a person. Through my craft, I hope to connect with audiences, evoke emotions, and maybe even inspire others to see the world from a different perspective. For me, that’s the most exciting part of what I do.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The first one is being persistent. I believe that it’s okay to change lanes, face setbacks, or even leave behind things that no longer fulfill us, but the key is to persistently move towards things that we love and are excited about.
Secondly, practice self-belief. Even when doubt creeps in, remind ourselves that we are exactly where we need to be right now and trust that life will work out fine.
Lastly, I’ve learned that people are different, and that diversity of experience is a strength. This exposure to different backgrounds and cultures has given me a broader perspective on life and has taught me the importance of empathy and open-mindedness.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
The biggest area of growth has been learning not to apologize for existing or for making mistakes. Instead of beating myself up for not meeting my own standards, I’m trying to give myself the gift of self-compassion and move on to the next thing.
I’ve also learned to practice gratitude in a new way. By simply saying ‘Thank you’ for every little thing that I usually take for granted—’Thank you that I’m healthy,’ ‘Thank you that I can move my body freely,’ ‘Thank you that I have a job,’ ‘Thank you that I missed my bus,’ ‘Thank you that I felt overwhelmed today,’ ‘Thank you that I met a cat on my way home tonight,’ and ‘Thank you that I get to feel these things’—I’ve found that genuinely trying to be grateful makes my days feel five times better.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13441989/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adityadikka/
Image Credits
“Companion” Short Movie, “This Last Night” Movie Poster
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
