@markduplass
May 24, 2026
Mark Duplass – actor, filmmaker, musician – suffers from depression and anxiety. He’s amazingly transparent about it, which is such a benefit to us all. Here’s an instagram post of his and my response to it. Love it so!
@markduplass I’ve been experiencing a period of fairly consistent stability in my mental health. Not perfect (never is) but I’ve found myself pretty grateful for this time. So I decided to double down on that natural gratitude with what I dorkily call “active” gratitude. I hunt for things now. I talk to myself during my workouts, hikes, and quiet moments. “Relax, dude. Enjoy.” I remind myself of even the tiniest things that make me feel centered, alive, peaceful, purposeful (morning coffee, a nice interaction at Trader Jo’s, and extra-large server tip, etc.).
So with this higher baseline, I found myself feeling strong enough to try something interesting that I want to recommend. I reached out to a handful of the people in my life who know me best. Who love me enough to be honest and caring in their responses. And I asked them this: “What’s something you consistently notice in me, a potential blind spot I have, that you could pinpoint and, in doing so, maybe help me transcend it and improve my life.” And the funniest thing happened… they all came back with the exact same thing (essentially a version of “don’t forget to put on your own oxygen mask”). And I’ve spent the last few months patiently working on it. Messing it up a lot. Trying to laugh at myself when I do. But I’m getting better at it. And I get to share this process with those people who helped me. And it’s brought us closer. In general, it’s been so lovely.
How are you all doing? Please feel free to share the good and the bad on here. I’m happy to read the comments and I know others like to read as well.
As always, I am sending you a 100-foot wave of hope. And know that if you find yourself heading somewhere scary and new, @988lifeline is a call/text away.
@myhappiermind Thanks Mark. Your lesson is one my bestie said to me just yesterday. I am walking through the world trying TOO hard not to be an asshole. I am assuming that because I am fortunate, it is my duty to rush to the aid of everyone else. I am forgetting that I too am a tiny vulnerable human and need nourishment and fortitude. Because, hey, without effort I generally already am not an asshole, so why am I putting so much precious energy into that? Can I please just have faith that I’m a mostly good human and that when I screw up I will realize it and make amends? Can I consider myself and my needs too when I am out in the world? Can I have some level of respect for someone else’s tough journey without the pressure to rush in to fix it, heal it, do everything for them? Yes, oxygen mask on self first. Thanks for the validation Mark! Any further notes on exactly how you’re doing this would be appreciated. Sending love.
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