At Mindless Labs, we often think of our work through the lens of an old parable from Desmond Tutu about a group of monks meditating by a river. It goes like this:
Once, in a serene village nestled by a flowing river, a group of monks meditated by the riverside. They noticed a disturbing sight—bodies were being swept downstream, and it was evident that they were drowning. Distressed by the tragic scene, the monks felt compelled to act. Without hesitation, most of the monks jumped into the river to try to pull the people out of the water. They worked tirelessly, exerting all their energy to rescue as many people as they could. However, amidst the flurry of activity, one of the monks remained still on the riverbank, observing the situation intently. Seeing this, the others called out to him, urging him to join their efforts and help. But the still monk calmly shook his head and said, “I must go upstream to find out why these bodies are ending up in the river.”
This story reminds us of something important when it comes to mental health: we can’t just treat the symptoms of anxiety and depression—we need to understand the underlying causes.
At Mindless Labs, we recognize that there’s value in offering immediate relief to those in need. Sometimes people need tools to manage overwhelming emotions in the moment, just like the monks saving those in the river. But there comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.
Anxiety and depression aren’t just isolated incidents of distress. They are often symptoms of deeper, systemic issues—whether they be unresolved trauma, chronic stress, societal pressures, or imbalances in daily life. Our goal is not just to pull people out of the river when they’re drowning but to help them find the source of their struggles so they can reach a place of sustained well-being.
Through our free mental health platform, we work to empower individuals with tools and knowledge that go beyond just coping. We explore lifestyle changes, emotional awareness, and deeper healing practices that allow people to navigate their mental health journey with a more holistic and proactive approach. We don’t just want to be there when someone is in crisis; we want to help prevent the crisis from happening in the first place.
Like the monk, we’re walking upstream—looking at mental health in its entirety, recognizing patterns, and addressing the root causes so that fewer people end up struggling in the river. Instead of just reacting, let’s get ahead of the game and build real, lasting mental wellness so we can not just survive—but thrive.