When Reality Feels Heavy
Some days are hard to wake up. My chest feels heavy, my energy feels low, and it’s hard to navigate the world. Sometimes it feels as though I live in a simulation. Wake up, go to work, work out, make dinner, go to bed — repeat. On these days, I find myself looking for a different world, a different reality where I don’t have to live in the present, but instead live in a world of endless ideas, love, and possibilities.
The Comfort of Structure
In the world of fiction, there are endless possibilities; however, even chaos has rules. Fiction follows storylines, character development, world-building, character arcs, and outcomes that just… make sense. Well, at least within the fictional world.
Often times, our reality — our present — is a never-ending series of real outcomes, real chaos, and unpredictable consequences that come with no warning. Blows we are expected to take and essentially “deal with and move on.”
The world of fiction offers a real sense of order. I’m able to dive into a world of characters, creatures, magic, and power and truly feel what is happening — without being in any real danger. I’m allowed to control when my emotions feel too high or out of control simply by pausing my read. I’m allowed to fantasize about what life could be like — whether I’m a princess, an assassin, a soldier, you name it. I can learn real-life lessons without suffering real-world consequences. I can grow mentally and challenge my beliefs. I can grieve safely and fall in love hopelessly.
Living Through Characters
Characters like Manon Blackbeak or Violet Sorrengail allow me to feel things I might be too scared to feel in the real world. I can live through their eyes and experience heartache, excitement, resilience, and power. I can confront my demons, slay a dragon, defend my loved ones — all from the safety of my own home.
Fiction allows me to experience the depths of human emotion, practice empathy, and process my own feelings — all without the risk of real-world fallout.
Taking a Break from Stress
Fiction allows me to take a break from my stressors. It allows me to finally breathe without the constant weight of pressure and responsibility on my shoulders. It allows me to take a break from… well, just being me.
I’m aware that fiction is fiction. It’s only a temporary fix to real-world problems. Casteel Da’Neer is not going to pay my bills, Rowan Whitethorn is not going to do my job for me, and Darcy Vega is not going to make the real world less chaotic. Everyone has their own ways of coping with life’s weight. For me, fiction is my refuge — a world where anything is possible. Sometimes living life through the lens of fictional characters — who endure similar struggles or show up for themselves in ways one can only envy — gives me perspective, hope, and courage. Sometimes it’s easier to process real-world struggles through a character’s challenges.
Why Fiction Matters
Fiction is comforting to me because it allows me to challenge myself and show up for myself, because anything is possible — the characters prove it. It allows me to explore life’s struggles and extremes without fear of being broken. Fiction makes me appreciate the real world just a little bit more.
Your Safe Space
What about you? Do you retreat into a world of books when reality feels overwhelming, or do you find your safe space elsewhere?
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