Letting the Light In: Harry Styles Interview And Learning It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
- Young Horn
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
I watched an interview between Harry Styles and Zane Lowe where Harry spoke openly about vulnerability, creativity, and the fear that sometimes comes with putting yourself out into the world.
Listening to him talk about those things made me realize something about my own life.
For a long time I’ve lived with a lot of fear — the fear of putting myself out there, the fear of being vulnerable, and the fear that maybe the problems I experience in life are sometimes caused by my own actions.
I’ve been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, and for years I struggled with acknowledging how much it has affected my life.
Admitting that you’re not perfect is difficult. Admitting that sometimes your own behavior contributes to the things you struggle with is even harder.
And for me, running away from those realities was easier than facing them.
Running From the Mirror
There have been many times in my life where I thought I was being vulnerable. I thought I was opening up to people.
But the truth is, when I received honest feedback from family or loved ones — even from people who genuinely care about me — I would often shut down.
Instead of listening, I would self-destruct.
Instead of accepting the help being offered, I would turn a blind eye.
It’s easy to forget that our actions have consequences, and it’s easy to convince ourselves that ignoring those consequences somehow makes them disappear.
For a long time, that’s how I lived.
Behind jokes.
Behind sarcasm.
Behind a version of myself that was easier for other people to see.
But it wasn’t the real version of me.
Harry Styles and the Music That Helped Me
I’ve been a fan of Harry Styles for years — going all the way back to his time in One Direction.
His music has always been something that made me feel safe.
And I’ve never been ashamed of saying that.
Music has a strange way of reaching people when they need it most. For me, Harry’s music has always been something that allowed me to speak more freely about what I’m feeling and what helps me through difficult times.
When he released the song “Aperture”, the message of the lyrics stuck with me.
The idea of letting the light in.
That concept has always been something I struggled with.
The Fear of Letting the Light In
Sometimes when life becomes difficult, the easier path feels like shutting everything out.
You convince yourself that you deserve to suffer.
You convince yourself that punishing yourself is somehow the right thing to do.
Instead of opening up and letting people help you, you isolate yourself and accept the idea that you’re just an ordinary person stuck in extraordinary circumstances.
But the truth is, many of us are extraordinary in ways we don’t always recognize — we just struggle to see it in ourselves.
And sometimes the hardest thing in the world is choosing not to live in darkness.
Choosing to let the light in.
Living Behind the Mask
For most of my life, I’ve lived behind a mask.
A facade.
A brave face.
To the outside world it may look like everything is fine, but internally you’re carrying things you don’t know how to talk about.
Mental health struggles can make you feel like you’re alone in those moments.
But you’re not.
Family, friends, coworkers, or even strangers you pass on the train could be going through the exact same thing.
Someone who seems like the kindest, happiest person in the world might be experiencing the hardest day, week, or month of their life.
We just don’t always see it.
Asking for Help
One thing I’ve learned is that I wouldn’t be here today without asking for help.
That’s something I used to be afraid of.
Days can be hard.
Weeks can be hard.
Years can be hard.
But healing doesn’t come from pretending everything is fine. It comes from finding healthy outlets that bring you genuine happiness.
For me, that’s music.
For someone else, it might be:
Charity work
Sports
Art
Spending time with family
Talking openly with friends
The important thing is allowing yourself to be honest about what you’re going through.
Something I haven’t always done.
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
The real reason I’m writing this is simple.
It’s okay to not be okay.
People are out there who care about you.
People are willing to listen to your story.
And sometimes the hardest step is simply telling that story for the first time.
Life may feel overwhelming in the moment, but it isn’t always as dark as it seems when you’re standing inside the storm.
Reach out to the people you love.
Don’t be afraid to try something new.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
And most importantly — don’t be afraid to be yourself.
Because sometimes letting the light in is the bravest thing a person can do.
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