The Wrong Way To Use Healing Manga

Healing Manga: It's Not Just a Spa Day for Your Soul (Probably)

We all love healing manga. Those sweet stories with gentle characters, calming landscapes, and enough wholesome goodness to make your teeth ache a little (in a good way!).

But let's be honest, are you using them right? Turns out, there's a wrong way to approach these beacons of tranquility.

Mistake #1: The "Instant Cure" Approach

So, you've had a terrible day. Your boss yelled, your coffee spilled, and your internet died. You think, "Aha! I'll dive headfirst into a healing manga!"

You grab your favorite volume of "Yotsuba&!" expecting instant serenity. You expect the cuteness to instantly melt away all your stress.

Newsflash: it's not a magic pill. Binge-reading heartwarming stories to escape reality might just delay dealing with your actual problems. It's like putting a bandage on a broken leg.

Mistake #2: Replacing Real Life with Fictional Bliss

Healing manga often depict idealized versions of everyday life. Characters effortlessly make friends, overcome obstacles with smiles, and generally exist in a bubble of positivity.

Trying to replicate this in your own life, expecting everyone to be as understanding and kind as the characters in "Flying Witch", is setting yourself up for disappointment.

Real people are messy, life is complicated, and sometimes you just need to vent, not bake cookies with a magical cat.

Mistake #3: Ignoring the Underlying Themes

Many healing manga explore deeper themes beneath the fluff. "Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou," for example, uses its gentle pacing to contemplate themes of change and the beauty of a fading world.

Rushing through panels, focusing only on the superficial sweetness, you might miss the underlying messages about appreciating the little things or finding joy in simplicity.

It’s like eating a gourmet meal and only tasting the salt. You missed so much!

Mistake #4: Comparing Your Struggles to Their Trivial Ones

Okay, so the protagonist of "Hakumei and Mikochi" is struggling to find the perfect mushroom for her stew. You're dealing with existential dread and crippling student loan debt.

Comparing your problems to the characters’ minor inconveniences can actually amplify your feelings of inadequacy. It is like, "Why can't I find joy in tiny things like they do?"

Remember, it's fiction! Their struggles are often designed to be relatable, not comparable.

The Right Way: A Side Dish, Not the Main Course

So, how should you use healing manga? Think of it as a complement to a healthy lifestyle, not a replacement for it. It's the calming chamomile tea after a long day, not a substitute for actual therapy.

Enjoy the art, appreciate the stories, and let them inspire you to find beauty in your own life. But don't expect them to magically solve all your problems or turn your life into a saccharine-sweet fantasy.

Use healing manga as a reminder of the simple joys that already exist around you. Maybe even take a page from their book and try being a little kinder, a little more patient, and a little more appreciative of the world around you.

And maybe, just maybe, bake some cookies with a friend. Even without a magical cat.