Mental health is not a destination, it is a process. It is about how you drive, not where you are going.
Healthyplace.com
FIND PURPOSE
Having optimal mental health means overall emotional wellbeing and the way you feel about yourself, your relationships and the ability to manage your feelings and deal with difficult situations.
Finding purpose involves engaging in work or activities that feel useful and passionate to you and to humanity. Investing in relationships that matter, that enrich your life and that of others you care about. This is both rewarding and meaningful. When you live a purposeful life, you have focus because you base your decisions, thoughts, feelings and actions around your life’s purpose. This undoubtedly enhances your mental wellbeing.
UNPLUG
Social media helps us stay connected and combat loneliness; however, occasional time off social media reduces anxiety and allows you to focus more on yourself than what others are up to. Social scientists call this social comparison cycle which can have a serious impact on your self-esteem.
Social media is known to bring out competitiveness in all of us. For example, reactions and comments, for some people, is a measure of how popular they are, and most people strive for likes and comments. This type of competitiveness is not healthy and can cause anxiety and depression.
Although research shows the impact is small, taking frequent breaks from social media can, over time, improve your psychological wellbeing.
Unplug and reconnect with more important things, like walks in nature.
EXTEND KINDNESS
Extending kindness promotes empathy and compassion – these are fundamental for your mental health because they improve your sense of connectedness and sense of positivity.
Any act of kindness done intentionally and purposefully can boost feelings of confidence, happiness, and optimism. This practice encourages others to return in kind, contributing to a more positive community. Be part of this for your own mental wellbeing.
Research shows that kindness is the antidote for isolation and creates a sense of belonging and reduces stress.
AFFIRMATIONS
Affirmations is the art of using powerful and positive words to promote feelings of self-worth and personal power in the way we perceive life.
Affirmations are proven ways to self-improvement because they help rewire your subconscious mind: this takes patience, persistence, and commitment, just like you do physical exercise to buff up.
Research shows that the way you think about yourself has a powerful effect on how you feel and behave e.g. if you believe you can’t do something because you are not good enough or well equipped, you feel defeated and demotivated and will not take any actions towards doing that something.
For detailed and personalised affirmations, contact us.
BALANCED DIET
Eat your way into a life filled with better moods, higher self-esteem, and improved brain function by having a balanced diet. Research tells us that the stomach has its own brain and it’s extremely responsive to stress. Unhealthy foods can not only cause digestive imbalance but can increase anxiety and depressive moods.
A well-balanced meal i.e., fruits, vegetables, and supplements set you up for fewer mood fluctuations, a happier outlook, and the ability to focus and concentrate.
SENSES
Appeal to your senses. Our senses enable us to experience the world we live in.
Ears (hear) – listen to soothing music that uplifts your mood and makes you feel good.
Eyes (see) – look at the wonders of the universe and express gratitude.
Nose (smell) – appreciate smells, especially from nature that appeal to your soul and uplift your spirits.
Mouth (taste) – be in the moment as you enjoy a meal or drink. This will ground you in appreciating delightful moments which enhances your overall well-being.
Eyes (sight) – look around you and appreciate creation. When you appreciate beauty instead of looking for flaws, it improves your mood and sense of gratitude.
Intuition – above all listen to your inner voice. Prayer is speaking to God, intuition is God speaking to us.
CONVERSATIONS
Once in a while engage in meaningful and deep conversations with a trusted friend. TRUSTED.
Having deep conversations with family and friends promotes wellbeing and connectedness.
Research suggests that people who engage in deep conversations lead a happier life. However, be mindful of how you disseminate your innermost fears, dreams, or secrets because not everyone who calls themselves a true friend has the best intentions.
READING
Books play an essential role in our lives by fuelling our imagination and providing knowledge about the world.
Indulge in books that compliment your life and enhance your emotional and mental wellbeing. Books have the capability to transform a life, offer solutions to a problem or a situation and/or put a new perspective on things.
Sometimes when you are feeling overwhelmed, a great book will offer you an escape from reality as you explore imagined worlds, meet new virtual people and be in places you’ve never been. The mind is a powerful source of escapism.
Knowledge is power, find it in books and powerful websites like this
JOURNALING
Journaling is the process of writing down your thoughts. It allows you to process complex thoughts and emotions, which promotes positive self-talk and thinking.
Try and do it daily, this allows you to declutter your mental activities which improve your self-awareness. Research shows that journaling and disseminating your thoughts on paper lowers anxiety and depressive moods.
Self-awareness through journaling changes your mindset, enhances personal growth, spirituality, and programs your mind towards gratitude.
Another therapeutic benefit of journaling is, for example, if someone hurts you and your first instinct is to retaliate in a barrage of hurtful words: instead, write those down and read it back to yourself. Trust me you will feel better and might not even write that text.
POSITIVE THINKING
Every thought accepted as true is stored in your subconscious and becomes a blueprint for how you live your life: make it positive.
Adopting the ‘think positive’ attitude doesn’t mean we ignore our pain or discomforts; it simply means we acknowledge life’s challenges and use positive thinking as a strategy to interpret what’s happening in a beneficial and constructive way to strengthen our resilience.
There are many benefits to positive thinking that ultimately enhances your mental health e.g., lowers anxiety, stress, and depression, improves your coping skills, and some research assures us that it lowers the risks of some physical health problems.
HOWEVER, BE MINDFUL of toxic positivity i.e., family and friends encouraging you to dismiss or ignore negative feelings and emotions and to respond to distress with false reassurances rather than empathy. Usually, it is with good intentions, so be kind.
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