I talk a lot about mental health on my author platform. But it isn’t the only thing I’m interested in. Since mental health, positivity, affirmations, and self-care are buzzwords lately, I think it’s important to recognize that there are a multitude of things that contribute to our overall mental well-being.
There are two main reasons I talk about mental health. One, because I think many serious mental health issues can be reversed and corrected over time and with the use of brain exercises that brighter minds than mine have discovered, instead of trying to cover the symptoms with pills that do more harm to our bodies than good. It’s not a simple process, and the person has to be willing to go through it and have a support system in place to encourage them, and help them get through it, but I do believe it’s possible.
Second, while mental health issues are rising, the majority of people don’t have serious mental health issues. And there is a lot of focus on ‘fixing ourselves’. It’s great to better ourselves, of course. But it’s possible to focus so much on fixing ourselves, that we don’t enjoy our growth journey.
It’s great that science has learned so much about how our brains work, and it’s useful for us to know these things, so we can reflect on how we’re doing and see if we need to make any changes to the way we live. I like to keep it simple. Yes, I like to share complex information about how the brain works, but when it comes to mental health tips, I like to keep it simple. Something to bring you back to the present for a moment, to breathe, and to notice the good things around you.
We are meant to live life. To enjoy our world. To enjoy each other. We all have shortcomings and things we can work, areas we can improve in, traumas we can heal from. It’s a fact of life. But if we’re constantly looking at our shortcomings, we’re missing out on our strengths and talents.
Mental health is such a broad topic, it can be easy to get lost in it, but really, for the majority of people it comes down to really simple things. Take a break. Breathe. Notice the people and things around you. Unplug occasionally. Take a walk. Pick a flower and really look at it. Journal. Show appreciation. Exercise. Eat healthy foods. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t do it all perfectly. Enjoy every bite of whatever you choose to eat.
Live your life. Notice what makes you happy and gives you joy, and what doesn’t, and try to build habits that sustain your joy and happiness for longer periods of time. It’s a journey. We get to try new things and find what works for us. We should enjoy the journey as much as possible!
So, if you’ve been feeling like you’re constantly focused on improving your mental health, and are feeling a little discouraged, take a break. It’s okay to be who you are right now. You are not something broken that needs to be fixed. Focus on your strengths for a change and find enjoyment in what you’re currently doing.