Wellness

Many of us are under the impression that mental health or lack of it has to do with the absence or presence of mental disorders. However, mental health is more than that. Even if many of us do not suffer from any mental disorder, it is quite obvious that some are mentally stronger than others and have more of an ability to achieve what they set out to do. Others quit easily or are easily shaken by events. As such, many mental health experts are trying to study what exactly contributes to mental health and what we can do to make sure that we stay positive and cheerful in our outlook. Naturally, this kind of study is being called ‘positive psychology’ – some of the main characteristics that are a sign of mental health are as follows.

·         Ability to face problems – A person with good mental health will have a more measured response to problems and will not let small things prevent him or her from enjoying life. Many of us are so affected by the problems facing us or by what has happened in the past, that we are simply unable to enjoy the present. While it is important that we learn from our past mistakes and that we plan for the future, it is also important that we do not let these thoughts weigh us down so much that we forget to enjoy the present. By constantly worrying about the past or the future, we are affecting our present, which is the only real thing that matters to us. Try practicing meditation as a way to overcome anxiety and to develop the habit of enjoying the present.

·         Ability to overcome problems – Almost of all us face problems on a daily basis – some are trivial and some not so. The ability of people to overcome every kind of adversity is referred to as their resilience. While some people do handle stress better than others, what many are not aware of is that you can train yourself to handle stress and adversity better. By learning to cope well with stress, you are ensuring that you stay mentally strong at all times no matter what adversity you have to face.

·         Achieving the right balance – Our mental health suffers if there is an imbalance in our life. For example, we have to maintain a proper balance between our work life and home life, and not let either one rule over or affect the other. We need to balance the time we spend with others with the time that we spend in some quiet solitude. Similarly, there has to be a proper balance between how much we work and how much time we take off to relax, between exercise and rest, between the time we spend sleeping and the time we spend in various activities. Achieving the right kind of balance in all these will ensure that we stay mentally strong and that our mind is always in a state of alertness.

·         Being flexible – We all have certain opinions and principles. Having principles and opinions is a good thing since it shows that you have given some thought to what you want out of life. However, being very rigid about them may set you up for a fall. Having very high expectations about ourselves may make us more vulnerable to failures and can affect our mental health. It is very important that we allow ourselves to be emotionally flexible. If we experience a range of emotions in a particular situation, we need to feel free to express them and then deal with them. Many, due to long held opinions, are unable to do so and just deny these feelings. This kind of emotional rigidity can result in mental health problems.

·         Realizing one’s full potential – Being mentally strong allows us to realize our full potential. We all know people who have realized much more than what they had potential for while some are unable to do so. The first step is of course to be aware of the many wonderful gifts that have been given to us. Once we become aware of the potential within us, we need to take steps to put this to good use for ourselves and for the community in general.

Hopefully this information will act as a true guide to some important health topics and provide you with not just motivation but many practical tools to enable you to start taking care of your health today. Remember, your mind and body are two of your most valuable assets and by taking proper care of them you will ensure that you enjoy your life to the fullest.