Six Tips for Fostering Mental Health
- Maintain an active spiritual life. Those that practice their spiritual faith report greater happiness as well as other benefits.
- Take ownership for your contributions in all situations. The only person we can change is us. It is difficult to own and not blame because in our relationships that is a vulnerable way to live. For mental health and intimacy to occur though, we must do this as a first step.
- Practice gratitude and find things daily to be thankful for. Numerous studies have shown the psychological, physical and spiritual benefits of a lifestyle of gratitude.
- Develop and invest in community. We need others in our lives to be healthy. We also need a place to be open and allow others to share in our burdens and us them.
- Know how to relax to help manage stress and pressure. Meditation and relaxation exercises have been shown to be an effective way to reduce stress and even lower depression.
- Understand how to have healthy boundaries. Boundaries with ourselves and others help us live a balanced lifestyle. We are able to say no when we need to take care of ourselves.
M. Scott Peck said that “mental health is an ongoing process of dedication to reality at all costs.” I believe that while mental health has many facets, the list above represents some of the core of those components. In order to achieve the things above, we must all be honest about ourselves and those around us. If we can understand and own our strengths and weaknesses, we can do what we need to be healthy. Mental health is truly an “ongoing process” of honesty and discovery. As the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 139:23, 24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.”
Are we willing to act upon those things that God is doing with us? I believe if we are, we will be healthy in all ways.
~Mike Vaughn
