Mental Health

Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment and being aware of what is going on both within you and around you. This can be a difficult and daunting practice to cultivate, as being mindful asks you to slow down and learn to accept rather than resist your present experience. Below are three simple ways you can start incorporating mindfulness into your everyday life.

There is a saying that says, “What we resist, persists.” This saying can ring true in many ways. This can be particularly applicable in the case of feeling emotions. Instead of resisting negative emotions, make peace with them by identifying what you are feeling and where you are feeling it. Learn to process these emotions with non-judgment.

The human brain spends much of its time wandering, whether it be while working or performing routine tasks like running errands. Mind-wandering occurs when a person is thinking about something other than the task, such as past events or things yet to come. The brain goes into default mode, allowing all thoughts to pass through. It can be helpful to understand the pros and cons of mind-wandering, including how it can affect mental health.

There will be times in your life when you need to experience stress, as it is essential for your growth. Simply put, low-level stress is actually healthy, leading to feeling engaged, stimulated, and able to experience everyday life without it feeling like too much. As good as stress can be, there comes a point when it can begin negatively impacting your life—taking a toll on you physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually.

Engaging in art has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety levels and have a positive impact on mental health and well-being. One of the eight components of wellness is creative wellness, and making space to embrace your inner artist can have a ripple effect in others areas of wellness. Perhaps you choose to engage in art on your own time, but you can also find healing through participating in art therapy.

As a human, you most likely experience stress, depression, and anxiety on some level. Thoughts and feelings may get overwhelming at times and have you questioning how to stop letting them take up so much time and space in your life. The bad news is that thoughts and feelings are part of the human experience and are here to stay, but that is only bad if you let them become bad. The good news is that there are practices, such as meditation, that can help you navigate low moods and difficult emotions with greater ease.

Forgiving another person for the pain they have caused can be challenging. Carrying around a grudge can also be a significant burden on one’s mental health and relationships. Substance abuse may also develop as a coping mechanism. Suffering behind long-held resentments or anger can cause immense unmanageability that can be remedied through forgiveness and letting go of those painful feelings.

If you ever feel overwhelmed by racing thoughts and anxiety, it can be helpful to cultivate a practice of journaling to experience peace of mind.

The power of your breath is remarkable and is oftentimes forgotten. Although the saying “Just breathe” is cliche, it is also true. Although, it can be difficult to “just breathe” in moments of extreme emotion, like anxiety, anger, or grief. Intentional breathwork can help you regulate powerful emotions like these, so it is helpful to know about them and practice them before you need them.

Consistently getting a good night's rest is an essential ingredient in the recipe for good health. Sleep regulates bodily systems and plays a significant role in the brain storing information received throughout the day. Without adequate sleep, an individual cannot function properly. It is understandable how someone having trouble sleeping would turn to prescription medications. Unfortunately, sleep drugs like Valium are not a long-term solution for sleep disorders. It can make the condition worse and lead to addiction.

Tending to your physical well-being is just as important as tending to your emotional well-being through various therapies that help you explore your inner worlds and heal past and present emotional wounds. Because healing from a holistic perspective—integrating wellness for the mind, body, and spirit, not just the area specifically affected—is so important for achieving and maintaining sobriety and good mental health, massage therapy is often used as a relaxation and healing technique while in treatment for mental illness and/or addiction.

Integrating mindful movement into your life can be beneficial in easing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Because of the role the mind-body connection plays in healing, movement is an integral piece of healing—mentally, emotionally, and physically. Mindful movement helps you get in touch with your mind, body, and spirit.