This week I was struggling with my mind. I wouldn’t describe myself as feeling depressed or having anxiety. I needed a few days to reset myself and the Thanksgiving holiday came at the perfect time. As the leader of my organization, I have tried very hard to meet the demands of mental health concerns within the organization. I have been lucky enough to form partnerships with key people in the community. I am very thankful for these relationships. It took a moment of feeling down to make me realize the importance of dealing with these feelings and overcoming them in a way that best meets my needs. I too, need to monitor my mental health. So, I started Googling mental health and came across multiple articles of ways of taking care of myself and recognizing symptoms, as well as tips to help overcome my low points. I occasionally face moments when my mind gets off course. Typically, I experience these lows during the cold months of the year. I wanted to address these moments before they truly turn into the true definition of depression. I recognize these low moments and I address them the best I can. I hope this post helps others to recognize when their minds veer off course and become negative.
The first point discovered, was the importance of taking care of our physical bodies. So much of our mental health is tied to our physical health. Exercise plays a very important role in keeping us positive and in a good place mentally. We don’t have to hire a personal trainer or become a fitness expert. We must move our bodies daily. The lack of sleep will hinder us mentally. We must allow our bodies to rest and recoup if we want to function at our highest levels. Our diet is another piece of the puzzle if we truly wish to be physically healthy. The phrase garbage in and garbage out comes to mind. Taking in healthy food options keeps our bodies ready for whatever comes our way. Physical and mental health are connected, and we will have a better chance of remaining positive when we are physically heathy.
Another point in this conversation is taking care of our mind and stimulating in in a positive way. This point is reiterated in several of the posts on this site. What we consume mentally, effects our health. We must take care of our minds through continuous improvement and learning. Our minds will become stagnant if we fail to stimulate it through learning and problem solving. Another part to this point is, if we are dealing with true depression, we must get professional help or the support of other people in our lives. Being sure our minds and thoughts are well taken care of is a huge undertaking that involves understanding what our minds really need.
Monitoring our spirituality is another sure-fire way to remain a healthy individual. Not all of us are religious, and that is perfectly fine if it works for you. Spirituality is different for everyone, and it is important each person defines what that means for them. We may choose the religion our families have been a part of, or we may practice mindfulness, such as yoga or meditation. Maybe we do a little of everything. The point is, we must address our spirituality is some way. Whatever we choose, needs to assist us in overcoming our own negative thoughts and set us back on our path of life.
Finally, there are a variety of ways we can remain in a positive state of mind. Simple actions or behaviors will assist you in overcoming those low moments that cause doubt. Music can give us that positive mind and leave us in a good state of mind. People with pets can experience a feeling of unconditional love of a dog or cat. Additionally, we are better off mentally if we hang with people who lift us up and who we lift in return. We need to monitor our positive self-talk or create a personal power statement that get us out of those low moments when we fail to see the day’s achievements. As mentioned in previous posts, journaling allows us to acknowledge the daily wins and interactions with our peers. We all have things that keep us grounded and in a good place. Our problem is we don’t see them always even when they are right in front of our faces. It’s time to recognize our lifelines. If it takes actively listing out these items, we will serve ourselves greatly by doing it today.
What actions are you taking to be physically healthy?
What are you engaging in that is positively stimulating your mind?
How are you monitoring your spiritual health?
What daily behaviors will keep you in a good place mentally?
It took a moment for me to regain some perspective when those low moments hit. The good news for me and everyone is we can recognize and overcome those moments before they spiral out of control. We all hold the power to overcome our negative mind. I want to thank everyone that checked in this week. I hope you all get the opportunity to stay focused on your state of mind and redirect those low moments in your week.
Steven C. Bucks- Leading Conversations
