It’s undoubtedly the case that your mindset determines how you think, feel and behave. What we tell ourselves about ourselves and the world at large plays a massive role in this regard. If you have the awareness to notice that lately, or for a while, your self-talk has affected you for the worse, it’s definitely time to change that.
Here are 5 mindset shifts for better mental health:
Don’t Take Things Personally
Someone at work ignored you for no apparent reason.
You overheard your family talking shit about you.
There will always be situations – some more justifiable than others – which call for you to take personal offense and react emotionally. It’s part of the human experience.
Just know that everyone has their reasons for doing or saying things, and some of those reasons have absolutely nothing to do with you. Often it’s simply based on difficulties in their friendships, relationships, personality or self-image – which they conveniently take out on you. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
You’re only wasting your own time, mental and emotional energy by fixating on why someone behaved in the way they chose; the possibilities could be endless. In any case, you’re much better off disregarding it and going about your day as planned. The truth is it won’t matter in the end.
I Bring Value to the World
Everyone has their own particular skill or attribute that they bring to the world. Even though this skill might be second-nature to you, it’s important that you’re conscious of it and realize its worth. If you think you don’t have one, dig a little deeper until you’re confident there is something you’re good at.
This realization is especially important if you have self-esteem issues. Your self-image might drastically improve just by appreciating even one thing that can improve your life and potentially the lives of others.
The range here is endless. Whether it’s a career or income-oriented soft skill like persuasive speech (benefiting your own life), or a personality trait that your social circle appreciates like humor, value comes in many forms. Of these 5 mindset shifts, this will be the most valuable in relation to your self-image, an important foundation for better mental health.
It still never hurts to add more to your arsenal and learn more along the way. Skillshare is a platform designed specifically for learning both soft and hard-skills – a potentially great way to increase your income and value. Take advantage of your first month free here.
The Process Is More Important Than the Outcome
Your first instinct when reading a title like this might be that the reward is everything; it’s why you’re working so hard in the first place.
If you pay attention to the process of getting there, however, you’ll see how much you have improved on a personal level.
The long hours helped you cultivate determination. Taking action when your emotions tried to convince you otherwise strengthened discipline. Limiting your distractions enhanced deep focus.
These are all transferrable traits that might stick with you for the rest of your life and encompass many areas. And it can be argued that as much as a desirable outcome is fruitful, a changed self is more so.
Understand and be Able to Detach From Your Emotional Self
Robert Greene, author of The Laws of Human Nature, speaks of this concept in his book and it’s worth revisiting here.
Your emotional self is complex – sometimes beyond your understanding – stemming from periods like your childhood upbringing. It’s powerful and innate, but there’s no doubt that power can be used against you if you’re not aware. Purely emotional behavior can lead to turmoil in your personal or professional life, so it’s important to bring out your rational side when necessary.
It’s not realistic to say that you can suddenly be able to accept your emotional self as is. Consciously examining your emotions can be painful in some instances, but it’s important that you find a way to dig deep and understand them. For example, your anger at the slightest inconvenience might stem from the memory of being treated unfairly by a parent as a kid.
You’ll be able to trace the connection more thoroughly the deeper you think about it. Once the understanding comes, train your mind to view the memory as a thought that does not have to carry emotional strings. Try doing this once a day as a start. You might find that sadness, bitterness or anger will become less intrusive in your day to day.
Emotional regulation is imperative for better mental health, which is why it deserves a spot among the 5 mindset shifts. For a more comprehensive breakdown of this principle and more valuable lessons on human nature, you can purchase The Laws of Human Nature here.
Health is Wealth
Sometimes we get so engulfed in the everyday busyness that we neglect our most important asset: our bodies.
This bad practice is part in parcel of the western philosophy of capitalism. If people are paying more attention to becoming wealthy and are always on the go to that end, it’s no wonder some don’t find the time for self-care.
Always remember that without maintaining a healthy diet, an exercise routine, sunlight exposure, and your consumption of productive information (through books, podcasts and audiobooks), your mental health will always be bad. It all starts with physical health and productive habits. Once this is in order, your mental health will follow.
A great first step is going to the gym consistently or having a running routine. See here for a deeper dive into how physical exercise benefits mental health.