Positivity and Emotional Wellbeing

Are you in control of your behavior and emotions? If so, you are emotionally healthy and can build strong relationships, handle challenges and recover from life’s setbacks. It can be a rewarding and beneficial to improve your emotional health. Do you want to build resilience, boost your mood and add enjoyment to your life?

What is emotional and mental health?

Your psychological well-being is referred to as your emotional or mental health. It includes your ability to deal with difficulties and your feelings, the way you think and feel about yourself, as well as your relationships and the quality of them.

Some may think being free of anxiety, depression and other psychological problems means being of good mental health, however, it is much more than that. To be mentally and emotionally well, rather than simply having the absence of those psychological issues, you need to be feeling good and positive. Basically, if you simply aren’t feeling bad, that isn’t the same as feeling good. Instead of thinking negatively, you need to be thinking positively. Even if you aren’t a negative person with negative feelings, you still need to do positive things to achieve emotional and mental health.

Some aspects of a person who is emotionally and mentally healthy are:

·         High self-esteem and confidence

·         The ability to overcome adversity and deal with stress

·         The ability to have fun, laugh and love life

·         A sense of purpose and meaning in their relation and their activities

·         The ability to adapt to change and learn new things

·         A balance between play and work, activity and rest, etc.

When you are faced with life’s curve balls, these positive characteristics will help you cope and will allow you to live life to the fullest though strong relationships and meaningful, productive activities.

Resilience in emotional and mental health

Everyone goes through tough times and experiences emotional issues, even those who are mentally and emotionally healthy. It is a normal part of life to feel anxiety, stress and sadness.

People with healthy emotional and mental health have the ability of resilience, which is the difference. They are able to bounce back from trauma, stress and adversity because they have the necessary tools for coping and keeping a positive outlook. They are able to remain flexible, focused and creative in good times as well as bad.

Resilience requires the key factors, such as being able to balance emotions and stress. The ability to recognize emotions and appropriately express them helps to avoid getting stuck in anxiety, negative moods and depression. Having a network of strong support is another key factor. Resilience can be boosted if you have trustworthy people to turn to for support and encouragement!

Physical health and emotional and mental health are connected

The body and mind work together, therefore taking care of yourself and your body is the first step towards emotional and mental health. Your emotional and mental well-being will be greater when your physical health is optimal. For example, exercise not only strengthens your lungs and heart, but it releases power chemicals and endorphins that lifts your mood and energizes you.

Certain activities and daily choices you make affect how you feel emotionally and physically.

>  Exercise to lift your mood and relieve stress. It is a powerful antidote to anxiety, depression and stress. Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day for optimal mental health benefits. 

>  Rest! The majority of us need to sleep seven to eight hours each night to function properly and to the optimal level.

>  Practice good nutrition. If you know what you are putting into your body and how it affects your mood and energy, the better you will feel.

>  Sunlight for 10 to 15 minutes each day will lift your mood, so while you are exercising, socializing or gardening, give yourself a dose of it!

>  Avoid drugs, cigarettes and alcohol, which has long-term consequences for your emotional health and mood.

Take Care of Yourself!

Endorphins are released when you take care of yourself, which contributes to feeling good. They can be released with physical exercise, positively impacting others by building self-esteem, practicing self-discipline, as well as managing your levels of stress, which can take a toll on emotional and mental health.

Do not allow negative emotions and stress build up. Instead, pay attention to your feelings and needs and try maintaining a balance between enjoyment and daily responsibilities. You will be more prepared to handle challenges if you take care of your body, mind and soul!

- Erin F.