5 Reasons to Promote Mental Health & 5 Ways to do it
Mental health is the well-being of your psychological and emotional self. This is significant because what you think and feel affects the way you perceive and react to the external world around you.
The following five points will highlight the important ways that mental health impacts your life, as well as provide practical tips to help you develop your mental health; promoting a balanced and holistically healthy state.
1) Mental Health is Intrinsically Linked To Physical Health
We all know the rush of happy hormones that result from physical exercise; with the flowing Endorphins, dopamine and serotonin serving as an antidepressant and mood enhancing boost after a workout session.
Mental health and physical health – much like yin and yang – are inseparable and interdependent entities. There have been many studies that showcase how poor mental health can deteriorate physical health; manifesting in ways such as a weakened immune system, chronic fatigue or sleep disorders.
These have a knock-on effect and ultimately prevent you from performing your best.
Way #1: Support Your Body And Your Brain
On top of making sure that you receive enough physical exercise, as well as the perfect amount of quality sleep, nutrition completes the trifecta of body-brain support.
Taking supplements such as Omega 3 is a fantastic way to ensure you are getting everything you need, from assistance with heart health to promoted brain functioning.
Moringa is a nutrient-rich superfood that is also a great addition to any diet, as it is high in antioxidants and has been known to stabilize mood while enhancing neurotransmitters. Check out www.reviewcritic.org for insight and reviews on the brands that will best suit your body-brain support needs.
2) Mental Health Governs The Way We Handle Stress
The world is full of never-ending stress in its many forms, from the demands of the day job to a fluctuating bank account to the looming 
fear of the current gluten conspiracy, we cannot escape the presence of stress.
If uncontrolled, stress can manifest into a variety of negative effects on your body and behaviour such as muscle tension, anxiety and lack of motivation. A healthy mental state can mean the difference between effectively functioning despite the stressors of life, or having a total meltdown once the office coffee supply runs out.
Way #2: Make Time For Meditation
Meditation is a way of experiencing peace and tranquillity by silencing the mind. By practising meditation, you can experience benefits like increased tolerance and understanding, improved concentration and calmness, as well as reduced stress and anxiety. Meditation comes in many forms, such as:
- Mindfulness
- Yoga
- Qi Gong
- Kundalini
- Visualization
The above are just a few of the many forms that meditation comes in. By practising various types, you can experience and implement the variations that suit your lifestyle and needs best.
3) Mental Health Influences How We Relate With Others
The way you think and feel influences your perception, and thus your reaction and interaction, with the people around you. How many times have you experienced a ‘bad day’ and taken it out on someone else?
By not having your mental health in order – when your mind is riddled with stress, anxiety, insecurity, and depression – it can often lead to miscommunications and misunderstanding. These thoughts and feelings cloud your judgement, preventing you from connecting and learning from others.
Way #3: Exercise Understanding, Empathy & Vulnerability
Understanding and Empathy are tools that can be used to deal with (and prevent) miscommunications and misunderstanding. By merging the practical rationality of understanding with the emotional experience of empathy – you will be able to regulate your thoughts and feelings while acknowledging and excluding irrationalities.
This will allow you to make informed decisions and considered reactions, building more meaningful relationships. Vulnerability is applied to relationships to help deepen the connection and understanding between yourself and others. However, be cautious. Not everyone deserves the privilege of comforting you when you are vulnerable, so be selective about who you let in.
4) Mental Health Dictates How We Relate With Ourselves
Your mental health can be measured in the way you see yourself. If you allow your thoughts to attack you and your emotions grate away at your core, you degrade your mental health as well as your self-esteem.
This may lead to a lack of motivation, stunt your personal growth, and prevent you from realizing (and achieving) your full potential.
Way #4: Build A Relationship With Yourself
By laying down a foundation of understanding and acceptance with yourself, you can nurture a healthy mental state of mind. Dedicate time to yourself and stick to it; whether you spend it reflecting on the things lingering in your mind, crafting coping mechanisms, learning a new skill, or exploring and developing your passions.
By making yourself a priority, you will prove to yourself that you are worth investing in; boosting your self-esteem, the motivation for self-development, and a healthy mindset.
5) Mental Health Shapes Who We Become
Your mental health can be a catalyst for your personal, physical, and spiritual growth; with the inner strength of emotional resilience pushing you towards fulfilling your goals and greatest potential. Or, it can hinder your development and divert your efforts, making you focus on what is wrong – rather than all of the things that are just right.
Way #5: Keep An Eye On Your Perception
By consciously developing and maintaining your mental health, you will be able to mediate your thoughts and feelings – allowing you to control the way you see and thus interact with the world. If you perceive every mistake as a lesson and truly learn from the experience – you will find yourself flourishing in the limitless bounds of your potential.
Mental health is just as important as physical health. By supporting your body as well as your brain, you promote and maintain a healthy and holistic lifestyle. Meditation will help you handle and react to the perpetual stresses of life; while exercising understanding, empathy and vulnerability will allow you to connect with others and grow meaningful relationships. When you nurture a relationship with yourself – you nurture your self-esteem too; and by keeping an eye on your perception, you will be able to flourish into your greatest potential. By implementing these ways to promote your mental health, you will unlock harmonic balance and empower yourself to reach new and ever-expanding heights.
