What Is Mental Health
Mental health by definition is “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”
But what does mental health really look like in everyday life for people who are experiencing life with all of its’ ups and downs, ins and outs, and tragedies and joys? According to the Green Shoe model, mental health looks like living a life of acting in balance, loving oneself, setting self-loving boundaries, taking care of our needs and wants in healthy ways, and living with joy and authentic spontaneity. For every individual, this is going to be a unique way of expressing ourselves in healthy ways in our personal and professional lives.
Mental health is the ability to cope with daily challenges by having the mental capacity and stability to regulate our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, relate to ourselves and others in intimate ways, and experience that feeling of joy when the true connection with others happens. This entails our brain choosing the healthy course of action to guide our behaviors and choices. To make those choices one needs to be intentional about living. Intentionally choosing emotionally and psychologically healthy activities which enlighten one’s path in life is mental health.
When one chooses to take care of their physical health, we get enough sleep, eat the right kinds of foods, exercise our bodies, and attend to our routine examinations, and preventative healthcare activities as well. Mental health requires making the same types of healthy choices as our mental activities. We can achieve this mental health first by being present with ourselves, which means staying attuned to our thoughts and feelings, and behaviors. Allowing ourselves the space to pause, reflect, and process those inner messages that our brains are sending to the rest of our bodies. What do I feel, and what thoughts am I having which are creating my feelings? And, most of all, how do I want to respond and share what I am experiencing in my inner world with my outer world?
Another way to achieve mental health is by pursuing emotionally healthy relationships with family, friends, and even professional mental health help at times. In Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey’s new book, What Happened to You,
I will quote her comment, “If you have experienced trauma but haven’t excavated it, the wounded parts of you will affect everything you’ve managed to build.” According to other experts in childhood relational trauma, if you have experienced anything less than nurturing in childhood, the resulting impact on the brain is one of feeling less than nurtured, shame, and feelings of worthlessness. It is vitally important to identify, process, and resolve any emotional pain from our childhood in order to achieve a stable and fulfilling mentally healthy life.
Check out our retreat page and see if Green Shoe might be a great place to start on your journey towards mental health and well-being.