How Good Mental Health Encompasses All Aspects of Life

Good mental health defines positive well-being. It is the feeling that although upsetting events may happen, you can weather the storm and come back stronger than before. It is emotional resilience. When you strive for good mental health, all aspects of your life fall into line: cognitive (mind), physical, and social.

As a Christian counseling company, we also feel that the spiritual facet of life is essential to good mental health.

What defines good mental health?

Good mental health is positive well-being in all areas. It includes cognitive (mind), physical, social, and spiritual health. If you become sick in one of these areas, it will eventually affect the other areas. This is why a mental condition like anxiety or depression will affect your nervous system as well as your relationships and feelings of being alone.

The Mind

Cognitive functioning and emotional resilience are critical for good mental health. One needs to be able to think clearly and logically and bounce back from disappointments and losses. The mind is powerful and can trigger bodily reactions. Panic attacks are a good example of the mind influencing the body to react by leveraging cortisol and adrenaline.

Mental conditions can alienate people from their loved ones. You may also feel disconnected from God when struggling with a mental disorder.

The Physical Body

If you are a Christian, you know that the physical body is a temporary vessel for the spirit. The Bible refers to it as a temple for the Holy Spirit. When our bodies become sick, it can affect our minds. Chronic and terminal illnesses can make it difficult to maintain good mental health. When we are ill, we withdraw from others and may either lean heavily on our faith or turn away from God in our pain.

The Social Aspect

Isolation or feelings that you do not belong can affect your mental and physical health. Bullying and abuse should never happen but often does. If you do not feel safe and secure in your home or workplace, seek help. You may notice physical and mental issues emerge if you stay in an unsafe situation long-term.

The Spiritual Aspect

Without God, we can do nothing. Jesus said, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” (John 15:4, NIV) Walking away during mental, physical, or social crises will only make things worse. We need Jesus, the ultimate Counselor, to walk with us every step of the way and heal us of our infirmities.

How to Promote Good Mental Health

Good mental health is critical for your well-being. When your emotional and mental health is unbalanced, you may find it harder to bounce back from uncertainties or challenges. Mental conditions like anxiety and depression can also lead to physical ailments, such as headaches, fatigue, high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, and digestive issues.

The following is a list of ways to promote good mental health by making small lifestyle changes.

Manage stress The stress hormone cortisol is responsible for getting us away from danger. However, the mind perceives things that upset us as dangerous, including overdue bills, financial strain, relationship drama, traffic, and workplace conflict.

Lower cortisol levels by practicing relaxation techniques and stress management tips. Deep breathing, prayer, stretching, positive affirmations or mantras, and progressive muscle relaxation are all great ways to manage stress.

Stay connected Stay connected with friends and family, nurturing relationships with those closest to you. Isolation can lead to anxiety and depression. Social interaction can lower stress levels, boost confidence, and promote well-being.

People use social media to connect. However, the digital connection is different from face-to-face interaction or phone conversation. Make a list of people you would like to connect with and call each one. Set up a lunch date or walk around the park. Maintain these little adventures with your friends.

Eat better Eating healthier fare compared to ultra-processed foods has been shown to regulate heart rate and blood pressure, lower bad cholesterol, promote fat loss, increase concentration, and decrease food cravings.

Strive to eat complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, healthy fats, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Ditch the added sugars, preservatives, dyes, and other chemicals. Speak to a nutritionist about the best whole-food plan for you.

Exercise consistently Exercise releases endorphins that leave you feeling good and boost your confidence. Exercise’s physical and mental benefits make it highly recommended for health. Always gain your doctor’s approval before starting any fitness program.

Set a goal to increase your daily steps. Start with five thousand steps daily and work your way up to 10,000 steps daily. As for exercise, an average of 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise weekly has been shown to promote health benefits.

Engage in pleasurable activities When life gets chaotic, we tend to drop the activities that bring us the most pleasure. We may view these as frivolous and luxurious, but these activities bring us the most joy. When we do them, the brain releases chemicals such as serotonin that give us a boost.

If you are currently neglecting this area of your life, now is the time to list your favorite activities and hobbies. Try out new interests. Is there a class you can take? Grab a friend and discover something new.

Go to bed at a decent hour Don’t underestimate the power of sleep. Good-quality sleep allows your body and mind to rest and recharge. All of the body’s processes need time to recover during the night. Many of us stay up after the children go to bed or relax in front of the television after a long day. Instead, prioritize sleep, aiming for seven to nine hours nightly.

If seven to nine hours of sleep sounds daunting, create an evening routine to ease into the bedtime habit. Perhaps you take a warm bath after dinner, wear cozy pajamas, and climb into bed with a cup of herbal tea or caffeine-free hot cocoa. Roll your bedtime back by 15 minutes each week until your desired time. These small habits will help you to wake up refreshed and ready to start the day.

Set goals Good mental health means working toward something, having a purpose, and fulfilling a calling. Setting goals gives you direction. Anxiety and depression try to convince us that we are stuck and that nothing will ever change. Goals tell a different story. Goals consist of daily or weekly tasks to make things happen.

Write down your top five or ten goals. Try to choose goals in all aspects of your life. Now, choose one or two goals that make accomplishing the others easier. For example, maybe your top goals are to pay off your home to get away from a monthly mortgage payment and to earn a certification to boost your income potential.

Choosing the latter to work on first will make the first goal easier to accomplish (more income can equal paying more on your home loan’s principal balance). Lastly, map out the steps you need to take to achieve your goals.

Journal your blessings When life gets hectic, journal your blessings. Journaling is a technique that helps people process their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and dreams. You can use your journal to record the people, places, and things for which you are grateful to God.

You can journal with paper and pen or use a digital app on your phone or computer. Set a time that works best for you to journal. Some people find that journaling in the morning sets the tone for the day, while recording blessings at night makes them easier to recall. Aim to record at least three to five blessings daily.

Christian Counseling for Good Mental Health

Christian counseling combines evidence-backed psychology methods with faith-based principles to help you maintain good mental health. Your counselor can teach you the skills and techniques to cope with obstacles when you struggle. Christian counseling can include talk therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), or group therapy.

If you would like to add counseling to your self-care routine, contact our office today. We will schedule a session with a Christian counselor in our practice.