Mental health incorporates our emotional, psychological and social well-being. Emotional health is being in control of our thoughts, feelings and actions. When we are emotionally healthy, we can feel anger, fear and sadness but prevent these feelings from taking over our lives.

I believe that society, in general, teaches us that having these “negative emotions” is not okay. We are usually taught that these thoughts need to be stifled or buried. Guess what? Our feelings are our guides!!! They are not our enemy!

When we continually feel sad or negative when spending time with another person, that person is not healthy for us, at least not in large doses. When we feel anxious every time we go to work, what is it about our job that isn’t good for us?

Each time we feel angry, we can ask ourselves “What am I afraid of?”  If we are afraid we won’t be in control, we can take the action steps we need in order to gain control or seek guidance to learn how to do so.

Here is how to achieve mental and emotional health, making 6 simple changes:

1) Be grateful for your “negative” feelings and determine their message.

The next time you have a “negative” feeling e.g. anxiety, say out loud, “Welcome anxiety! What are you trying to tell me?” If we work through the answer to that question and follow what our gut is trying to tell us, we will experience less and less anxiety because we will do more and more of what is right for US.

2) Do what is right for YOU.

Spending more and more time doing what is right for US is how to achieve mental and emotional health. And remember, what is right for YOU is not necessarily right for another person! I coached a boy who was told by numerous people not to join the army but all he had wanted to do for years was join the army. Guess who joined the army this past fall?

3) Know that whenever someone is mistreating you, they are in their OWN pain.

When we have learned how to achieve mental and emotional health, we are HAPPY! We don’t spend our time hurting or bothering others. We just don’t. Even if someone tells you are lazy and you know you are, telling you that you are lazy won’t change the pattern. Complimenting you on how hard you DID work earlier in the day, encourages you to want to do more!

4) TRULY believe that everything happens for a reason.

People throw this statement around all the time but the majority don’t believe it. If we really did believe this, we would realize that everything that happens to us is happening FOR us not TO us. We must continually find the lesson or the value in our “negative” thoughts or what goes “wrong” in our lives – this is how to achieve mental and emotional health.

5) Find the one viewpoint in every situation that brings you true peace.

If we are not at peace with a situation, it simply means we have not found the TRUTH. Once we know the truth, our minds ALWAYS rest. You are mad that someone close to you didn’t visit you in the hospital when you were suffering there for months. Eventually, you find out that they couldn’t handle seeing you so sick. That truth causes all the anger to dissipate, doesn’t it?

6) Take care of your physical body.

You cannot feel happy if you eat the foods that are wrong for your body. The chemicals added to food are the worst culprits for your mind. And if you don’t exercise, you miss out on the endorphins that make you feel good inside. Lots of filtered water is necessary for moving the waste out of your body and mind.  And certain supplements, such as fish oils and Vitamin D, are vital to feeling good!    

Are these really simple ideas showing you how to achieve mental and emotional health? I would say they are simple ideas but will admit to the difficulty in implementing them. When we implement these ideas, we are doing “the work”.  And when we do “the work”, we eventually feel a sense of peace with ourselves despite all the uncertainties in life. Could there be any greater reward?

I’m Meredith Deasley, a certified life coach, registered holistic nutritionist and expert in spiritual vitality. If you want to learn more about mental and emotional wellness, you can order my book The Resourceful Mother’s Secrets to Emotional Health at www.theresourcefulmother.com . If you are ready for a more in-depth exploration and clearing of your emotional blocks, contact me for your individualized consultation.