Mental health moments

When we talk about “wellness,” many people focus on physical health, but true wellness means looking at our whole selves, physical, mental, and spiritual. All of these parts of ourselves are crucial for overall well-being and quality of life. 

Take note of where you are mentally and emotionally. Do you find joy in life, or do you routinely find yourself focusing on negatives? Here are some places to start as you give more focus to your mental health. 

1. Practice self-care and self-reflection. Self-care is not about bubble baths and shopping sprees. It’s about tending to your spirit in such a way that you can be present in your life as a version of yourself that you can consistently be proud of and satisfied with. It’s about working on those parts of you that are hurting so that you don’t spill your pain out onto those that you love and are responsible for. Fill your life with the kinds of experiences and relationships that allow you to bring your best self into the room as often as possible. There is no shame in saying honestly to yourself and others, “I want peace in my mind and in my home, so I’m doing the work to get that as much as I am able.” 
2. Dealing with differences. It’s important to understand that people’s life experiences shape their behavior, and most of the time, that behavior is not about us. Often, true criticism of others is closely related to our own self-judgements. We judge people at the same level and with the same language that we use to judge and criticize ourselves. Managing differences really starts with managing ourselves with some grace. When we remove ourselves from others’ behaviors, it allows us to not take things personally and frees us to maintain boundaries and curiosity instead of defensiveness. 
3. Facing grief. Grief is a process that works to make peace with who or what was once true and present but no longer is. Research shows that grief unacknowledged comes back to us in ways that we do not anticipate, so good mental health relies on grieving well. Grieving well looks different for each person, but for everyone it involves acknowledging grief and making peace with it rather than stuffing it down or ignoring it. You may want to talk about your grief with others. You may adopt new practices that allow you self-reflection. The grief we carry matters because it is just the word “love” in a different language and with a different voice. 

If you would benefit from talking through mental health strategies with someone, you can reach out to a mental health professional in the community, the social workers at Bluestem PACE, or the chaplains at Bluestem Communities.