The final piece of living a disease free life is to get that mental state in check. ✔
Easier said than done. Our brain is a mysterious place filled with serotonin and dopamine all the way down to traumatic memories and self doubt. How in the world are we to balance a brain that is capable of so much swing?
The answer is simple.
What the fuck? No it isn’t! It is not simple but there are some simple things you can do to give it your best shot.
- Be as present as possible. It is easy to get sucked into self doubts created by past failures or what-ifs presented by future worries. Staying in this present moment allows us to enjoy the ups and process the downs. Each providing a key piece in mental health.
- Feel all the emotions. Emotions are meant to be felt. The good ones and the bad ones. If we do not feel the lows how can we appreciate the highs. Each emotions provides us with a piece of the puzzle. We are meant to have emotions, then to process them. If you feel anger, you need to sit with that, recognize it, process it and then let it go. When we force ourselves to be happy all the time, we are not living in reality; there is nothing wrong with being sad, angry, or lonely. Staying with those feelings and not processing, that is when disease sets in.
- Meditating. Taking even just five minutes a day of meditation can be helpful. Meditation is not about silencing the mind. It’s about recognizing the thoughts, seeing where they come from and letting them go. Sure after a while you’ll be able to quiet the thoughts, but it all starts with awareness. Fun fact: meditation can actually lengthen the telomeres (protective ends) at the end of your DNA, allowing your DNA to remain intact and undamaged.
- Fuck it mentality. Don’t take life too seriously. Seriously! Life is meant to be fun. It’s like little league: do we need screaming parents living through their kids achievements or do we want our kids to learn the love of play and team work and success, remembering it is a game! Life is like a game. Put the right karma out into the world and it will all work out.
- Seeing the challenges as opportunities. We all have challenges thrown our way. Some big (deaths, divorce or disease… oh my goodness the three Ds!) and some small (fender bender, botched hair cut, failed exam). The way we approach these challenges are what defines our mental health and future. I look at life as being filled with opportunities. When something “bad” happens it is an opportunity for me to look at the situation or myself and grow. It opens another door for me or my family. No matter how bad, there is a lesson to learn. A lesson about grief, a lesson of appreciation and acceptance, a realization that what is happening is actually a blessing, an opportunity to see the bigger picture. By taking life’s challenges as opportunities you will grow past where you ever dreamt of.
Our mental wellbeing, some say, is the key to disease. As we can keep our stress (and therefore damage to cells) at a minimum and protect our bodies and mind. We can nurture our spirit with self growth. We can be inspired to physical greatness with a healthy brain and ask tough questions to grow not only ourself but those around us.
When we work for a larger purpose we can achieve perfect health. We can achieve anything.
livingflatandstrong.com 
Leave a comment