May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. This is a good time to do a mental health check on how you are doing. It’s important to understand that mental health is about more than just mental illness. You can not have a mental illness but still be mentally unhealthy.
There are some specific things that you can take a good look at in your life to determine how you are doing mentally. First of all, what is your outlook on life? Are you able to enjoy life? Or do you find that life is something you are simply trying to get through day-by-day? Do you spend more time complaining or worrying? Both of these are not good for your mental health.
Even if things are difficult, you can still gain a healthier perspective on things. Count your blessings. No matter what life throws at you, there is always something good to reflect on. Look for the good even in the middle of your mess. It’s there; you just might have to dig a little deeper to find it.
Second, have you learned to make lemonade? You know the old saying that if life deals you lemons, make lemonade? There is a lot of truth behind that. You can take almost any situation that comes your way and turn it into something good.
Third, is your life balanced? An imbalanced life can definitely wreak havoc on your mental health. Imbalance usually equates to stress, busyness, and an inability to prioritize. Balancing rest and exercise, sleep and activity, spending time alone and with others are all ways that can keep you mentally healthy.
Fourth, are you giving room for your feelings? Some people bottle up their emotions and feelings so that they almost feel like they could implode. That is not good for your mental health. You may appear on the outside to be okay but inside you could be like a simmering pot. At some point it is going to blow. The question is when and on whom. Before you get to that point, give voice to your feelings. Don’t keep things inside. If you are struggling in a relationship, talk to that person.
Lastly, do you know who you are? Do you realize that there are grown adults who really don’t know who they are? They spend their time just wandering through life, never really doing the things they were meant to do. There is nothing more depleting to your mental health than living a life that is not fulfilling and where you don’t know who you are.
Take some time to really self-reflect on these areas and look for ways to make improvements. If you can make some improvements you will boost your mental health.
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