The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines mental health as a state of well-being in which an individual realises their abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully, and can contribute to his or her community.
One of the most important steps I have taken towards positive mental health is to learn to monitor my attitude and its impact on my relationships, family, friends, and environment.
I have a choice. I can choose an inner dialogue of self-encouragement and self-motivation, or I can choose one of self-defeat and self-pity. It’s a power I have. I have encountered hard times, hurt feelings, heartache, and physical and emotional pain. The key is to realise it’s not what happens to me that matters; it’s how I choose to respond.
My mind is a computer that can be programmed. I can choose whether the software installed is productive or unproductive. My inner dialogue is the software that programs my attitude, which determines how I present myself to the world around me. I have control over the programming. Whatever I put into it is reflected in what comes out.
I have behaviour patterns today that were programmed into my brain at a very tender age. The information that was recorded by my brain could have been completely inaccurate or cruel. The sad reality of life is that I will continue to hear negative information, but I don’t have to program it into my mind.
The loudest and most influential voice I hear is my inner voice, my self-critic. It can work for or against me, depending on the messages I allow. It can be optimistic or pessimistic. It can wear me down or cheer me on. I control the sender and the receiver, but only if I consciously take responsibility for and control over my inner conversation.
Habitual bad attitudes are often the product of past experiences and events. Common causes include low self-esteem, stress, fear, resentment, anger, and an inability to handle change. It takes serious work to examine the roots of a harmful attitude, but the rewards of ridding myself of this heavy baggage can last a lifetime.
The most valuable lesson I learned is that nothing in life is wasted if I view it as a lesson learned. I now understand that every step I take, whether forward or backwards, was necessary to prepare me to recognise and receive whatever gift was being given to me at the time. I needed every experience to help me grow. And I mean every singleexperience: the good and the bad, the successes and the failures, the pain, and the glory.
No matter what my given circumstances are, I can adjust my attitude and create a brighter reality. It’s not the bad neighbourhood I grew up in that led me on the wrong path. It’s not the teacher who shunned my artistic talents or the parent who suggested I wasn’t good enough that caused me to become stagnant. It’s about making the mental shift in attitude that allows me to power through whatever life throws at me.
I’m in no way trying to trivialise life’s tribulations. Let’s face it; some of us have a great deal of pain to deal with. However, it is essential for my well-being to understand that circumstances, events, or situations are not the final word on my quality of life, regardless of severity.
How I respond to fear and other negative emotions they elicit makes the difference. And more than anything, it’s about making the mental shift in attitude that allows me to power through whatever life throws at me. The kind that no matter the severity of the situation, I not only bounce back, but I thrive with steadfast determination and confidence that defy the odds against me.
I spend some of my quiet time observing my cat. She struts around the house as if she is God’s gift to the animal kingdom. I swear, if she could talk, I would hear, “Meow! Meow! Ba-Da-Bing! Meow!”
Why is it said that cats have nine lives? Because they have resilience; they bounce back. Nothing seems to affect these animals. I have seen my cat run full force smack into a wall many times, bounce off, land on its feet, and look at me as if to say, “What? I knew it was there! I meant to do that!” and then walk away. “Ba-Da-Bing! Meow!”
Have you ever told a cat to go fetch something? It just sits there and gives you another one of those looks. “Hey, let’s get something straight. I don’t do fetch. If you want something, you tell your best friend Rover to get it. I’m busy. I’ve got company coming over. And when they get here, don’t embarrass me with this ‘Here kitty, kitty’ crap. I got a name! You use it! It’s Tilly.
The bottom line is this: Cats live on their terms. Nobody tells them what to do. They defy the odds. And they bounce back and have resilience. All of us could use that same kind of mental attitude.
Good mental health comes from following a specific exercise program. It comes from doing things in a certain way every single day. It is a good way to prepare my mind for the day ahead. A good mental health program enables me to become strong, resilient, confident, successful, and optimistic and helps me to develop a positive mental attitude.