Life Clean Up Step 4: Your Mind
Before we get started, I want to make a very important disclaimer. I a not a certified mental health professional, nor am I claiming to be. If you or someone you know is suffering from suicidal thoughts, depression, anxiety, or any other sort of mental illness, please seek professional help immediately. While the things we discuss here today can certainly improve your mental state, they are not a cure for mental illness or a replacement for proper professional care any more than physical exercise would be for treatment by a physician. With that said, let’s look at the areas you CAN improve on your own, with your own choices. Let’s talk about cleaning up your mind.
Stop Doing These
Keeping with our previous formatting, we’re going to start with a few things to either stop doing or avoid.
Toxic People
Toxic, negative people are everywhere. It’s very easy to find something to complain about, an even easier to allow the negativity to become a mindset. While there is something to be said for uplifting those around you, beware the terminally unhappy, negative, and toxic people you come into contact with. If someone resists all attempts to alleviate their negativity and toxicity, avoid them. Their poisonous attitudes can and will spread to you, even if they don’t intend for them to. Worse yet, many of these people DO intend to spread their misery. Avoid them whenever possible.
This can be challenging, especially if the person is a family member, coworker, close friend, or relationship partner. It is important to give these people every opportunity to stop the behaviors and choices that are damaging you, but you must eventually make the choice to walk away if they refuse. You may think you are helping by remaining close and continuing to try, but you cannot help someone that does not want to be helped. You are only bringing yourself down and reducing your ability to care for yourself and the other people around you.
Isolation
Self imposed isolation can sometimes be a symptom of serious mental illness. To reiterate my earlier warning: be mindful of this behavior, both in yourself and others. Granted, some people are very introverted and simply like to have a lot of time to themselves. If this is you or someone you know, and you or they are perfectly happy with their balance, great. Just be conscious of that balance, especially in yourself. Don’t isolate yourself from others completely, especially if you are going through difficult times. Not everyone is energized by going outside and being in groups of people, but it is important to not cut yourself of from others completely. Even if you only keep in contact with a few people, be sure you’re not isolating yourself completely.
Alcohol and Drug Abuse
There are plenty of substances that can, in moderation, be enjoyed. This isn’t for those of you who have the occasional glass of wine with dinner or a few beers with your friends. You know where you fall on this scale. If you can’t get through a day without drinking, you have a problem. If you’re using an addictive substance, you have a problem. The damage these things do to your physical health is bad enough, but you and I both know they are destroying your mind as well. There is no high that is worth that. No escape from reality that is worth that. Your problems, pain, and challenges are still here waiting for you when you come back down. The only thing you’re doing is buying a temporary mental reprieve at the cost of both your mental and physical health.
The only way to face those things is head on, with a clear mind. Put down the addiction. Get help if you need it. Then start attacking your problems. You never have to do it alone. This community is here for you, and so am I. You’re better than an addiction.
Do These
Meditate
Even if it’s only closing your eyes for five minutes a day and just clearing your head, this makes a world of difference. There are plenty of different ways to meditate. Find what works for you, and do it every day. The benefits to your mental state are immense.
Find a Passion
A hobby, volunteering, collecting something, the list goes on. As long as it’s not harmful to you or anyone else, it doesn’t matter what it is. Find something that makes you happy, and spend time doing it. You need something in your life that is just yours, something that you can always turn to in order to unwind.
Find Good People
Notice that I don’t specify exclusively like-minded people here. While it IS important to find and build bonds with people who share your beliefs and passions, it is equally important to interact with people who are different from you. Don’t be afraid to be questioned or challenged, welcome it. A strong mix of both people who support you and people who are willing to question you will keep you in a good place mentally.
An important distinction to make here is that this does NOT mean you should spend time around people that are confrontational, negative, or otherwise not supportive. Just as someone disagreeing with you is not grounds for you to dismiss them, the fact that someone disagrees with you is not grounds for them to mistreat you. Find people that, whether or not they share all of your beliefs, can still respect you.
How is Your Head?
As always, I want to hear from all of you. How has your mental health been lately? Share your stories below. You never know you might inspire.