Maintain a Healthy and Balanced Mind
If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place.” –Lao Tzu
Long before the dawn of modern science, our ancestors knew the power of the human mind and its connection to the body and our wellbeing. Ancient Greeks, for instance, believed that health could be maintained by adopting a moderate and temperate lifestyle. Their priorities were centered on creating health, beauty and happy.
The reason why the mind-body connection is so strong is because of the enormous role that the mind plays within our bodily system. Everything starts with the mind. It’s the commander-in-chief governing all our basic internal functions, especially our thought process. With 86 billion neurons, billions of nerve fibers, and neurons connected by trillions of synapses, our brain is one big powerhouse of energy!
The truth is that caring for the mind requires just as much work and discipline as caring for the body. There are three main aspects to a good mental care regime. The first involves managing the biochemistry of the brain by living a balanced lifestyle through diet and physical activity, and to exercise the neural pathways of the brain by keeping our mind active (in a good way), the other feed your mind spiritaully. You are valuable according to the word that is in you and apply it.
A well-maintained mind will reward us in innumerable ways, with the most important one being an optimistic outlook on your life and better decision-making abilities. From a metaphysical standpoint, you’ll activate the Law of Attraction and attract the things and people that are most in alignment with you. When your mind’s focused on tranquility and abundance, that’s exactly what you’ll draw towards you. It is important to know that everything is spiritual, before it manifests in the physical.
With a little care, attention and self-discipline, you can cultivate habits to maintain a calm and creative frame of mind. Just as how we have self-care rituals for our bodies, we can follow a customized regimen to take care of our minds. Here are five general steps that you can follow to improve your mental health:
1. Be conscious of your thought patterns:
All of us have the tendency to experience constant chatter in our mind. The only way to prevent this is by taking the driver’s seat and staying conscious of the thoughts that pass through our heads as we go about our day. Be aware of the thoughts that come up as you interact with different people and circumstances, and be careful not to judge your thoughts. Initially, all you need to do is to be aware of them, and then you can proactively take steps to reverse any unhealthy patterns.
2. Make time for rest and relaxation:
Our minds can’t run like an Energizer bunny – at some point, it does need rest. We live in a sleep-deprived and stressed-out society, where people are always running low on energy. Schedule time away from technology, social media, and get rid of any “mental junk” so that you can focus on what really matters.
3. Adopt a healthy lifestyle:
The ecosystem of our body is directly impacted by the kind of lifestyle that we choose to live. This includes the kind of food we eat and the amount of physical activities we participate in. Clean living means that you eat a nutritious diet, filled with brain-friendly food, and drink plenty of water. It also includes getting optimal levels of physical activity, which boosts the mind’s function by regularizing the blood flow to the brain. Living clean also requires that we stay away from substances such as alcohol, nicotine and recreational drugs, which damage our brain cells.
4. Engage in learning and creativity:
A healthy mind is an active mind that’s stretched on a regular basis through learning and creative pursuits. A brain is like a muscle that needs to be worked out through stimulating it with knowledge and intellectual challenges. Mental fitness has been on the decline ever since we’ve introduced mindless video games, television, and other things that don’t need much mental energy. We need to fight this laziness because without sufficient mental stimulation, our brains can rapidly age and degenerate. Mental activities such as reading, solving puzzles, attending courses and lectures, seminaries, and engaging in creative hobbies can stimulate the brain cells and strengthen the connections between brain cells. You can try out some games and exercises to improve your memory and focus. Engaging in these activities will lead to a sharp, intellectually and creatively driven mindset. We also need to avoid any negative news that doesn’t enhance your life.
5. Have a foundation of support and spiritual connectedness
We are both human and spirit beings. Our happiness is strongly linked with how connected we feel to others. We derive a big source of comfort from a community of family, friends, co-workers, business partners, church community who support us. Some of us need extra support beyond the Earthly realm. Having faith in God and being connected to a source of inspiration, love and goodness will provide a buffer against those rough and challenging times.