Positivity and Emotional Wellbeing

How much say do you really have over your own reactions and moods? People who feel in charge of their behavior and emotions tend to form close relationships, weather hard times, and come back from setbacks. Working on your emotional health pays off, and most of us could use more resilience, a steadier mood, and a bit more pleasure in ordinary days.

So what counts as emotional or mental health? It's a term for your overall psychological well-being: how you handle problems and process feelings, the opinion you hold of yourself, and the state of your relationships. A common assumption is that good mental health means you're simply free of anxiety, depression, or similar troubles. That's only part of it. Being mentally and emotionally well asks for something extra, which is actually feeling good and positive, not merely the absence of feeling bad.

The two aren't the same. Not feeling awful is a different state from feeling genuinely well. The goal is to lean toward positive thinking, and even people who aren't particularly gloomy still have to put positive things into practice to get there. It takes action, not just the lack of a problem.

People who are emotionally and mentally healthy tend to share a handful of traits. They carry a decent amount of self-esteem and confidence. They can take a hit from life and keep going, managing stress rather than drowning in it. They know how to laugh, have fun, and enjoy being alive. Their relationships and activities feel purposeful and meaningful to them. When circumstances change, they adapt and pick up new skills. And they keep a workable balance between play and work, movement and rest.

When life throws something at you, these qualities are what let you cope and still live fully, through solid relationships and work that matters to you.

On resilience: nobody escapes rough patches. Even emotionally healthy people hit trouble and feel it. Anxiety, stress, sadness, these are ordinary parts of being a person. What sets resilient people apart is the ability to recover. They bounce back from trauma, pressure, and hardship because they've built the tools to cope and hold on to a hopeful view. In fair weather and foul, they stay flexible, focused, and able to think creatively.

A couple of ingredients go into that. One is balancing your emotions and your stress. When you can name what you're feeling and let it out in a reasonable way, you're less likely to get stuck in a loop of worry, low mood, or depression. Another is a strong support network. Having people you trust to turn to for backing and encouragement will raise your resilience considerably.

Body and mind aren't separate departments; they run together. Caring for your body is the opening move toward emotional and mental health, and the better your physical shape, the better your inner life tends to go. Exercise is a good example. It conditions your heart and lungs, and it also releases endorphins and other chemicals that lift your mood and leave you with more energy. Day-to-day choices shape how you feel on both the physical and emotional side.

A few of those choices: Move your body to brighten your mood and drain off stress. Exercise is a strong counter to anxiety and depression, and around 30 minutes a day is a reasonable target for the mental payoff. Sleep matters too; most of us need seven or eight hours a night to run at a decent level. Pay attention to nutrition, because once you notice how different foods affect your mood and energy, you'll make better calls. Get 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight daily, which you can fold into exercise, time with friends, or gardening. And steer clear of drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol, all of which drag down your mood and your emotional health over the long haul.

Looking after yourself triggers those feel-good endorphins. They show up with physical activity, but also when you do right by other people, build your self-esteem, practice a little self-discipline, and keep your stress in check before it wears you down. Don't let negative feelings and tension pile up. Notice what you're feeling and what you need, and try to hold a balance between your responsibilities and the things you enjoy. Tend to your body, mind, and spirit, and you'll meet whatever comes with more to work with. - Erin F.