The Mind: Our most powerful tool
Our minds and bodies are undoubtedly connected. For us to achieve mental wellness, self guided work and professional mental illness treatment are needed to gain balance and control over the mind. Our thoughts are not who we are, and with practice, can be changed, managed, and calmed.
Growth of the mind focuses on three central topics. While mind related growth can happen in a variety of ways, these are someone of the most widely available and important for everyone
Mindfulness and Awareness
Mindfulness is an Eastern concept that has slowly been making its way in to western culture in the last few decades. Mindfulness is the process of developing moment to moment awareness of your thoughts, feelings, environment, and bodily sensations as you go through your normal daily life. This can seem very opposite to what most of us are trying to do- which is simply make it through our difficult or boring times, often with multitude of distractions or numbing agents. Mindfulness brings us back to the present moment, allowing us to have more control over our reactions and see things without preconceptions. ​
Starting a mindfulness practice can be done in a variety of ways. Mindfulness meditation is the most accessible and widely known, but any action can be done mindfully. From walking, cooking, making art, cleaning, and more, almost any activity can be framed and brought to the present moment. More info regarding different mindfulness practices can be found on the Triple Threat Wellness Blog!
“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
Mental Illness and Health
1 in 5 Americans suffer from some sort of mental illness, and none one should have to fight alone. Mental illness treatment should involve a professional doctor, psychiatrist, or therapist with strong credentials and preferable a background in your area of concern. There is no true substitute for professional help.
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However, mental illness treatment can and should be support by an at home mental health practice. Having an at home practice can support those unable to receive mental health services, those not allowed to receive mental health services, or those who may not require continuous treatment. Just like in normal holistic health care, holistic mental health care focuses on finding the root or cause of the problem, whether it be unresolved trauma, chemical/physical brain imbalances, or a unbalanced lifestyle. Anyone can end up dealing with mental ill-being, even the most mentally well person.
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​Focusing on mental health includes:
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Receiving professional treatment (if possible and if needed)
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Addressing lifestyle factors that have changed due to mental illness or were present before onset
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Finding self-soothing or self-coping mechanisms
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Reflecting on events or situations affected by your mental health
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Sharing and expressing emotions or feelings, whether to another person, through activity, or through writing
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Eating well and getting adequate sleep
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Reducing consumption of depressing or anxiety inducing substance (Alcohol, caffeine, ext)
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Spending time in places or with people that make you feel positive
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Having activities or hobbies that make you feel productive and accomplished
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Overcoming Ego
Our 'Ego', a concept originally coined by psychologist Sigmund Freud, is most commonly referred to now days as the part of our brains that engages in self-justification. Focusing on the "I" in ones life, the ego can help prevent us from getting hurt in situations that can affect our actual or perceived sense of being. The ego can be particularly helpful when being presented with an injustice, direct attacks on the self, or identifying wants/needs, and is needed to some extent to navigate modern day life.
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However, the ego can be inflated, in which a person is solely focus on the "I" and how it directly affects them. For example, some one with an over inflated ego may feel personally attacked when presented with a change that benefits everyone instead of just them. This can affect others around them and their personal relationships, and cause unnecessary stress for the individual.
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Overcoming the ego involves the process of removing yourself from situations and perceiving and reacting to them as they are; not how you perceive, estimate, or want them to be.