How to Manage your Mental Well-Being

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How to Manage Your Mental Well-Being

Your degree of mental well-being is intimately linked to your self-image.

Your self-image is the sum of all the thoughts, feelings and beliefs about:

1. Who you really are,
2. What you are capable of,
3. What you are NOT capable of, and
4. Where you fit in the scheme of things.

Those who have a high degree of mental health, have a strong self-image:

1. They know who they are.
2. They believe themselves to be capable.
3. They believe they are worthy.
4. They believe they can achieve any goal they set for themselves.

People with a low degree of mental health have a weak self-image:

1. They don't think much of themselves,
2. They have low levels of self-esteem.
3. They believe themselves to be inherently incapable.
4. They think they belong at the bottom of the social hierarchy.

We all make mistakes. But how does that mistake affect the person who made it?

People with mental health issues tend to attach the following characteristics to that mistake:

1. Permanence: means that the mistake has durability and stability and will be there forever.
2. Pervasiveness: means the mistake implies other, associated errors and weaknesses.
3. Personality: means the mistake reveals a personality flaw.

On the other hand, people with good mental well-being do NOT associate these characteristics to the mistake. Good mental health means any mistake you make is:

1. NOT permanent.
2. NOT pervasive.
3. NOT a reflection on your personality. The mistake was "just a blip" and not a true representation of "the real you".

For example, imagine you make a mistake in your maths exam. You might say to yourself: "I made a mistake in my maths exam, that is because:

• I never have and I never will, understand maths. (permanence)
• I am useless at anything intellectual. (pervasive)
• I am stupid. (personality flaw)."

If a person with good mental well-being makes the same mistake in the same exam, he/she would say:

• I need to change this situation. (NOT permanent)
• I will work on my weak point, which is trigonometry. (NOT pervasive)
• I am smart enough to pass this exam, once I crack trigonometry. ( NOT personality).

Regarding other people, when someone else does something to offend you, be sure that you don't make the issue:

• Permanent
• Pervasive and/or
• Evidence of a personality flaw.

Instead, treat their behaviour as:

• Temporary
• Limited
• Not a true expression of their personality, (a blip).

That way you will find it easier to forgive them and get back onto a normal footing.

"To be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it." Confucius

About the Author: Chris Farmer

Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years’ experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.

Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.

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Further Reading in Mental Health

• Mental Health at Work
  Does your management team understand the importance of mental health? Learn how to put into practice good systems and processes to help your managers address problems at work, which could negatively affect employees mental health.
  Read Article >
• Five Ways to Change How You Feel
  Don't spend time focusing on your fears, instead learn to change your dominating thoughts and your emotional response to the fears.
  Read Article >
• Mental Health Awareness for Managers
  One key to good mental health is self-image. If you want to gain a better understanding of mental health, it is important to understand that positive self-image is the driving force for good mental health, both in yourself and others around you.
  Read Article >
• Mental Health Awareness at Work
  Companies need to promote good working practices by training their managers in mental health awareness. Only by training will we remove the stigma surrounding mental health and help the 1 in 4 people with mental health issues. #WorldMentalHealthDay
  Read Article >
• External Factors Which Impact Our Mental Wellbeing
  There are many factors that influence how we feel emotionally. How we respond to these factors, affects our mental wellbeing. We examine the main factors that affect people and how best to cope with them, to protect our mental health.
  Read Article >

Looking for Leadership and Management Training?

If you're looking to develop your Mental Health Skills, you may find this Leadership and Management Training Course beneficial:

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