How to Manage your Mental Well-Being
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:
- Who you really are,
- What you are capable of,
- What you are NOT capable of, and
- Where you fit in the scheme of things.
Those who have a high degree of mental health, have a strong self-image:
- They know who they are.
- They believe themselves to be capable.
- They believe they are worthy.
- They believe they can achieve any goal they set for themselves.
People with a low degree of mental health have a weak self-image:
- They don't think much of themselves,
- They have low levels of self-esteem.
- They believe themselves to be inherently incapable.
- 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:
- Permanence: means that the mistake has durability and stability and will be there forever.
- Pervasiveness: means the mistake implies other, associated errors and weaknesses.
- 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:
- NOT permanent.
- NOT pervasive.
- 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
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Further Reading in Mental Health
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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
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How To Improve Mental Wellbeing During Lockdown
Lockdowns around the world have meant isolation for many people, which has to lead to psychological suffering for many. Find out how we can help improve mental wellbeing for ourselves and others.
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How to Manage Your Mental Well-Being
Your self-image is how you feel about yourself and your future. Research has linked low self-esteem to poor mental health. Thinking about how you handle problematic situations can help to improve your overall mental well-being.
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How to Improve Your Mental Health
Do you feel weighed down by bad memories of the past? Are you surrounded by toxic people? Are you determined to improve your mental health this year? Check out these proven ways to help improve your mental well-being.
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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.
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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:
Open Training Course Pricing and Availability
Next Open Course Starts in 2 days, Gloucester (M5 J11), places available