It is only by building our mental health and fitness that can we ensure that we do not suffer mental pain and illness in future. There is no other way, as there is no one else who can determine our thinking and our emotional reactions. We have to look after ourselves.
So we have to care for the brain as our instrument of thought and the heart as the seat of our emotions by following a physical health routine. We cannot have healthy thoughts and feelings otherwise.
As habit is the discipline that is of primary importance in any constructive enterprise and health programme, we have to break old bad habits as we simultaneously create new and better ones. This is as important with emotional habits and reactions as it is with our repeated thought patterns.
And we have the capacity to change, we know that. Even extreme negative conditions or habits can be reversed. It only needs that we are whole hearted and whole minded in our efforts.
But we have to practice. We need to start by controlling simple negative thoughts for instance. As we become aware of them, we replace them with a single positive thought or idea.
We need to relax and to release our tight anxieties and fears that do damage to our mental fitness. This is made easier when we take a wider, more expansive attitude of acceptance.
There are many instances when we become aware of negative emotions. Anger for instance can seem to take charge over our mood when we would rather choose to be relaxed and happy. So, as we ourselves are in charge, our choice would have to be to refrain from allowing angry emotions to bully us.
Thought remains the dominant motivator. It is our thought that determines our actions and many of our habits as it is our emotions that can add or subtract the energies that are needed for good outcomes and mental fitness.
Sally Janssen’s wonderful book Mental Fitness: A Simple Self-help Guide, offers simple and timely solutions.
