Feeling great mentally is based on three steps which are found in a pamphlet prepared by the Canadian Mental Health Association.
1. FEELING GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF
To feel good about yourself you need to be in tune with your emotions. Recognize your positive emotions which include happiness, love, and excitement. Recognize and accept your more negative emotions which fear, anger, jealousy, and worry. Remind yourself that there is nothing wrong with having negative emotions and that everyone has them. Acknowledging and accepting your emotions can help you to realize that you are human. You are not meant to be perfect, but you can accept your short falls and encourage your abilities. This will help you to have a more accepting attitude towards yourself, learning from mistakes and taking life's challenges in stride.
2. FEELING GOOD ABOUT OTHERS.
Feeling good about others happens through trust and acceptance. You need to respect the differences that you may have with others and learn to work at building relationships. Recognizing that another person's differences does not make them better or worse, just different is important. The differences they bring may allow you to see certain things differently and can create a more open mind. To feel good about others you must also be considerate and kind, hoping that the other person will do the same.
3. BEING ABLE TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF LIFE.
Recognizing when you have a problem and having a plan with how to deal with it can help promote positive mental health. Learning how to handle most problems can prevent you from getting overwhelmed and stressed. Learning to accept a problem and finding the best route to solve it can instill a sense of power and problem solving within a person. When looking for ways to solve problems seek advice from others. This can help you to look at your problems objectively. Then based on the advice given and your own natural instincts you will be able to find the best way to solve the problem. Try your best, it may be an age old saying, but it holds true. Knowing that you have tried your best to conquer a fear or problem will allow yourself to feel satisfied and proud.
These three aspects are all integral parts of good mental health. Learning to manage life can lead to it being a rewarding and fun adventure.
