- Why mental health matters!
- In today’s fast-paced world, just being physically fit is not enough—mental strength is equally important. People think that if they are strong physically and healthy, they are also strong mentally. But that’s not the case most of the time, especially in metropolitan cities where life is stressful. That’s where mental health plays an utmost role. When we are mentally strong, we can confidently face life’s challenges, be it the pressure of exams, heartbreak, career struggles, personal and social problems etc.
- There is a definition by WHO that says health is “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.
- Mental strength means emotional stability, positive thinking, and not giving up on your goals even in difficult situations. This is a skill that develops with time. Just like muscles become strong by training in the gym, just like habits take time to build, the mind too needs to be trained.
- There are low moments in everyone’s life. But mentally strong people accept those lows, learn from them, and move ahead. They understand their emotions, reflect before reacting, and prioritize their mental peace.
- Ultimately, mental strength is a foundation that helps us build better relationships, maintain focus, and keep our lives in balance. When the mind is strong, there is clarity and confidence in every situation.
ALWAYS REMEMBER
Your mental health is a priority
- Three cores of mental health.
Self awareness
Emotional regulation
Growth mindset
- Self awareness
- First, let’s talk about what self-awareness is self awareness?
- Self-awareness is nothing but your ability to perceive and understand the things that make who you are as an individual. It is a psychological state in which the self becomes the focus of attention.
- Self-awareness is looking inside yourself – understanding how you feel in a situation and why.
- When you know the answer to why, you will start implementing things in a much easier way. When you know your triggers, you can control them. For example, if you know that you get angry after hearing criticism, then next time you can understand that anger and respond calmly. And you will learn how to react in a way that doesn’t affect your mental health.
- Emotional regulation
- The main idea of emotional regulation is to manage your emotions. Emotional regulation does not mean you have to change your emotions; you should not feel emotions, but you should know how to handle them with balance.
- When you are under stress or tension, instead of reacting impulsively, taking a pause, thinking before acting, taking deep breaths, and thinking calmly is a sign of mental strength. In that case, you have time to react according to your emotional strength and not how others want you to react.
- Growth mindset
- Seeing every challenge as an opportunity to do something big is an extremely healthy sign of mental health.
- A growth mindset is considering every failure as a stepping stone to success, as a lesson, and not an end. When you start thinking, “What can I learn from this situation to avoid the same in the future?” that’s when you truly grow. Mentally strong people take every challenge as a new chance to become a better version of themselves.
- Growth mindset happens with time. You need to sit back, relax after every failure you have seen in your life, and think about the next step. In today’s Gen Z generation, we tend to compare ourselves with the Instagram lives of others, and that’s where our mental health gets affected.
- Let me take you through one of the most famous people’s success stories.
- Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of the famous brand KFC, founded at the age of 62. He might have gone through a lot of mental breakdowns, but the motive was simple to be successful. Today, there are 31,981 KFC restaurants worldwide. That’s where the growth mindset matters.
3. Set boundaries without guilt
- An important part of being mentally strong is learning to say NO. Mental strength is equal to setting the boundaries, and that too without feeling guilty. Often we say “YES” to avoid other people’s feelings, even if we are not happy or uncomfortable inside. But remember, saying “NO” is a form of self-care, not selfishness.
- I often used to say “YES” to everything, but as time went on, I learnt to say “NO” because it was eventually affecting me. I started prioritizing my boundaries, my time, my studies, and most importantly, myself and my mental health.
- Protecting time and energy
- Your time and energy are limited resources. Every time you go against your wishes and fulfill someone else’s expectation, you drain yourself with time, money, and energy. Mentally strong people understand that saying “YES” to everything hurts both their productivity and mental peace. So if a plan or request doesn’t match your priorities, learn to politely say “no”.
- Identify toxic environments and people
- Certain people and places create constant toxicity, negativity, and pressure. Your mind will become strong only when you learn to stay away from those environments. It is important to protect your comfort zone and maintain a healthy distance from negative people. Not every friendship or relationship deserves your time, and is positive for your growth, and recognizing this is a sign of mental maturity. This comes with experience.
- Assertiveness with respect
- Being assertive, straightforward does not mean being rude. It means expressing your needs and feelings clearly, without getting angry, without giving explanations. You can respectfully say, “I am not available for this right now”, or “I need some personal space”. When you respect your emotions and boundaries, others will do the same.
4. Surround yourself with positivity.
- Oftentimes our parents say, Be with good people, be with people who have the same mindset, be in a good environment that helps us to grow. Ever wonder why? Your environment directly impacts your mental strength. Just like a healthy plant needs good quality soil, water, and sunlight to grow, a healthy mind needs the fertilizer that is positivity. If your surround yourself with negative people, stressful environment, or toxic content, then no matter how much you try to be strong, you will constantly feel drained.
- Choose uplifting friends and mentors
- Not every friend wishes you well. Some people just complain, gossip, and spread negativity. Some people have a nature to backstab others, no matter how kind and generous you are to them. To become mentally strong, you need to connect with people who uplift you, who want your growth, happiness, and peace. Find mentors who inspire, guide you, and help you become the best version of yourself.
- Detox from social media and news :
- The biggest source of mental clutter today is social media and negative news. As I mentioned earlier, scrolling all the time, comparing yourself with others, or absorbing the problems of the world – all these steal your mental energy. Whenever you feel overwhelmed, take a digital detox. Keep your phone aside for a while and let your mind relax.
- Make your physical space positive:
- Your room or study space affects your mood. Soft lighting, fresh air, soothing music, motivational quotes, and clean surroundings – all these small things make you mentally calm and focused. Positivity is not just an emotion, it is a choice. Choose wisely and keep making yourself mentally strong.
Mental strength is not a destination, it’s a journey. It is a journey where every day is different – sometimes easy, sometimes difficult. But every step, big or small, is a part of progress. You don’t need to be perfect; just trying to be a little better every day is enough.
And the most important thing – be kind to yourself on difficult days. Not every day is amazing, not every day is productive, and not every mood is positive. Baby steps are also steps. And you are becoming a little stronger every day – whether you see it or not. Celebrate the small wins. Let go of perfection. It’s a myth wrapped in pressure. Mental strength is like a sunrise – it doesn’t rush, it doesn’t complete, it simply rises and sets.
Ending this blog with the amazing line which says:
“Even the darkest night will end, and the sun will rise again” – VICTOR HUGO
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