10 Ways to Nurture a Healthy Mind

Staying mentally and emotionally balanced when all around you seems to have gone mad, can be a challenge. Thankfully, there are many things you can do right now to nurture a healthy mind.

10 ways to nurture a healthy mind.

Practice gratitude

Those who read my blogs regularly may be thinking… again? The gratitude thing?

Gratitude is one of the most overlooked tools that everyone has access to every single moment of every day. It doesn’t cost money and it certainly doesn’t take much time, but the benefits are enormous. Research has shown that gratitude helps improve relationships, our physical and psychological health, enhances empathy and reduces aggression, helps you to sleep better and improves overall self-esteem.

Don’t give your power away

When you allow other people’s words or actions to upset or unsettle you, you’re giving away your power. Try to RESPOND rather than REACT.

Accept new challenges

But calculate risks. Weigh up the risks and benefits before taking action and be prepared to take responsibility.

Set healthy boundaries

And there are many to consider:

Material boundaries – giving or lending things that belong to you, such as money, your car, clothes, books etc.
Physical boundaries – Your personal space.
Mental boundaries – Your thoughts, values, and opinions.
Emotional boundaries – Separating your emotions from someone else’s. Healthy boundaries prevent you from giving advice, blaming or accepting blame and protect you from feelings of guilt regarding someone else’s negative feelings or problems.
Sexual boundaries – protect your comfort level with sexual touch and activity – what, where, when, and with whom.
Spiritual boundaries – Your spiritual beliefs and experiences

Make peace with the past

Refuse to let old patterns run you in the present day. The past is the past and cannot be undone or changed, however, you can choose to reframe it, learn from it and move on. Many people feel as though their past is holding them back in some way, if that’s you, you’re not alone. Letting go of the past doesn’t mean the damage never existed, it means the damage no longer controls your life.

Accept responsibility for your life

Making excuses instead of taking responsibility for your actions, thoughts, and choices will most likely fail to succeed in both your professional and personal life. No one can live your life for you. You are in charge. Blaming others for the events of your life is fruitless, take control and responsibility as everything is the result of the choices you make going forward.

Stay true to your values

Every one of us is different. We have our values, morals and principles and it is perfectly reasonable to expect to stay true to them without fear of being put down. Know your core values, be firm, be consistent, don’t preach or allow yourself to be preached to.

Be willing to fail (occasionally)

Don’t give up after failing. See every failure as a chance to improve.

Enjoy some alone time

Some people view alone time as pure bliss, a time to be quiet and alone with their thoughts, a time to unwind. However for others being alone can evoke fear, anxiety and feelings of loneliness. Ease into the silence and read, paint, do a crossword or watch movies, experiment with cooking or baking. This is your time to try new things, without any distractions and if you’re getting into the groove… try switching off your phone and computer for a while.

Stay happy

Not as easy as it sounds? Consider what things make you feel happy. Write them down. Keep them somewhere you can see them often and then…

Stay away from negative people.
Choose uplifting friendships.
Take more exercise – Exercise increases endorphins and other feel-good chemicals in the brain.
Practice mindfulness – Mindfulness is simply paying full attention to the present moment and accepting it in a non-judgmental way.
Don’t self-ruminate.
Don’t take yourself too seriously.
Don’t rely on anyone else to shift your mood, heal you or fill your empty spaces.
Try hypnosis. Either one to one hypnotherapy with a highly respected fully registered Clinical Hypnotherapist Bsinclairhypno