Ways You’re Hurting Your Mental Health

Sharon Moore February 23, 2015

If you have been reading our blogs for quite a while now, you probably have learned about some effective ways to strengthen your mental health. Take more risks, face challenges bravely, see opportunities in every downfall and develop positive thinking – these are just among the many tips we have talked about. But if you focus a lot on adopting these useful traits and do nothing about removing the obstacles that sabotage your mental health, you will see very little gain.

So if you want to experience great improvement in your mental health, it is also important to identify those habits of yours that keep you from achieving progress.

You obsessively think about the future.

One of the reasons why meditation, yoga and similar exercises are so effective in promoting mental health and relieving the mind and body from stress is that they all promote mindfulness. Being in the now – the present moment – is one of the best things you can do to feel better, get more productive, and become happier each day. Forecasting what the future will be like is something that no one, not even mentally strong people, can do. Rather than worrying about what the future holds, focus your attention and energy to the now. By not practising mindfulness, you are increasing your likelihood of committing mistakes, and even missing all the special little details of your day that could have increased your happiness levels. So the next time you catch yourself worrying about how your business plan may not work, or the possibility of you not being able to pay the rent and bills, pinch yourself and shift your focus back to the present moment.

You always seem to take things personally.

That arrogant behaviour of your boss is not your fault. It’s his. Those rude comments you hear people say about you are also not your fault. It’s theirs. You are only responsible for your actions and reactions, not of that of the other people. Mentally strong people don’t think that criticisms thrown to them are because the world is against them. This applies to the adversities they encounter in life. Just because you fail doesn’t mean you are stupid or incapable. Some things are beyond your control. The moment you stop taking things personally, the more you it gets easier for you to accept and love yourself, including your flaws and imperfections.

You don’t let it go.

Whether it’s a painful experience or a happy memory with someone who became part of your life, there are things that you have to let go, in order for you to move forward with your life and face another chapter. Mentally tough people know that wishing things – the constant desire to go back to the ways they were – remains a wish, not a reality. You can never ‘rewind’ life nor ‘fast-forward’ it. These things can only be done in movies that will forever be fiction stories. Real life is different. Letting go of the past, especially traumatic experiences, is never an easy thing to do. But with the support of your loved ones and with the intervention of a professional therapist, you can slowly and effectively detach yourself from the nightmares of the past.

Believing you can do it all.

Mentally strong people know their priorities. It’s true that you can do anything, but not everything. You are not a superhuman who doesn’t get tired. Accept the fact that even though you are emotionally strong and healthy, you can get vulnerable at times. That is why it is important to keep the balance in your personal and work life. Take one step at a time. You will achieve your goals, whatever they are. But you don’t have to deprive yourself of the fun and laughter that life, at present, brings. After all, happiness is not a destination. It is a journey.

You don’t communicate.

Life is meant to be spent with other people, not alone. Mentally strong people understands the value of friendship and social interaction. They know that having a positive relationship with others is critical to their well-being. As you take good care of things that matter to you, also treasure the people around you. They are your support system. They can be a source of strength, hope, encouragement and inspiration. They can be a source of happiness too.

Buy overcoming these negative habits that are destructive to your mental health, you will find it easier to achieve happiness and satisfaction, and develop resilience in life – the hallmarks of a strong mental health.