| To avoid being ourselves a part of the general social | | | | require discipline and self-control to establish physical |
| problem of mental health, we each must follow a | | | | health and we require application of the same when |
| personal mental fitness programme just as we follow | | | | we are ensuring the health of our emotional state. As |
| our physical health programme. In this way we can | | | | our emotions have a strong influence upon our |
| anticipate a comfortable future for ourselves and | | | | thinking we must remain positive to ensure that |
| contribute to a healthier society in general.Many | | | | negative emotions have no chance to endanger the |
| people have to learn to adjust to physical disabilities | | | | plans our mind sets for our life goals. Rather, we |
| and physical disease and often can still lead relatively | | | | depend upon our strong and happy emotions to give |
| comfortable lives but mental diseases are even more | | | | impetus to those goals.There is no point in spending |
| difficult. They have a powerful negative effect upon | | | | mental energy for a cause only to have its success |
| our total well-being as well as upon everybody | | | | undermined wayward emotions. And equally it is not |
| around us and frequently one patient will require | | | | satisfactory to have strong positive emotions |
| several helpers. Without mental health life can | | | | seeking expression but that are denied by our own |
| become unbearable.We know that there are certain | | | | fear or negative thinking.Mind Must Master The |
| habits and practices which will give us good physical | | | | EmotionsFollowing the natural fluctuations and |
| health but how do we know what to do to keep | | | | difficulties between thoughts and emotions |
| ourselves mentally healthy? Where can we learn to | | | | experienced in adolescence, it is fundamental to our |
| follow a mental health programme?Mental Health | | | | character and well being that in maturity, our |
| RulesIf the rules and requirements for physical health | | | | thoughts assume the responsibility of leadership over |
| and fitness are well known to be associated with | | | | our emotions. So when conflicts arise, as can often |
| hygiene, posture, nutrition, pure water, exercise, | | | | occur, the mind can be responsible for employing the |
| relaxation, sleep and rest, sunshine, fresh air and the | | | | emotions in such a way as to result in happy, positive |
| need for a clean, natural environment, it seems | | | | outcomes.The mind must assume the powerful role |
| reasonable that we can follow the same principles | | | | of benign Director of our lives, encouraging our best |
| regarding our minds. And if we apply these rules with | | | | emotions and subduing the negative. This is the |
| the same enthusiasm we give to physical fitness, we | | | | starting point for mental fitness. Good teamwork |
| can surely expect good results to follow.So to | | | | between a positive mind and balanced emotions |
| maintain mental health we need a clear, uncluttered | | | | results in an ideal state to undertake mental fitness |
| mind, positive attitudes, nourishing or enriching | | | | disciplines, just as a physical fitness exercise |
| thoughts and ideas, ample exercise to keep our | | | | programme is a pleasant experience when the body |
| minds strong and flexible, sufficient rest and sleep for | | | | is willing. Conflict between mind and emotions |
| restoration of our mental energies and a wholesome | | | | generally results in indecision, depression or in |
| mental environment.Our mental environment is as | | | | emotional storms which temporarily damage any |
| important for our minds as the physical environment | | | | determined intent of the mind.Most psychological |
| is for our bodies. Our minds can only thrive in | | | | tensions are based on this disparity between what |
| surroundings which are congenial and free of | | | | our mind aims for and what our emotions desire. |
| disturbing and negative thoughts and | | | | They must become co-operatively harnessed to a |
| influences.Basically then, the rules when defined, are | | | | single purpose or at least oriented in the same |
| seen to be simple, requiring only a degree of self | | | | direction.Get to know your emotional moods and |
| discipline in order to put them into effect. The key to | | | | energy and learn to be happy and to expand your |
| success is in the application of the principles. Then we | | | | capacity to experience positive emotions, the |
| can expect to retain our intelligent grasp on life, keep | | | | greatest of which is love. But let your emotional |
| our full mental faculties unimpaired and retain a joy in | | | | nature be directed under the leadership of your |
| living to the end of our days.We may see others | | | | thought.Just Follow The RulesOnce we know the role |
| exercising for physical health and admire what they | | | | of the mind and its natural duty is to direct our |
| are doing but we will never know the benefits they | | | | emotions, we can accept the responsibility and feel |
| feel until we follow suit and do the same. We each | | | | confident that we can cope with any of our own |
| must make our own effort and this is just the same | | | | rebellious moods and emotions. We are then free to |
| regarding mental fitness. Those who are getting good | | | | follow the mental health rules: We need to keep a |
| results are already following the mental health | | | | clear, uncluttered mind; maintain positive optimistic |
| rules.Concept Of Mental HealthTo motivate us we | | | | attitudes; entertain enriching thoughts and ideas; give |
| have to have a concept to inspire us. So, just as we | | | | exercise to our minds to keep them both strong and |
| know how we feel when our body is in a healthy | | | | flexible; ensure we have sufficient rest and sleep for |
| state, we need to consider what constitutes an ideal | | | | restoration of our mental energies; and provide |
| healthy mental state. These signs of good mental | | | | ourselves with a wholesome mental |
| function and expression are recognized in a person | | | | environment.Become Free Of StressStress is said to |
| who has balance and stability, mental strength, | | | | be the most common symptom of mental disease. It |
| rationality, self-confidence, will power, vitality, mental | | | | is difficult to avoid exaggerated responses and to |
| creativity, compassion, developed talents, generosity, | | | | remain un-phased by extremes in others and remain |
| fearlessness, love and kindness. We refer to the ideal | | | | calm and rational at all times. A person who can do |
| when we are assessing our own qualities.Our general | | | | so earns our admiration and we should try to follow |
| concept also anticipates that such a person would be | | | | instead of reacting quickly according to our old |
| cheerful rather than morose, calm instead of | | | | habits.Negative moods and conditions of stress and |
| confused, ethical and law abiding, truthful, fair minded | | | | tension in others cause us to react quickly as stress |
| and self controlled. Perhaps, we would also naturally | | | | is infectious unless we keep a hold on our responses |
| anticipate that such an individual would have a good | | | | just as we have to learn to handle our own stress to |
| sense of humour as well as a capacity for logical | | | | avoid affecting others in a negative way.We all |
| thought and common sense. They would also | | | | experience minor symptoms of mental disturbance or |
| possess a degree of self confidence which would | | | | anxiety on occasion and it is best that we learn to |
| allow them to feel secure and therefore kindly | | | | deal with stressful situations as they arise.There are |
| disposed towards others rather than expressing | | | | many ways to deal with stress - from learning the |
| defensive behaviour and negative traits of | | | | art of relaxation and meditation, yoga, tai-chi , taking |
| personality.Any healthy minded person is intelligent | | | | up a hobby or a sport, deep breathing, herbal tonics |
| and creative with a keen intellect, capable of | | | | and supplements, therapeutic massage and so on. But |
| generating new thoughts and expressing a | | | | remember to be kind to yourself and be sure that |
| wholesome enthusiasm for life. This latter quality is | | | | you are caring for yourself as you should, enjoying a |
| perhaps of most importance. But we need to build up | | | | natural lifestyle of your choice, developing your |
| a clear picture of our own as to what we are aiming | | | | inherent talents and creating a life which is according |
| for in our efforts to achieve and maintain mental | | | | to your own plan. Then you will be so happy that |
| health.Above all, we wish to live untroubled and at | | | | there is no room for inner stress.If you should suffer |
| peace within the inner world of our own | | | | anxiety which is not due to obvious factors, it may |
| mind.Thoughts And Feelings Are EntwinedThe human | | | | be advisable to seek the counsel of a professional |
| psyche however, is a blend of both thinking and | | | | psychologist who can help you to regain perspective |
| feeling. Our nature comprises a partnership or | | | | or advise you appropriately.Stress is just another |
| co-operation between emotions and thought. | | | | way of saying something is wrong in our lives, |
| Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish the difference | | | | whether it is within ourselves, our circumstances or in |
| between thought and feeling when they are blended, | | | | regard to wrong decisions and choices. Each of us |
| or even confused. But they are certainly aspects of | | | | inwardly holds the key to what is causing our |
| our nature which function on different planes. | | | | unhappiness. Each of us has the capacity to correct |
| Sometimes thought and feeling run parallel, | | | | what is wrong if we are honest with ourselves and |
| sometimes not. For instance we can have happy | | | | are prepared to make changes.The simplest way of |
| thoughts and entertain similar joyful feelings or can | | | | relieving nervous tension is by practising relaxation |
| have pleasant thoughts yet can experience a feeling | | | | and meditation, But there are many simple and |
| of foreboding. Our happiest moments however, | | | | natural ways of relieving stress through self-help |
| come from a positive and harmonious blending of | | | | methods.It is important that you avoid taking drugs |
| both aspects of our psyche. So we must be sure | | | | or medication for stress unless you are under the |
| that our thoughts and our feelings work together.We | | | | care of a psychiatrist. |