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