Mental health is a matter of concern for all of us, both individually and communally. We’re well aware that our young people are experiencing mental issues in an unprecedented way.
We may tend to think of Mental Health/Mental Illness as a dichotomy. In reality, all of us exist somewhere on a spectrum of mental health. And at different times in our lives, due to stresses, loss, disappointments, and life challenges, we may find ourselves more or less mentally healthy.
For 28 years we have been committed to bringing mentoring, resources, healing, and spiritual support to individuals and to community settings. An increasing body of research is demonstrating the connection between mental health and spiritual health. Spirituality, which is not the same as religion, is concerned with meaning and life purpose, the importance of relationships, and the need and desire to be “connected” and to participate in something larger than oneself.
Spirituality helps us interpret life and enables us to respond in life-giving ways to challenges. It fosters a healthy ability to express our emotions. It gives us tools for processing hardships and failure. It helps us to move beyond us/them to compassion, commonality and even kindness in response to thoughtlessness. Spirituality gives us the flexibility to adjust to the constancy of change while remaining centered. And above all, it gives birth to joy.
Over the next month, we will be looking at mental health needs and challenges in a variety of ways and each week offering helpful resources. This week, however, we want to acknowledge the importance of self-care for mental health, especially if you are a caregiver. We are confronted with multiple pressures on our time and energy, and we live in an addictive culture that overvalues workaholism, consumerism, and me-ism. We can find enjoyment in life, resiliency, and self-fulfillment in some simple practices from the spiritual tradition. We hope you will join us in the following:
Spending 20 minutes each day in nature, observing, walking, listening, enjoying.
Choosing to “look with appreciation” at the simple gifts in your day-the kindness of another person, the gentle breeze, food on the table, etc.
When you appreciate something about another person, tell them. Say thank you.
In transitional moments in your day, notice your breathing. Have you unknowingly been holding your breath or shallow breathing? Take a couple of deep breaths.
Simple things. Spiritual practices. Ground for our mental health.