This past weekend I keynoted as a speaker for the Killingworth Women’s Organization’s Health and Wellness Expo on issues related to domestic abuse. Although the title was Real Women Change the World: Letting the Good Girl Die So the Real Woman Can Live, after one of my books, the topic truly was on Mental Health. As shown when a male attendee thanked me for my “universal” talk since he said it was totally relevant for him and his need for self-acceptance, acknowledging his own humanity, and having permission to not have all the answers. Letting go of anxiety and depression is far easier when you can let of needing to be perfect or “good.”
Clearly, most folks think of exploring a variety of holistic approaches to spiritual and physical health care when they think of attending a Health Expo. However, as recent studies are showing, mental health is a major issue for so many. Following the pandemic of the past few years, the extent of political divisiveness and the resultant fear, the economy, and job security, in addition to any personal difficulties that may be taking place, vulnerability is a common concern.
Because of a fast-paced culture based more on survival than thriving, on external approval versus inner confidence, and activity rather than quiet reflection, it is hard to find the time to catch up with yourself and what you are experiencing or need. In the quiet we can often discover strengths and beliefs we have but never acknowledged. With mindfulness, meditation, and reflection, we gain access to emotional intelligence and the resultant mental health.
Whether your main stressor is your business, your retirement, your relationship, or your own security, taking time each day to reflect on your life circumstances, on the life you have created for yourself, requires you to sit in silence as you experience what you have created and why. Questions to look at are, does it now meet your current needs? Does it reflect your current values? Does it support you, allow you the freedom, to move and to grow forward as you continue to evolve, reflecting more and more of who you are called to become? Does it have room for you to have the most important relationship in your life, the one with yourself?
That personal 1-1 relationship with yourself is what informs you if you are living in integrity, in purpose, and in joy. It calls you to keep growing, exploring, and shifting and changing as you age, your life circumstances change, and as you discover so many new things about yourself.
Mental health, a much talked about subject at the moment, is the result of this focus on mindfulness, on meditation, emotional intelligence, and self-care. Exercise, whatever it is that you do, supports energy flow, circulation, and inner peace. Eating well makes that possible.
Do the best that you can in all areas of health but recognizing that true success in business and in life comes about through mental health because you took time to remember you, what you need and truly want. It comes from the resultant peace, joy, and gratitude for the gift of life.
