The Foundations of Mental and Emotional Health ⋆ Holistic Lifestyle Guide

This is part 2 in a 3-part series of the foundations of holistic health. My first blog post covered the physical aspects, and now I will cover the mental & emotional aspects, the parts associated with the mind. The purpose of this series of blog posts is to give a summary of the foundations that are necessary for holistic health, for those who are too busy to make a lot of changes, or for those who are overwhelmed with a whole lifestyle change and want to learn just the fundamentals.

If you prefer to listen, here’s the podcast episode for this blog post:

I like to think of the mind as the middle between the body and the soul (or spirit). Once our bodily needs are taken care of, in order to reach spiritual highs and evolve, we must master the human mind. Mental and emotional problems are rampant in our society, and this, in combination with many people not getting their basic physical needs met, well that just spells trouble. It’s no wonder there aren’t many spiritually evolved people out there, expanding their consciousness and awakening to their highest potential. So, let’s dive in and get to the nitty-gritty of what the basic needs for mental and emotional health are.

Table of Contents

Meditation and Stress Reduction

Let’s start with the most common suggestion, meditation. You can’t really argue with the statistics. No matter what study you read, the facts are there; meditation improves anxiety, insomnia, work productivity, and prevents heart disease. So, meditation cannot be overlooked since it is one of the foundations of building a healthy lifestyle. I have a blog post that goes further into detail about how you can improve your mental and emotional health using Altered States.

Another one is stress reduction, although this is also a by-product of meditation, there are many ways we can reduce stress in our lives that are not considered meditation. Getting regular massages, taking bubble baths, laughter, watching less violent entertainment, and aromatherapy are a few of the many ways to reduce stress. Eliminating (or at least reducing) negative thoughts is easier said than done, but it is a goal worth striving for.

If stress-reducing activities are your thing, I have a printable Stress Relief Workbook available in my Etsy shop.

Toxic Relationships

Ending toxic relationships is a big one but one that many people simply won’t do. It is hard to cut ties with people who have been in our lives for a long time, but it is essential to consider your own needs.

If you are in an abusive relationship with children involved, it might seem counter-intuitive to end the relationship, but the truth is that even very young children pick up on negative relationships and learn to model them. It has even been said that an unborn child will be affected if the mother is experiencing pain, fear, or anxiety.

People who have emotional trauma from their past should not be ashamed or embarrassed to seek help, and the first step is admitting you need help. Being in relationships or even just interacting with anyone can bring out trauma if it is not correctly dealt with.

Work-Related Stress

Reducing stress at work is a big one too, and it is another thing many people put up with. I’ve been there; I understand that job stress is tough to avoid. Since work is such a big part of our lives, we should at least try to be objective about it and assess how possible it is to change jobs or careers. Life is too short to dread a third of your entire life.

Work/Life Balance

Related to job stress is creating balance in life. It’s a sad fact of the modern world that many of us have to work more than one job or work so much that there is very little time for anything else.

If we really examine our lives, there is always something that can be sacrificed before we cut into our sleep time, our time with our loved ones, and the money needed to survive. Many people live beyond their means and struggle as a result of it.

This is one of the reasons why minimalism is such a healthy aspect of a holistic lifestyle because less ends up being more. Less stuff means a smaller, more affordable place to live. Spending less money on stuff means more money for experiences. Wouldn’t you rather have a life of free time and hobbies than a life of working more hours for more money for a bigger house to keep more of your stuff in?

If having a lot of stuff is important to you, it wouldn’t hurt to examine your reasons why. The statistics say that people with fewer possessions are happier, so it would be beneficial to dive deep and assess your life and figure out what you are willing to let go of in order to achieve happiness and balance in your life.

Personal Development

Expanding your mind, otherwise known as personal development, is another significant factor in having a healthy mind. Learning, being creative, and traveling are all excellent for our mental and emotional health.

I am a huge proponent of learning, and I believe everyone should continue taking courses, reading books, and watching documentaries throughout their lives. Creative expression is something that many people feel they are incapable of doing, and that is unfortunate. All children are creative, and when we stop creating, we become stagnant. Imagine not ever learning anything new or creating anything new, just always stuck in the same rut of everyday monotony. Many people live this way, and unfortunately, they will never grow or evolve into the best person they can be.

Part of personal development is learning to take control of your mind. Most people think they have no control over the thoughts in their minds, and even worse, they believe whatever the mind tells them. The truth is, the conscious mind chatters away constantly and most of it is not beneficial to you. But if used correctly, the mind can control the thoughts which create your reality. Most people struggle with this, so you’re not alone if this is you.

If you are interested in learning more about how to control your thoughts and not be a slave to them, I highly recommend John Kehoe’s online course called Mind Power. Pun intended, it blew my mind!

You can download a free eBook to learn more by clicking the image below (affiliate link);

Hopefully, this has inspired you to take some action steps on improving your mental and emotional health.

If you need more in-depth workbook-style help on achieving your mental health goals, I got you covered! My Mental Health Workbook works you through everything you need to achieve peace and well-being, for less than the cost of dinner!

Click on the image below to check it out in my Etsy shop.