Category: Mind Health

Our overall wellbeing is composed of the body and mind. The body is the physical element which interacts with the world while our mind is the center of our feelings and thoughts. It’s like the control room where all the commands start. If we can make our body work together correctly with our mind, we can achieve just about everything we set ourselves to accomplish.

 

 

The interconnectedness of the body and mind seem stress-free, but only a few in a million know how to use their elements together efficiently. The external factors are what make it hard for us to perfect ourselves. Every day, we react and function based on what our environment demands from us. We direct our goals to the perspective and standards of our society. Marjie L. Roddick, MA, NCC, LMHC said, “Your environment, both your social and natural surroundings, can greatly impact how you feel.” She’s right with that.

 

Sometimes, we have to detach from the idea that we are a part of the world of millions and focus on just one person – ourselves.

 

What Are The Activities That Make Our Body One With Our Mind? 

 

• Walking Or Running

 There is an absolute peace that we can get from walking. We get to stretch and work out our muscles, especially our legs, and at the same time, we can reflect and ponder about things that bother us. Walking or running can help clear our mind to prepare us for making important decisions in life. “Just a five-minute walk before you get in your car to go to work or hole up with your computer in your home office can not only give you an extra boost of motivation, but also give your thoughts some time to settle and get organized. So resist the urge to occupy yourself with your phone while you do it!” Andrea Bonior, PhD, clinical psychologist advises.

 

 

• Drawing Or Painting

 

Drawing, painting, or any form of art that gives us an opportunity to express ourselves freely is a way to connect our body and mind. It is through our brain that we develop thoughts that turn into concrete elements. Our mind controls the hand to create something out of our ideas.

 

• Trekking Or Climbing

 

These activities are far more risky and adventurous. They require a lot of skills to be able to trek or climb successfully, and there are only a few people that get to experience this kind of adventure. Trekking or climbing gives a sense of fulfillment and achievement. These activities challenge the body and mind in a manner to which they have to work together to create strategies and techniques.

 

 

 

• Singing And Dancing

 

Singing and dancing are enjoyable activities where we need to familiarize with the sound using our senses. We can express our feelings and emotions through our voice control and movements. Through singing and dancing, the mind controls the body to create a pattern and stylish moves based on harmony and beat. It develops the alertness and attentiveness of a person. As

 

• Swimming

 

We can go to either a pool or the beach to feel the water bring relaxation to our tired bodies. Some people find happiness and peace just by looking at the sea and hearing the waves. Some people swim, surf, or ride a motorboat and interact with water. It makes the body and mind one with nature.

 

 

It is essential that our body understands the mind and the mind knows the body. Both are critical to achieving our goals, that’s why it is imperative that we make an effort to better them individually and learn ways to make them work together to achieve greatness! “Take a mental health day, take time off from work and refuel & recharge, whatever that looks like for you personally.” Audra J Lee LMFT suggests.

 

Sometimes, we feel tired or lose motivation. Over-exhaustion from work or school can at times be unbearable. During these times, we begin to feel disengaged and lack the enthusiasm to get back to work. With how much our world has grown, life is now busier, more stressful, and more demanding. Thus, it is common to experience what most psychologists refer to as “burnout.” Continue reading “Mind Over Matter: Overcoming Burnout”

Do you find it a challenge every morning to choose between hitting the snooze button and getting out of bed? You probably sneak a few more minutes of slumber more often than not. In the end, you end up sluggish, sometimes irritable, and too tired to face the daunting day ahead. Continue reading “Mindful Morning: How Waking Up Earlier Can Help Your Inner Peace”

Have you gotten your money’s worth and feel improvement weeks after you’ve subjected yourself to counseling? Are your mind and body congruent with each other more than ever? How can one know that their counseling sessions paid off?

Continue reading “Get the Most Out of Counseling for Your Mind and Body Connection”

Source: pixabay.com

After quitting your job, what’s next? Those who are unable to stay idle at home go straight to a new workplace. On the other hand, some have their thoughts and feelings all over the place after resignation. If you feel like talking to a psychologist is too much of a big step, then taking counseling sessions might be your best option.

There are various signs and factors you might have considered before you handed over your resignation letter. One of the most common reasons nowadays is the job’s negative impact on our overall health.

Dealing With Workplace Trauma

A study found 42% of workers consider quitting because workplace stress had affected them. Even if you have already left the job, anxiety, fear, lack of enthusiasm, and the feeling of being drained will remain.

“We all experience obstacles in life that keep us from feeling and being whole. Many have found counseling as a way to invest in themselves, their relationships, or their families in order to support a better or new meaning on life.” –Ryan Mebust – LMFT

Counseling is for everyone who struggles with life problems. You might be feeling guilty for the workload you left for your colleagues who have become your friends. You might be feeling lost, not knowing where to go and how to start anew. For whatever is bothering you, ask for support.

Source: pixabay.com

“People need time off from work to recover from stress and prevent burnout.” –David W. Ballard, PsyD, MBA

Too many pieces of advice and scolding will not help, especially if you are experiencing workplace trauma. The factors that contribute to creating a potential shock in the workplace are as follows:

• Stressful events such as death, grief, accident, or injury
• Organizational stressors such as bullying, harassment, betrayal, extreme isolation, too much pressure, unresolved conflicts, toxic workplace environment, uncertain future, company’s downsizing, or fear of unemployment
• Physical stressors such as noise, unsafe and chaotic workplace environment, lack of working space, extreme heat or cold, and other adverse physical conditions
• External threats such as construction, evacuation, lockdown, natural disasters, and robbery

Helping You Recover

To recover from the emotional trauma caused by your previous job, do not isolate yourself. Maintaining your connections with others will help you improve more quickly. You do not have to talk about the things that upset or traumatize you. These topics might make things worse for some. Having someone who will listen to you intently and provide expert advice is enough.

Sure, your family and friends are there. However, sometimes, it feels like you need an outsider’s perspective. Talking to a professional often feels more relieving and welcoming. You do not have to hear the words “I told you so” or “You should have done this earlier” as you open up. It is why counselors are there to help.

Counselors allow people to discuss their problems and complicated feelings in a safe and confidential setting. They may create a plan of action to help you reconcile your unresolved issues. Chris Corbett, PsyD also adds that “Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life.”

They may not give you specific advice or a list of things to do to help you recover from workplace trauma. Instead, they will let you uncover your understanding of what went wrong and how you will move forward. Opting for regular counseling sessions can help you comprehend yourself better, especially when it comes to how you handle difficulties and how you accept other people’s point of view.

Source: pixabay.com

As a “talking therapy,” counseling might be the least exhausting option you can take to help you heal. You might even discover different yet definite career goals while talking to your counselor. It will be a smooth transition from one job to another if you have a renewed mind and recharged energy.

Source: pixabay.com

According to Julia Hogan, LCPC, “The amount of sleep you get and the quality of that sleep can actually affect your physical and mental health in ways you don’t anticipate.” Getting quality sleep is a necessity for us to achieve a healthy mind and body. The average adult would need 7 to 9 hours of sleep to function correctly and be in their best state.

However, most people have trouble getting a good night’s rest, putting them at risk of sleep deficiency and deprivation. If this is a frequent problem for you, then maybe it’s time you try meditating.

What Is Meditation?

Meditation involves directing the mind to a particular state of awareness to get a healthier sense of perspective. In this state, the individual becomes more mindful and relaxed when engaging in the present circumstance. For many, meditation is a spiritual practice to transform the mind in a way that it develops emotional clarity. But it can do more than clearing your head. This process can be useful in reducing health risks and is proven to improve the quality of life. In an article of Marjie L. Roddick, MA, NCC, LMHC she said, “To improve your spiritual health, it can help to create a quiet space for solitude and contemplation or a place of curiosity and playfulness. Maintaining a playful, curious attitude can help you find experiences that offer hope, purpose, and meaning.”

Effects Of Meditation

By making meditation a habit, you can rest more comfortably and get the hours of rest that you need. “Mind resting usually doesn’t mean to have no thoughts, but to slow down thoughts and give each thought less meaning. Resting is going into the body and allowing things to be as they are.” explains Andrea F. Polard, PsyD. Meditating before bed can cause you to fall asleep faster and stay asleep for more extended periods. Since your body becomes relaxed and your muscles are less tense, your sleep tends to be less interrupted as well.

Source: pixabay.com

Apart from improving the quality of sleep, meditation has other effects on your body. Your levels of stress that may contribute to depression and anxiety are effectively lowered down. Furthermore, your body can be less at risk of chronic illness, high blood pressure, and heart diseases. Your immune system gets more robust, and your tolerance for pain increases. Moreover, meditation slows down your aging process and boosts your brain’s performance.

Aside from the physical effects, your overall mental sharpness drastically improves. This aspect includes heightened functions relating to your memory, attention, learning capacity, and decision-making skills. You become more present in the current situation and focus appropriately on the tasks so that you can work efficiently. In a way, you do become more intelligent, especially with more brain volume and brainpower.

Finally, your emotional health gets uplifted as well. The clarity and lightness that you feel after meditating also affect your outlook in life. It puts you in a more positive state of mind and a brighter mood and gives you a sense of well-being. You are not only inspired to take care of yourself, but you also become more compassionate to people around you.

Meditation Before Sleeping

Meditation before sleep can either be guided or unguided. The choice depends on your preference and what you are most comfortable doing.

Guided meditation means you have a teacher or an app that walks you through the whole procedure. While doing so, your guide will give you step-by-step instructions and the proper techniques in performing them. It is best suited for beginners so that they could get the most out of the process.

Source: pixabay.com

On the other hand, unguided meditations allow you to be in control of your time and pace. You do the process alone, without any guidance. Unguided meditation can be better because you are not dependent on any tools. You can train yourself not to be distracted.

Regardless of your choice in technique, it is a great habit to meditate regularly. You can also practice this during other times in the day to improve your health. Remember: it doesn’t take much to make yourself feel ten times better.

If there is one thing that you need to master in this life, it is the ability to achieve inner peace wherever you go. Imagine living a life that is peaceful and far from the chaos. Think about how great everything in your day-to-day life would become the moment you learn how to quiet your messy mind and find the peace that you have been looking for. According to a recent journal published by a therapist, inner peace can do a lot of wonders to the human person. Because of this, everyone is encouraged to find it deep in their hearts to quiet their mind and achieve an extraordinary level of inner peace.

In today’s article, we are going to state some of the guidelines that you must observe if you want to accomplish inner peace in this lifetime. Before anything else, you have to understand the reality that the process of completing this step is not going to be easy. There are several times when you may feel that it is already exhausting to keep doing things and not expect the results to manifest right away. As such, you should be one with yourself so that you will not feel lost. Here are the items to keep in mind:

Master Meditation

Daisy Chow, LPC, NCC once said, “It was hard to focus on the meditations because my mind would wander. Practicing self-care and self-compassion outside of sessions was difficult because I was busy most of the time and was not used to taking care of myself.” With that, one of the crucial things that you must never forget is the significance of teaching you how to be good at meditation. You can start by meditating for at least five minutes a day. However, it is ideal if you will increase the time as you progress. If you are not sure how to get started, it is best if you will enroll in gyms or institutions that provide meditation. Making this part of your lifestyle can benefit you a lot. It will not only help you become a master in quieting your thoughts. At the same time, it can also enable you to be the source of positive energy or aura for everyone around you.

Forgive Others

There may be people in your life who has caused you a tremendous amount of pain and suffering. As such, it would only be logical on your part to hate the same individual. Unfortunately, what you do not know is that the more you have grudge and hatred in your system, the harder it would be on your part to be happy. As long as you have not forgiven those who have sinned, you will start to feel better about yourself. Eventually, this will enable you to find your inner peace. The truth is that it can be a struggle to make it happen, but you will feel the rewards after. As such, never give up in offering your forgiveness even to those who have not asked for it. “The strength of forgiveness has been shown to have a powerful buffering effect on stress. Those who are highly forgiving of themselves and others have a far less chance of having a mental illness.” Ryan M. Niemiec Psy.D. said.

Mind Your Own Business

Another thing that you must never forget about inner peace is the significance of minding your own business. Before you meddle with the affairs of other people, it is best if you will first look at yourself in the mirror. Are you good enough, unlike those other people? Are you making more progress than others? Do you think you have a better chance of succeeding? While all these inquiries are valid, you cannot deny the fact that they can be self-serving. As such, it is best if you will begin to mind your own business instead of meddling with others. Take note that your primary and only concern must be your own welfare instead of that of others.

Talk To A Therapist

You may also want to consider to try therapy sessions, especially if you start getting sleepless nights. “Therapy gives you permission to allow you to feel the pain and know that it’s valid.” explains Carmen Gehrke, LMHC. Keep in mind that there are some manifestations of your body that can tell you whether or not you are under a lot of stress. What is crucial at this point is to listen when your body tells you that you are in pain – either emotional or physical. For mental health-related issues, the right thing to do is to bring them up to a therapist. Make sure to find time in attending sessions so that you can find what you are looking for. One session with an excellent therapist can already give you a different level of clarity that will enable you to have peace of mind.

The items mentioned above are not exclusive. You can still find inner peace in many other ways. As long as you believe in your capacity to do it, then there is nothing to worry about it.