3 Mindset Shifts to Improve Overall Well-Being

Mindset shifts are not easy, but when we make them, they can have a huge impact on our life experience. Here are 3 suggestions for mindset shifts that have the potential to greatly improve overall well-being. 

1.      Consider your mental health as a part of your physical health, not separate from it.

The first mindset shift is a big one. Mental health, sometimes called behavioral health, has been arbitrarily separated from physical health by our society in a way that no other medical specialty has experienced. Mental health is a component of physical health just as is heart health or reproductive health, yet mental health and mental illness are highly stigmatized in our culture. Of course, scientists and medical professionals need to categorize and classify bodily systems to understand, communicate about, and treat different conditions, but the societal stigmatization associated with mental health has serious consequences.

This unnecessary division of mental health from physical health in our culture is related to people minimizing mental health concerns. They are less likely to do things to prevent mental health problems than they are physical health problems. Now, there are many people who do not prioritize their physical health either, but there are far more people who work out at a gym to promote physical health than those who make a conscious effort to improve their mental health.  We are also less likely to give ourselves permission to take care of ourselves for emotional concerns than we are for physical reasons. For example, many people feel like they should not use sick leave for a much-needed mental health day. In the most serious of situations, people who are severely suffering, such as those with a clinical level of anxiety or depression, do not seek treatment due to the stigma involved with seeing a psychologist or therapist.       

It is so peculiar that mental health has been disconnected from physical health in our culture because it really is all connected! Take the following correlation as an example: when we are not feeling well with a cold or flu, some may notice that their mood is also affected. On the other hand, when we are overwhelmed emotionally, our immune system can be weakened and we are more likely to get sick. This connection between our psychological functioning to our immune and nervous systems is an area of medicine called psychoneuroimmunology.

Numerous scientific studies are coming out showing that physical activity, such as cardio exercise, is associated with improved mood. Similarly, we are better able to regulate our emotions when we get enough sleep and maintain a nutritious diet. Studies have shown that living a highly stressful life is related to a lower life expectancy. There are just a few of the countless examples of how the long-stigmatized area of mental health is an integral part of the complexity of overall human health.

So, how does shifting one’s mindset from the unwarranted mental health and physical health dichotomy to one that appreciates the interconnectedness of our health improve our overall well-being? When we appreciate that it is all connected, we start taking care of ourselves in new and better ways. We may start going to the gym when we realize it is about more than getting a “beach body.”  We may do everything we can to get a good night’s rest. We may be more intentional about how we handle stress in the interest of living longer.

This mindset shift can have some serious ripple effects, too. By no longer adhering to false beliefs about mental illness taught to us by society and perhaps passed down in our families, we are helping to fight mental health stigma. In this way, we are not only helping to improve our own well-being, but we are contributing to a cultural change that could improve the overall well-being of a myriad of other fellow humans.

2.      Live in the present moment.

The second mindset shift that can greatly improve overall well-being is all about bringing your mind’s focus to the current moment. This way of being is called mindfulness, which not only involves bringing one’s attention to the present moment, but doing it in two very specific ways: wholeheartedly and without judgment. Many psychologists and therapists like to describe mindfulness as how a toddler or a young child experiences things for the first times in their lives. You know, those videos we have all seen of a baby trying a certain food for the very first time. Whether the reaction was one of approval or disdain for that new food item, there is no doubt those babies were fully present in the moment tasting that food!

Scientific studies have demonstrated the following benefits of practicing mindfulness:

1)     Improved ability to manage stress

2)     Reduced levels of anxiety and depression

3)     Improved memory

4)     Greater relationship satisfaction

5)     And, highly relevant to the topic of this article, improved overall well-being

Keep in mind, this is not an exhaustive list of the benefits of mindfulness either!  

With mindfulness, we are shifting our mind to the current moment. We are not dwelling on mistakes from the past, which is often associated with depressed mood. We are not worrying about what might happen the next year, day, or even hour, which is often associated with the experience of anxiety. With mindfulness, we are simply in whatever the current moment is. And we can do things to make the current moment more enjoyable and meaningful.  

Many people like to practice mindfulness through meditation. If meditation is not your cup of tea though, there are many other ways to practice the mindset shift of mindfulness. Spending time in nature is a wonderful way to be in the present moment. Slowing down the enjoyment of a favorite food item by engaging all of the 4 other senses before tasting it is another fun way to practice mindfulness.  

3.      Shift the mind to more compassionate thoughts.

The final mindset shift is all about shifting thoughts about ourselves and others that can be harsh or disapproving to those that are more compassionate. Notice this is not suggesting we just think positive thoughts. This is a mindset shift and is far more complex.

Take for example when we make a mistake that is associated with deep regret. We can spend a great deal of time beating ourselves up mentally for making the error in the first place. We can get stuck in this place of punishing ourselves with our thoughts for significant periods of time. If we can shift the mind to have compassion for our past mistakes, we can then begin to learn from our mistakes. It is far more effective to recognize what led up to a behavior we regret so we can prevent it from happening again than to constantly shame ourselves for making the mistake.

We can also spend an inordinate amount of time with harsh and criticizing thoughts about the annoying actions of others. (I am referring here to minor inconveniences like someone cutting in line at the grocery store or a bad driver in front of us. Thoughts related to major wrongdoings and healing from them is a different topic altogether.) Guess what we are not doing when we are consumed with unhelpful thoughts about small annoyances and the people responsible for them? We are not experiencing the current moment in a way that contributes to our overall well-being. We can use compassion towards others to help us understand why they may have behaved in such an inconsiderate way. Compassion helps us shift the mind away from unhelpful thoughts that can often keep us stuck.

Mindset shifts like dispelling mental health stigma, practicing mindfulness, and using compassion are a big deal. Some people experience progress towards a given mindset shift and then notice they are struggling with it again. For example, one may have been doing a stellar job conceptualizing mental health as physical health and then have a day of feeling guilty for taking a mental health day from work even when overwhelmed and approaching a breaking point. It is also common for people who have been regularly practicing mindfulness and living in the present moment to have periods when they start worrying about future concerns. It is also understandable if people who have been making progress with more compassionate self-talk experience self-deprecating thoughts again.

In these situations, it is helpful to give ourselves compassion for drifting from our desired mind state because such fluctuations in progress are totally normal and to be expected when making huge changes. It is not helpful to shame ourselves for the drift in mindset nor is it wise to give up on all the progress that has been made. Instead, we can pick up where we left off and turn the mind back to our preferred stance in the interest of our overall well-being.

If you think you might benefit from personalized help with mindset shifts like mindfulness and compassion for self and others, then contact my psychotherapy practice to learn more about available support. You can schedule a free consultation, email, or call the office at 866-706-3665.