Another diet? Another exercise regime? Another detox?
No. No. Nothing to do with all that torturous and horrible things.
When we talk about health and wellness, we emphasized too much on physical health and not enough on mental health.
After all, health or wellness is not just the absence of disease.
"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity" ~ WHO
So yeah, I'm starting a wellness project to help with our emotional and mental health.
There's a lot of stigma on mental health issue (mental illness = crazy) but fortunately a lot of light has been shed on mental health.
It's more common nowadays as more and more people have the courage to speak up, there's more awareness and acceptance.
Speaking of which, there's this one guy I used to see for a short while. He was this impulsive, complicated, wild spirit kinda person but beneath all that, I could sense some issues.
And then we only talk to each other on and off for about 2 years.
Last year he told me he recently started seeing psychiatrist and on anti-depressant.
And then I haven't heard from him quite a while until few weeks ago when I reached out to him and asked how he was doing.
He then very honestly told me
"Actually I'm not quite well. I'm having mental breakdown right now. I don't know, I'm just tired of everything. Sometimes I feel lifeless, sometimes I feel energetic. I've been going up and down the hospital, seeing psychiatrist."
I admired his courage in speaking but most of all, I admired his courage in seeking treatment.
So if you have friends or families who struggled with mental issues, encourage them to seek professional help.
So back to my wellness project.
Hidup kita ni bukanlah sentiasa di atas kan, bukanlah sentiasa ketawa riang. Tentu ada sahaja dugaan, cabaran yang boleh menyebabkan kita stress, depress, resah gelisah dan sebagainya.
Orang yang paling gembira dan ceria pun ada masalah, bezanya macam mana kita nak handle masalah tu.
There's a lot of things you can do to maintain your mental health, to keep you happy and positive.
For example, exercise. But I'm not going to talk about exercise today. That's too depressing. Lol.
What I'm talking about is starting your own "Gratitude Journal".
What the eff is "Gratitude Journal"?
It's like a diary that you have to write everyday, but instead of writing negative things, each night, write one thing that you are grateful for.
It could be anything!
Benefits of a Gratitude Journal
1. Lower stress levels.
2. Feel calm at night.
3. Gain a new perspective of what is important to you and what you truly appreciate in your life.
4. By noting what you are grateful for, you will gain clarity on what you want to have more of in your life, and what you can cut from you life.
5. Helps you focus on what really matters.
6. Helps you learn more about yourself and become more self-aware.
7. Your gratitude journal is a safe zone for your eyes only, so you can write anything you feel without judgment.
8. On days when you feel blue, read back through your gratitude journal to readjust your attitude and remember that you have great people and things in your life.
Simple right?
I've just recently started mine about a week ago. It's probably too early to see whatever benefits but anyway, writing in itself is already therapeutic to me (my late father started this habit in me when I was probably 10-11 years old. He gave me a notebook and encouraged me to write).
Every night before I sleep, no matter how hard the day was, I will find something to be grateful of.
Even as trivial as my hair, although it was thinning and I have a secret fear of premature balding. Wakakaka.
So my point is, find ANYTHING that you are grateful of for that day, write it in a journal before you sleep. And on days where you feel so beaten, so down with life, read your Gratitude Journal.
It's a way to force us to focus and be thankful for things that we have, instead of thinking about what we do not have.
Anyway, if doing it everyday is too much hard work (you forgot/not in the mood/too tired/too sleepy/too many excuses), then do it probably every 3 days?
Update: I have not updated my Gratitude Journal for a week. Lol. #prayforcpps
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