How to Truly Take Care of Your Emotional Health?
Close your eyes for a moment, take a deep breath and think about the words “emotional health”… How does that resonate to you?
Emotional health is always a big one! Regardless of individual backgrounds or experiences, maintaining emotional wellness often proves to be challenging or fragile at times.
No wonder that entire populations and philosophies, like Buddhism or Hinduism, decided to focus on well-being and the pursuit of self-realization.
After a few years of experience in this area, I can tell that emotional health is consistently a significant factor in our lives, even if you are a therapist or a spiritual guide.
Please take the time to read this article to the end. Within it, I’ll be sharing my personal top 10 ways to improve my mood and combat feelings of depression. Additionally, if you happen to know someone who could benefit from this information, please consider sharing it with them.
What is Emotional Health?
Emotional health, often referred to as mental or psychological well-being, is a fundamental aspect of our overall wellness. It encompasses our ability to understand and manage our feelings, cope with stress, maintain healthy relationships, and navigate life’s challenges with resilience and adaptability.
Emotional health is not merely the absence of mental illness but rather the presence of positive emotional states, such as happiness, contentment, and inner peace.
Cultivating emotional health involves developing self-awareness, practicing self-care, seeking support when needed, and fostering meaningful connections with others. By prioritizing our emotional well-being, we can lead more fulfilling lives and better cope with the complexities of the human experience.
Why is it hard to cope with emotional health?
Coping with emotional health can be difficult for various reasons. Emotions are intricate and can sometimes feel overwhelming, and navigating them requires patience and understanding.
Additionally, societal attitudes towards mental health can create barriers to seeking support or expressing emotions openly, which can leave individuals feeling isolated. Life’s challenges and stressors, such as work pressure or relationship issues, can also add to emotional struggles.
Finally, our psychological well-being can sometimes be affected by invisible factors that are hard to control or even identify, like our own hormones or some specific conditions.
In today’s fast-paced world, finding time for self-care and reflection can be challenging, making it important to approach emotional well-being with compassion and understanding for ourselves and others.
If you ever find yourself feeling overwhelmed by your emotions and in need of a moment to center yourself, consider joining me for a yoga or embodiment session. I’m here and eager to share my experience with you. Feel free to reach out—I’d love to help.
My Top 10 Recommendations to Improve your Emotional Health
You may have realized by now that even as a therapist, maintaining emotional balance can sometimes present its own set of challenges.
No one is perpetually 100% happy! If you believe otherwise, you’re mistaken. While some individuals may generally exude happiness, everyone encounters the unpredictable twists and turns of life. Life resembles a roller coaster ride, where learning to embrace it with arms raised high is key!
Given my past battle with depression and self-sabotage, I’ve cultivated several coping techniques to nurture my emotional health.
Here are my top 10 tips to fighting depression and balance your emotional health:
1- Make a list of what makes you happy
Take a moment to recognize the small things that boost your mood throughout the day, and even if you’re aware of them mentally, consider writting them down. Trust me, it holds significance!
I often encourage my students to engage in journaling. Sometimes, despite knowing something, it gets lost in the clutter of our thoughts. Interestingly, putting pen to paper breathes life into these thoughts, aiding in our commitment to them.
Craft your own “Happiness” checklist and revisit it whenever necessary. Aim to incorporate activities from your list into your routine at least three times a week, focusing on a few if not all.
On the other hand, become more sensitive to what doesn’t contribute to your happiness or creates mental conflict (such as relationships, certain food or drinks intake, or certain activities), and gradually work on reducing their influence in your life.
2- Incorporate self-care in your daily routine
In line with Ayurvedic principles, I always advocate for establishing a routine, even if it’s just a small one.
Routines provide a framework for our days, which is essential for our overall well-being. As humans, we thrive on structure to feel anchored and to cultivate a sense of security and comfort in our lives.
Your routine doesn’t need to be elaborate; even dedicating just five minutes to meditation or a breathing exercise upon waking can suffice. Consider incorporating elements from the “happiness” list I mentioned earlier into your daily routine. Imagine infusing some of your favorite mood-boosting activities into your day.
Grab your journal and jot down your ideal day.
3- Talk to your loved-ones
Feeling down often leads us to withdraw from social interactions, making social isolation a common symptom of depression. Interestingly, sometimes we may not even realize that we’re avoiding people, as it can happen subtly over time.
However, it’s crucial to break out of this pattern and maintain connections with friends. Regular social interaction plays a vital role in our mental well-being, providing support, companionship, and a sense of belonging.
So, make an effort to reach out to your friends regularly. Whether it’s through messaging, calls, or meeting up in person, staying connected is key. Check in with them every couple of days, share updates, or simply ask how they’re doing. Keeping the lines of communication open not only strengthens your friendships but also contributes to your own emotional resilience. After all, in times of need, having friends to lean on can make all the difference.
4- Explore different therapies
Despite the gradual normalization of therapy within our society, seeking professional help still presents a significant obstacle for many individuals.
Why? – This reluctance can be attributed to the perception that addressing mental health concerns places us in the realm of “serious” issues.
It’s important to recognize that there’s nothing inherently wrong with us. We’re born with a perfectly neutral mentality and nervous system. Consider the current state of the world and the various life events we encounter. Were our human nervous systems designed to handle these situations? No. However, it’s crucial to understand that our nervous systems are perfectly adaptive and react to events in a completely normal manner.
Whatever challenges your nervous system is currently facing, it’s crucial to understand that this is not your fault!
Therapeutic practices have been ingrained in human communities throughout history, as we’ve always relied on communal support. Today, we’re fortunate to have a diverse range of therapeutic approaches available, catering to various needs and preferences. From conventional medical therapy to holistic practices like embodiment, somatic yoga therapy, and dance therapy, there’s something for everyone.
If you’re interested in exploring any of these options together, please take a moment to browse through my offerings and don’t hesitate to reach out. I am here and happy to support you on your journey.
5- Practice mindfulness
It’s no myth that meditation and mindfulness can help balance your emotional health.
Meditation is a profound practice that fosters self-awareness and introspection by allowing individuals to observe their thoughts and emotions without judgment. This heightened awareness enables individuals to recognize and understand their emotions more clearly, leading to better regulation of mood and responses to challenging situations. By cultivating a sense of mindfulness and detachment, meditation empowers individuals to navigate their inner landscape with greater clarity and equanimity, fostering emotional resilience and well-being.
Through regular meditation practice, individuals develop a deeper understanding of themselves and gain insight into the underlying causes of their emotions. This process of self-discovery enables individuals to respond to life’s challenges with greater wisdom and compassion, ultimately leading to enhanced emotional well-being and a more fulfilling life journey.
6- Drink raw cacao in the morning
It might be hard to believe if you’ve never drunk raw ceremonial cacao before, but my morning cacao has been a real game-changer for me!
Packed with mood-enhancing compounds like theobromine, phenylethylamine (PEA), and serotonin precursors, raw cacao can give you the dopamine boost you need to start your day with a smile. By stimulating the release of dopamine, the brain’s “feel-good” neurotransmitter, raw cacao helps elevate mood and combat feelings of depression. Its rich antioxidant content also supports overall well-being, while magnesium promotes relaxation and reduces stress.
Additionally, I’ve discovered that the morning ritual of preparing my cacao is incredibly meditative. It provides the ideal opportunity to set intentions for the day ahead, fostering a practice of gratitude and self-compassion, as elaborated in the concluding sections of this article.
I plan to delve deeper into this topic in the future. If you have any inquiries regarding cacao or its preparation methods, feel free to reach out. I’m more than happy to offer assistance and share insights.
7- Connect with nature
Connecting with nature offers profound benefits for emotional health. Immersing oneself in natural environments, such as forests, parks, or beaches, provides a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The sights, sounds, and scents of nature have a calming effect on the mind and body, reducing stress levels and promoting relaxation. Time spent outdoors encourages individuals to slow down and appreciate the present moment, fostering mindfulness and a sense of inner peace. Engaging in outdoor activities also promotes physical exercise, releasing endorphins and boosting mood. Moreover, experiencing the beauty and tranquility of nature instills a sense of awe and wonder, promoting feelings of gratitude and connectedness with the world around us.
Furthermore, connecting with nature offers opportunities for reflection and rejuvenation. Whether it’s taking a leisurely stroll through a park or embarking on a hike in the mountains, spending time in natural settings encourages introspection and self-discovery. Nature serves as a source of inspiration, creativity, and solace, providing individuals with a space to unwind and recharge. By nurturing a deep connection with the natural world, individuals can cultivate greater emotional resilience, happiness, and overall well-being, enriching their lives with moments of beauty, serenity, and joy.
8- Set Boundaries
Setting boundaries is a pivotal aspect of maintaining emotional well-being. It involves learning to assertively say no to activities or commitments that drain your energy or contribute to stress. By establishing healthy boundaries, you create space for prioritizing self-care and protecting your mental and emotional health. This means recognizing your limits and being willing to communicate them effectively to others.
Setting boundaries allows you to honor your needs and values, ensuring that you allocate time and energy to activities that align with your priorities and bring you genuine fulfillment. Ultimately, by setting boundaries, you cultivate a greater sense of autonomy, self-respect, and balance in your life, which are essential for overall emotional well-being and resilience.
9- Cultivate a positive mindset
When experiencing depression, negative thoughts often pervade our perception. Take steps to recognize these negative patterns and consciously shift your focus towards something positive within the situation. Encourage yourself to identify a positive aspect, and repeatedly affirm it in your mind, as if persuading yourself to see this perspective.
10- Practice gratitude & self-compassion
If you’ve joined me for yoga sessions, you probably know how much I cherish gratitude. By acknowledging and appreciating the abundance in our lives, we cultivate optimism and contentment, even in challenging circumstances!
Expressing gratitude strengthens interpersonal relationships, promotes self-care, and encourages acts of kindness and generosity, fostering a sense of connection and fulfillment. Overall, incorporating gratitude practices into our daily lives promotes emotional resilience, enhances social bonds, and contributes to a more positive and fulfilling outlook on life.
As you’re practising gratitude, practice self-compassion too. Be kind and forgiving toward yourself. Treat yourself with the same compassion and understanding that you would offer to a friend facing similar challenges. By extending this level of care inward, you create a nurturing environment for growth and resilience, fostering happiness and well-being.
want to learn more on how to practice gratitude and self-compassion? Send me a message and I’ll share my practice with you!
I hope that you enjoy reading this article. If you have further questions or would like to communicate with me, please do. I am here.
Also, remember to pass along this article if you believe it could assist someone you know.
Yoga & Embodiment
Namaste
My name is Caroline, but you can call me Cara. I am a Somatic Yoga Professional and Embodiment Therapist.
Because real therapy also involves the body, my goal is to help my yogi friends get to know themselves better and finally free themselves from all the tensions or traumas accumulated throughout their lives.