Knowing how you’re feeling and why is known as being emotionally aware. Understanding our emotions helps us relate to others, realize what we want and can even help dictate the choices we make.
Our emotions have all this power over us but were unable to consciously control them, mainly because they’re based in the limbic system of our brain. This part of the brain is quite primitive which is why our emotional responses tend to be outspoken, forceful, unrestrainable, and based on the need to survive.
“Feeling happy is a part of mental wellbeing. But it’s far from the whole…Of course, good mental wellbeing does not mean that you never experience feelings or situations that you find difficult, but it does mean that you feel you have the resilience to cope when times are tougher than usual,” says professor of public health at the University of Warwick and a wellbeing expert, Sarah Stewart-Brown.
This is why some people seem to have it together every time, all the time. However, the truth of the matter is that these people don’t have a magic concoction that gets them through the hard times; they’ve simply gathered the tools they need for coping with difficult situations while maintaining a positive outlook. They are capable of adapting because they know how to remain focused and decisive when things aren’t going their way. They know how to act in an uncomfortable situation or when uncertain circumstances arise, in spite of their fears not for lack of it. Even when they are unsure how things will turn out, they have faith that it will all work out in the end.
There are several things you can do to stay emotionally healthy and balanced, but here are the 5 most basic tips to maintain a balanced emotional state:
Focus On The Good
Don’t give in to negative thinking because it’s easier to find the bad in any situation. It takes strength to find the good and put your faith in it. One of the most important things you can do is be open and accept what’s going on around you.
Slowly, you’ll learn to avoid criticizing others or being affected by others’ criticism. It can positively affect how you approach life and all the challenges it has to offer.
Connect
Spending time with others will do wonders for your self-esteem, as well as decrease stress levels and increase the release of happy hormones in the brain. Build your social network and boost your connectivity to others even if it’s just through a smile, a handshake or by volunteering your time to help out your community.
Do the Things You Enjoy
That clearly makes sense on so many levels. In addition, one of your strengths is recognizing that you still have more to learn and discover about the world around you. You can sign up for a class or learn how to play a musical instrument.
This gives you a sense of achievement and boosts your confidence. Hobbies should be a part of everyone’s life since they bring joy and pride. It could be growing an herb garden, painting or collecting coins.
Eat Right
What you eat not only affects you physically, but it affects how you think and feel. A diet filled with fatty, greasy, processed foods will have a negative effect on your brain, on your body, and on your immune system. On the other hand, when you eat a well-balanced diet, you’re giving your brain the energy it is to work to its full potential. You’re also on the right track to improving the quality of your sleep, your mood, and immune system. It’s also a great boost to your self-confidence.
Enjoy the Outdoors
Being around nature is a great way to calm the nerves and see things from a different perspective. It’s a proven way to suppress the brain’s stress hormones. In addition, it’s been proven scientifically that regular exposure to sunlight improves your mood and boosts energy levels via the release of endorphins. It also increases levels of vitamin D in your body, which strengthens the immune system and fights against depression.
If you really want to reach that peak level of emotional health, make a conscious decision to exercise outdoors. Incorporate it in your weekly schedule to get the most benefits for the longest time and boost levels of health-promoting neurochemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.
If you hate working out, or keep making excuses, flip your perspective around. Rather than viewing exercise as time-consuming, try looking at it as something that can boost your mood almost instantaneously and greatly reduce your stress levels.
– Scott Blessing