I ordered a chicken and an egg from Amazon today. I’ll let you know.
There are so many issues that have a “chicken or egg” quandary - which came first - and I want to talk about emotional and mental health. I have become obsessed with the urgency of mental and emotional health due to the covid crisis and the chaos of 2020. I believe mental health to be the greatest need and threat of our time.
So here is the quandary:
Do people with strong mental and emotional health have great habits, rhythms, and thinking patterns, OR, do people with great habits, rhythms, and thinking patterns have strong mental and emotional health?
And the answer is?
YES
People with strong mental and emotional health do, in fact, have great habits, life-rhythms and thinking patterns. They usually eat better, are more physically active, have meaningful relationships, and have generally more positive and optimistic outlooks.
But you can also reverse engineer this.
If you are battling mentally and emotionally, you can behave your way into a better space. In fact, you must behave this way, even if it’s the last thing you want to do.
Behavioral psychologists have long believed that we can behave our way into a better psychological place. I agree and have experienced this myself.
If you are battling for your mental or emotional survival, your behaviors are critical in the fight. And, for those who consider this pop-psychology, the Bible says a ton about this as well. Here is a small list of helpful behaviors that the Bible prescribes for mental and emotional health:
Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus
Rejoice always. I say it again, rejoice!
Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
Let no unwholesome talk come from your mouth, but only what is useful for edification and encouragement to those who listen (even you)
The list could go on and on for days.
Here is what I know: When you practice these habits of soul-care and health, you actually feel better and experience more health. And, when you are discouraged, depressed, or anxious, these are the last practices you feel like doing. In fact, they can feel impossible, emotionally.
And that is exactly why you must do them. Not just when you are struggling, but as a lifestyle.
Negative people suck.
Negative thoughts do not inspire positive action or emotions.
Get in the game and keep some habits that will feed your soul. Get outside. Take walks. Take naps. Pray the Scriptures. Worship musically. Reflect. Eat healthier. Give thanks to God and make a gratitude list every day.
You get the idea.
Your emotional health is a stewardship. Steward it well!