Mental Wellbeing - What it is and is not.

When we discuss mental health, we're talking about our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing and how it impacts our lives. It encompasses our thoughts, feelings, and our behaviours.

Similar to physical health, mental health is vital for overall wellbeing and should be regarded without stigma. My vision is a world where seeking counselling is as openly discussed as scheduling a doctor's appointment. But unfortunately, we still have a long way to go there.

However, when the term “mental health” is used colloquially, it is often associated with the idea that someone is psychologically "broken." This unintentionally reinforces the stigma surrounding mental health concerns.

So instead, let's consider a more constructive perspective on mental health. Think of your mind as a beautiful garden that requires nurturing. Just as you tend to your plants, you must care for your mental health. We don't blame a plant for not growing; we examine if it has the right environment, soil, and essential nutrients. Those who call themselves “green thumbs” have become skilled at making the necessary adjustments for plants to thrive, but we rarely get taught the skills to become the “green thumb” in our own lives.

However, this is a skill worth learning and we should treat our mental wellbeing in the same way. Are we receiving the necessary support? Do we have a solid foundation for growth? Are we physically healthy and mentally stimulated? Are external factors like work, living situation, or finances causing stress or satisfaction? Where can we tweak what we can to ensure the best growing conditions?

On another note, there are times where no matter what you do the plant (you) just doesn’t seem to be growing much. Contrary to popular belief, good mental health and wellbeing don't necessarily equate to perpetual happiness (a thriving green plant that’s always in bloom). Also, emotions are fleeting and ever-changing, happiness is not a state that lasts 24/7, and the blooms come and go.

While happiness is delightful, it's unrealistic to expect to be happy all the time. Yet, many of us feel this pressure to constantly be happy, and when we are not happy all the time we can often believe that something is deeply "wrong".

Instead, good mental health and wellbeing involve finding satisfaction (not necessarily happiness), living in alignment with our values, achieving balance, effectively managing everyday challenges, and navigating emotions.

Let's revisit the garden analogy. Mental wellbeing is when the garden thrives and can endure the occasional storm without being destroyed, or can endure the occasional storm and bounce back with a little bit of tender loving care.

It's not about avoiding storms altogether.

In fact, if you try to avoid the storms altogether you’re less likely to grow as an individual and you’ll have less resilience when an unavoidable storm comes along, even if that storm is 5, 10 or 20 years down the track.

Rather, mental wellbeing is more about being able to navigate the good and bad weather we might experience and still having a sense of contentment and fulfilment.

So, my cheeky bit of advice is to treat yourself like a houseplant. Make sure you get enough water, the right amount of sunlight and the right nutrients and you’re in the right environment for you and your nature, and you’ll start to grow.