Discovering Ourselves for better Mental Health

Many people tend to associate health with just the physical body. So, we try our best to avoid physical illnesses like infections, and injuries like bone fractures and stiff knee joints.

However, there is also mental health, which involves our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and act/react, and determines how we handle stresses and anxieties, relate to people, and make choices.

Are we born with good mental health? Or do we have to work on it to keep it healthy and functional, in the same way as with our physical health? Just as we cannot exercise on behalf of someone else, it is important that we learn to keep our own mental health intact.

So, we begin with: Who Am I? Taking care of our mental health requires us to make the journey of self-discovery. Many of us may avoid taking the inward journey to learn about ourselves, our strengths and weaknesses, our blind spots, lingering effects of our childhood, teenage and family experiences, our joys and sorrows. Yet, knowing more about ourselves can give an insight to how we think and behave, and ultimately, relate to others and God.

As the saying goes, “hurting people hurt people”, and we often bring our own pains in life to the relationships we are in if we are not healed. As integral human beings, our upbringing, schooling life and lifestyle can affect the way we relate to others. We are often influenced by our own life experiences and those around us, in the way we think and act. Thus, we consciously and unconsciously bring our own hurts, joys, anger, resentment, jealousy, expectations put on us, into all our transactions and relationships. While we can hide a lot of things behind a broad smile and an iron mask, they have the uncanny sense of reaching bursting point when we least expect it if not managed well.

The good news is that there are courses and retreats available that invite us to look into ourselves, and see who we really are, and more importantly, to love and honour ourselves, as we are. The journey of healing is not just limited to our physical bodies, but also to our mind and hearts. When we are happy and accept ourselves, we become more willing to accept, respect and love others with their warts and failings. Just as we bring who we are into what we do, other people also bring who they are into what they do

The process of self-discovery is a challenging and exciting one indeed, and it is certainly not an exercise to promote our egoism and self-importance. We learn to find our own voice, to accept ourselves in our strengths and limitations, our triggers and how we react in various situations. Some tips to help in this mental healing process include having good time management, a healthy diet, adopting good coping skills, engaging in life-giving relationships and viewing obstacles in a positive light.

Having a healthy mental health means giving yourself the chance to enjoy a rich, faith-filled, and purposeful life.

“I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

About the writer:

Bailyne Sung is a former journalist and adjunct lecturer. She is currently practicing professional counselling as a volunteer in the Church of St Mary of the Angels and is the co-ordinator of its Coaching and Counselling Ministry, Outreach Office.