If the last two years have shown us anything, keeping mentally fit is as important as anything else we can do for our well-being. As 2021 comes to a close, we are experiencing a COVID surge due to the Omicron variant, and our resilience and ability to handle stress is being tested once again. As many of us struggle to get back to normal, I am struck by the advice of Amanda Gorman, our National Youth Poet Laureate, who writes “let us not try and get back to what is normal, but to reach for what is next”. We know we are up to the task. Let’s make 2022 the year we prioritize our mental health and take positive and clear steps to strengthen our mental fitness avoid unnecessary pain. Here are some suggestions:
Be Intentional. The key to mental well-being is to recognize that there are clear steps to take which research proves makes us more mentally fit. When I work with people in distress, I point out to them that “you always wind up in the direction you are heading”. Although that sounds obvious and simplistic, our behavior often does not correlate with our goals. We need to be objective and clear about what we want to accomplish, how we want to feel, how we want to live our lives, and then continuously monitor that our actions are in the service of our goals. I often encounter people who, figuratively, are heading south on the 405 and want to wind up in San Francisco….it won’t happen. Becoming intentional about our actions will allow us to feel empowered, confident, and happy.
Take responsibility. If we become intentional about our actions, then we must also take responsibility for our choices and decisions, and not blame other people or events for the choices we make. I like to use this metaphor to make this point. Every day at lunch, a construction worker sits with his co-workers and complains about his lunch. “I can’t believe it…peanut butter and jelly, again. Every day, peanut butter and jelly!” His co-worker turns to him and says, “why don’t you tell your wife to make you something else?”. He replies “wife? What wife? I live alone and make my own lunch”.