How we see ourselves

 How we see ourselves

Mental health has become a topic that is increasingly discussed openly. I expect some of that is due to the online talking to many versus the one on one that was more common. But has mental health issues uncreased or simply the ability to address these issues? 

It has been brought up that mental health issues increased over the Covid 19 outbreak and subsequent ways we have addressed it. Now, this uptick is a symptom of something greater or simply the reaction to a global issue that impacted each of us individually? From my reading, I am coming to the belief that it is both but more that this event has triggered a release of what was already present. 

People are struggling everywhere, and this event simply burst the bubble or perhaps opened the door to discuss issues that they felt were perhaps taboo previously. Mental health is a strange disease. I call it strange because many of these issues are based solely on the perception of the individual, or as some would say it is all in their head. While other problems are a mix of physical and their perspective of that physical. To perhaps say it differently, mental health is not all about exercise and a proper diet. Mental health is very much about a positive perception of yourself. 

The greatest issue with a positive personal perception is that it is continuously colored by our culture. What was good yesterday is now just not quite good enough. Regardless of who we are and how we look to others, we can find something wrong. We can find something wrong with our looks or how we think or even how we perceive things. 

The problem I have found is that regardless of how many times a friend says you look great or just be you. These moments of encouragement are not impacting the real issue. The real issue is a personal perception. How you see yourself. 

Now I expect many of you are wondering if I am addressing or including some of the more drastic mental health issues. No directly, no. Many of the more drastic or complex issues have perception involved but also contain a chemical component that far outweighs the other influences. And while they improve with a positive self-image it is not enough to truly bring them peace. 

For the remaining, the ability to obtain a self-image that is encouraging is essential and so beneficial to their daily lives. But how to obtain it? That is the true struggle for those who work in the field. On our part let us seek to be aware of how we see ourselves and perhaps others who might be struggling. A little kindness can make a much larger impact than we might imagine.

Blessings!!