Are You Emotionally Healthy?

What is emotional health?  Emotional health goes beyond your ability to control your emotions and behaviors.  It also refers to your view of self and your ability to be confident when dealing with life’s challenges.  Strong emotional health allows you to bounce back from setbacks and handle successes, as well as losses and defeats.

Is it essential to be emotionally healthy?  When your emotional health is out of balance, you can experience adverse physical effects, including high blood pressure, chest pains, ulcers, and other physical warning signs.  Taking care of your emotional health is as important as managing your physical health.  Now let us look at several simple ways to develop your emotional well-being. 

Look to yourself for validation, not to others.  It is critical that your internal tape gives you a positive message.  You can manage the recording on your inner tape.  When was the last time you thought about your own positive traits?  How would you finish this sentence, “I am good at …” Or do you more often think about what you are not good at?  Do your thoughts focus on your strengths or on what you perceive as flaws?  Recognizing your strengths will enhance your emotional health.  You can provide yourself the needed validation without depending on others to offer the sought-after uplifting level of support.  

The second part of self-validation is to stop any negative self-talk.  How often have you fallen into a cycle of self-blame when something goes wrong, or you do not accomplish what you have planned?  Negative self-talk includes a critical view of your specific personal characteristics.  For example, I am too short, too fat, too talkative, or too shy.  Or it can also be a negative attitude about whether you can achieve a desired goal.  An example here is saying, “I’m not smart enough” or “I can never reach that goal.”  Research shows that positive self-talk leads to improved emotional well-being.  Replace “I can’t” with “I can by just taking one step at a time.”   

It would be nice if we ended every day with a win.  However, as the saying goes, “Into every life, a little rain must fall.”  Therefore, giving yourself grace and compassion is critical when things don’t go as planned.  A study conducted at Duke University found that individuals who exercise self-compassion after a failure are more likely to recover and try again.  Remember, when asked about failing so many times to develop a light bulb, Thomas Edison said he did not fail; he just found 1000 ways to not make a light bulb.   

Another interesting finding is that just like for your physical health, regular exercise and seven to eight hours of sleep nightly will help improve your emotional health.  In addition to regular exercise, sleep has a positive effect.  Getting sufficient nightly sleep improves both your mood and your cognitive functioning (your ability to think clearly).  Sleep and exercise have also been show to improve energy levels and reduce irritability. 

Surround yourself with supportive people.  Your view of self is influenced by the positive or negative messages you hear from others.  Friendships are important for your mental well-being.  That is, in part, because our social circles support our habits, good or bad.  Developing supportive relationships with friends, who encourage you, recognize your unique skills, and embolden you to accept a positive outlook, builds a foundation to support your emotional health. 

Remind yourself daily that you are made in the image of God and that God has a plan for you.

How many years of you neglected your emotional health?  Would you go to a medical doctor if you had a physical health problem?  If you are struggling with your emotional health, talking with a Biblical Counselor will provide you with support as you change old habits.  A counselor can help you work through the influences of your experiences and life situations.  

 Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you [and approved of you as My chosen instrument], And before you were born I consecrated you [to Myself as My own]   Jeremiah 1:5a Amplified Bible

Cheryl Gowin and Dennis Gowin. Call us with your feedback, comments, issues, or questions; our phone number is 434-808-2637.