What is a healthy mindset? Do you remember those moments, pre-2020, when everything just felt “right” and you were just happy? You felt good about yourself, work, and family life was great, and it all just felt right. That’s the power of a healthy mindset.
It can help reduce anxiety, stress, and irritability while increasing your level of happiness and sense of wellbeing.
Side Note: If you haven’t seen Peaceful Warrior, a movie adapted from the book “Way of the Peaceful Warrior” by Dan Millman, I recommend watching it. It’s a great look at what a healthy mindset can achieve.
But what is a healthy mindset? It’s finding a way not to let your negative thoughts control you. Instead, it’s growing from, accepting, and embracing all that you are.
There’s no doubt about it, 2020 was a trying year and 2021 was full of it’s own trials. But, a new year is here, and if you’re like most people, you’re itching to make it far better than the one we just escaped. What better way to start 2022 off than with a healthy mindset?!
How To Develop A Healthy Mindset
Tip 1: Accept Yourself
Accepting yourself is one of the hardest things to accomplish, but it’s easily one of the most rewarding. This process takes time and requires you to be honest with yourself.
Everyone is unique and beautiful in their own right, but it can be a little harder to see it in ourselves.
One method for working towards self-acceptance is to write in a journal. Now you don’t have to use a pen and paper. A note app on your phone works just fine in a pinch!
Make a list of all the good things about who you are. What makes you unique? Is there anything you’d like to improve upon?
Try to journal at least once a week. Write about how you feel, what makes you happy, what makes you sad, and why. Sometimes acceptance goes hand in hand with getting to know ourselves.
Here are some additional resources on accepting yourself:
- How to Accept Yourself, Your Life, and Your Reality
- The Path to Unconditional Self-Acceptance
- Therapists Spill: 12 Ways to Accept Yourself
Tip 2: Focus On What You CAN Control
You can’t control the actions of others, but you can control how you react. If 2020 and 2021 has taught us anything, it’s that we can’t control everything.
Learning to accept the things we can not control is challenging but deeply rewarding.
Not sure how to start focusing on what you can control? Try one of these resources to get you started towards your healthy mindset:
- This Is Mine: The Only 7 Things You Can Control in Life
- 6 Ways to Stop Worrying About Things You Can’t Control
Tip 3: Appreciate The Little Things
The little moments in life are more important than we know. Think back on your childhood. Do you remember sitting around a campfire happily making s’mores? Or playing a board game with your family?
All ordinary, everyday moments like these are exceptional. They’re priceless.
If you’re not sure where to start, try one of these articles for more in-depth reading:
- How to Appreciate the Little Things When Everyone Else Is Having Big Life Moments
- How to Learn the Art of Appreciating the Little Things in Life
- 40 Little Things That Make a Big Difference in Your Day
Tip 4: Make Healthy Food Choices
Have you ever “watched what you ate” and immediately felt better? You may not have lost weight or inches, but eating better just made you feel better?
Our Natural Air Roasted Hazelnuts Are A Perfect Healthy Choice!
Make it a priority in your life to drink more water, lower your caffeine intake, or eat more healthy greens. Take it slow. Easing into healthy food changes is best done slow and steady. You’ll have more success in the long run.
If you want to make better food choices, check out one of these articles:
Tip 5: Live In The Moment
It’s easy to set your sights on the future. That’s a healthy thing to do too. However, not living in the now can be damaging to your well-being. Take this story for example.
A college student only spends time in classes, on homework, or studying. This student doesn’t get involved with on-campus activities, study groups, etc. No time for friends or activities outside of school. The student is simply focused on having the best future possible.
This student is living in the future, not the now. I’m not saying live in the now only or live only in the future. But there’s a crucial balance.
Check out these resources on being mindful and being present to get started!
- 11 Easy Ways You Can Fit Mindfulness into Your Busy Life
- How to Live in the Present Moment: 35 Exercises and Tools (+ Quotes)
Tip 6: Find Balance
Balance can be hard to find. Whether it’s a work-life balance or any other scale of events in your life, once it’s found you will be much happier.
You can still be ambitious in life but know when to take a moment to rest. You can still advance in your career and have a home life. But you will find you will be much happier if you can also find the balance.
Here are a few resources that will give you a jumpstart:
- 10 Simple Ways to Find Balance and Get Your Life Back
- 9 Practical Ways to Achieve Work Life Balance in a Busy World
- How to Get Your Life Back Into Balance
Tip 7: Find A Hobby
Having a hobby is great for several reasons. It allows you to take time to do something for yourself, it forces you to slow down, live in the now, and it’s something you enjoy! It’s wins all around.
If you already have a hobby then set aside some time each week to spend on it. If you don’t already have a hobby then start with something you’d like to know more about.
Not sure what you’re interested in? These articles have some great ideas:
Tip 8: Learn From Your Mistakes
We all make mistakes but we don’t all learn from them.
What mistakes have you made this past year? Past 5 years? What did you learn?
Learning from your mistakes isn’t easy. Check out these resources to get you started.
- 5 Ways To Turn Your Mistake Into A Valuable Life Lesson
- How to Learn From Mistakes: 8 Steps to Follow
Maintaining A Healthy Mindset
Once you feel like you’ve achieved your healthy mindset you should work diligently to maintain it! Surround yourself with positive and supportive people. Make a plan to continue your healthy mindset. Set goals or milestones for yourself. Take the time to “check-in” with yourself. Last but not least, believe in yourself.