10 Ways to Obtain and Maintain Emotional Health

Many people are being diagnosed with "mental illness" record numbers today, and the solution most of the time is a drug. We take prescription drugs for this and for that. Many of this drugs have more side effects than anything else that only worsen the problem. nnThe solution? We must learn to take responsibility for our own lives and not blame it on mental disease or illness. Granted there are legitimate cases where this diagnosis is valid. Mental, emotional, and spiritual growth come from facing problems rather than running from them. When we run from them that is when we get into trouble.nnYou and I are the only one responsible for our health and it includes our emotional health as well. Many times it involves struggle, pain, and courage; it requires determination and an act of the will. We cannot give up on ourselves and pop a bunch of pills as a quick fix. nnListed are 10 ways to help you take control and responsibility for your emotional health, which is definitely a healtheir approach than drugs or some other destructive vice.nn1. Self-care. It is important to learn to relax, exercise, maintain a healthy diet, and surround yourself with like-minded positive people who bring out the best in you.nn2. Focus your thoughts on positive things. The more you focus on negative things the more you attract those things into your life. What you focus on becomes bigger. Instead do has Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”nn3. Release the past. You will waste precious time holding on to something that you don’t have the power to change. You can’t change your past so release it and let it go. You can’t move forward to your future if you are always looking backwards. Read Philippians 3:13-14.nn4. Be responsible. Never blame people or things for where you are today. Take responsibility for your own life and the choices that you make. Don’t worry about other people; you do what you know to do. Don’t get caught up in the blame game; it only leads to anger and bitterness, which has negative impact on your emotional health.nn5. Have an attitude of gratitude. Be grateful for the many blessings that come into your life, your family, friends, children, work, etc. Always thank for your successes and accomplishments in life. He gives you the power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18, NKJV). Psalm 34:1 says, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”nn6. Have an accountability partner. Find someone you trust that you are accountable to in order to help in you during difficult times, someone you can be honest with about your thoughts and feelings. You are not an island unto yourself. We need other people – the right people in our lives who are supportive of us. Read Ecclesiastes 4:12).nn7. Only speak faith-filled words to yourself. Words are powerful! The Bible says that you will have what you say when it is accompanied with faith (see Mark 11:23). God created the world that we see with His spoken words and we have that same creative power, as children of God. Hebrews 11:3 says, “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”nn8. Forgive others. Unforgiveness keeps many people stuck and prevents them from moving forward to what lies ahead. Not forgiving others has been medically proven to have serious consequences to your emotional and physical well being. Unforgiveness is like cancer and can spread throughout your relationships causing death to the ones you love. If you were diagnosed with cancer, wouldn’t you want to be healed of this disease? Of course, you would. You should want to get of the disease of unforgiveness in your life. Doing does not mean what the person(s) did was right. It does, however, make you right with God and it helps you to be emotionally, physically, and spiritual whole. (Read Mark 11:25, 26).nn9. Make wise choices. Life is all about choices. For better or worse we are where we are today based on the choices we have made in the past. It is important that we seek guidance and direction from God before we make any decisions, especially life-changing decisions. nn10. Have a plan for your life. God has a plan, will, and purpose of every one. You must pray as seek God for your purpose in life. When God reveals it you then you must plan your days around that revelation. Set daily, short- and long-range goals. (Read Jeremiah 29:11-13).n