“Mind” of the Mind-Body-Spirit Approach

Yes, the mind is a terrible thing to waste. When we are overwhelmed and bombarded with information through multiple media outlets, our minds can begin to shut down or ignore really important information. I like to refer this as being "sign blind." Being sign blind can be referring to those 50 roadside billboards you drive by to and from work just as it refers to missing the signs of intuitive and inner wisdom information that can guide us to making better and more appropriate decisions in life.

How do we care for our minds, exactly? There are many ways to care for our mental health. One way most individuals know about it is through discussion with a psychiatrist or counselor, which is an amazing form of support when our lives are reeling out of control or when we've been victim (consciously or subconsciously) of a horrible experience. Psychiatry provides a safe and nurturing environment in which to reflect and ponder life’s lessons through our experience. In most cases psychiatry focuses on the past (what happened and why it might have happened) and understanding the role we might have played in creating the situation or how there was a transference of responsibility from another to us. Another form of care is through exercising. Yoga, meditating, strength training or cardiovascular training can all help with the mental stress we experience. When our bodies are strong and able to handle stress, our minds are easily able to fall in line with the coping of that stress.

I remember when I first started seeing a counselor. She held a doctorate in psychology but was married to the new age approach of past life regression, hypnotherapy and discussion. I sought support due to the corporate positio
I held. The job and the stress that came along with it were manageable, but I felt I needed a safe place in which to talk through some of the experiences and believed it was unfair to my sister to dump on her every time we saw each other. I couldn’t believe how much personal growth I achieved by having this safe place. Eventually I moved and needed to find a new source of support. It was then I realized that there was nothing necessarily I needed to "fix" or figure out from my past at that time, but I liked having a safe environment to work on what my priorities and focuses for growth might be. This is when I turned to working with a life coach. She was my safe environment as well as the individual who kept me accountable to my goals and desires.

Working with a life coach does not replace working with a counselor or psychiatrist when the need is there, but having that environment in which you can brainstorm, discuss solutions and work towards your goals can certainly support your mental health and unlock your unlimited potential. Coaching can support your setting of goals by ensuring you remain focused on the tasks at hand and keeping out the negative self talk that easily overwhelms us throughout the day.

How is your mental health? Do you have a mental health care plan in place?

Until next time, embrace your inner wisdom.

Namaste,
Karen