We all want to live our best lives – but what does that actually mean? For some, it means taking time to practice self-care with a short walk every day. For others, living their best lives requires a greater commitment to improving their mental health. So, as you aspire to live your best life, follow these five steps to help organize your thoughts and plan for success.
Step 1: Identify a concern or opportunity. If you notice that stress has been getting in the way of your happiness, then perhaps it would be a good idea to focus your energy on stress reduction. The more specific the goal, the easier it will be to achieve it.
Congratulations, you’ve taken the first and sometimes most uncomfortable step by taking a good hard look at where you can make self-improvements!
Step 2: Think about how it will change your life. Next, with that specific concern or opportunity in mind, imagine the benefits of achieving your mental health goal. Following the same hypothetical goal of stress reduction, envision how you might be better able to ease your mind or avoid unhealthy conflict in your relationship with the proper techniques to control your emotions. If you feel happier simply imagining these benefits, that’s a good indicator that you’ve chosen the right goal.
Step 3: Decide how you want to proceed. Now that you’ve chosen your mental health goal, think about how you’d feel most comfortable pursuing it. Nowadays, we have endless options available to us, so choosing the right one is a matter of personal preference. If you find that simply reading and watching online resources isn’t enough to make a difference in your life, maybe you’d prefer the guidance of a qualified counsellor.
Step 4: Research your options. Based on your preferences, start looking at different therapeutic modalities, mental health providers, and counselling formats available to you. Again, there is no shortage of options, especially with the advent of online counselling, so make sure you pick a reputable provider. Also, consider whether you’d prefer individual or group counselling – both of which have their own unique benefits.
Step 5: Stick to it. Now that you’ve gone through the process of identifying a concern and choosing a personalized solution, keep in mind that improving your mental health takes time. There isn’t a rigid timeline that everyone should adhere to, so don’t get discouraged if your progress is taking longer than you expected. Just remind yourself of the benefits you imagined in Step 2 and how important it is for you to be dedicated to your goal.
As you pursue your unique mental health goal, remember that even the longest journeys begin with a first step. Take each step in stride and don’t worry if you revisit one or more of these steps along the way.
If you would like more guidance on how to choose and pursue your own mental health goal, check out Therapy@Home’s new online booking platform to get support quickly and easily: https://homewoodhealth.com/home/services/therapyathome/