How's Your Mental Health? Are You Happy?

How is your mental health?

So many people spend hours upon hours in the gym elevating their physical health and then go back home to their slump of depression, anxiety, anger, or constant worry.  Are you one of those people?  Then there are those who don't invest into their physical health nor mental at all.  Are you one of those people?

Mental health is just as important as physical health, after all you're walking, laying, sitting, running, etc with yourself all day long, with YOUR thoughts which are in correlation with your mental health. The way you view yourself, others, and even the world is a direct result of your mental health.

Let's take a moment and see where you stand?  Ask yourself a few questions...

1) Are you happy or sad most of the day?
2) Are you a positive or negative person?
3) Do you see the best in others?
4) Is your glass half full or half empty?
5) Do you constantly worry?
6) Are your worries the same as they were 6 months ago? A year ago?
7) Do you actively engage in bettering your life?
8) Is your main topic of conversation about how sad you are?
9) Is your main topic of conversation putting someone else down or yourself?
10) Do your conversations involve around yourself?
11) Do you seek to better others without being pushy?
12) Are you happy to open your eyes each day?
13) Do your thoughts rest in the past?
14) Do you have an off switch to your thoughts?
15) Do you consume alcohol on a regular basis?
16) Do you consume drugs on a regular basis?
17) Are you on auto pilot?
18) Are you happy?

Lots of questions?  Think of it this way, isn't it important to know yourself and where you stand mentally?  Once you know where you stand you can begin improving your mental health.

Begin to ask yourself each day, AM I HAPPY?  After you ask yourself this question then focus on what will make you happy.  Remember this, don't focus on what's making you unhappy!  Focus on what will make you happy.  After all we all have one of the same major goals in life, to be happy.    When you focus on what makes you unhappy you are instantly utilizing your negative energy as opposed to utilizing positive energy.  When you focus on what makes you happy you might even notice yourself begin to smile as you brainstorm what makes you happy which is a start to improving your mental health.  Write down things that make you happy and keep them somewhere you can see them everyday or even throughout the day to help kick yourself in the butt to begin doing those things.  When you feel sad, down, depressed look at that list and do something off of it or at least begin working towards a goal on your list.

Happiness is something you should be striving for each and everyday.  You might lose friends and you might gain friends!  When you begin to change your life for the better you will start to notice those individuals or groups that bring you down, constantly talk about their problems, nag, complain, only day dream without being a doer, Debby downers, people who suck the life out of you, addicts, alcoholics, and negative people.  When you realize how these people infect you, you will also realize how you don't need to be around them.  Are some of these your family members or close friends?  If so, keep them on an extremely short leash and spend more time with people who are positive and bring out the best in you.  Spend more time with people who encourage you to be better, spend more time with yourself getting to know yourself and bettering your life.

You have the power to improve your mental health.

You have the power to be happy.

Every single second of everyday you have a choice.  You have a choice to be positive or negative, complain about someone or change your topic, nag or promote, sadness or happiness, anger or happiness, worry or improve your thoughts.  Every single second of everyday you have a choice to be happy.

Why is Yoga Beneficial to Life?

Yoga is extremely beneficial to the body in many ways.  What ways?

1) Improves posture

2) Increases energy

3) Great for mindfulness

4) Promotes a healthy metabolism

5) Increases flexibility

6) Improves tone

7) Increases muscle strength

8) Prevents cartilage and joint breakdown

9) Regulates adrenal glands

10) Decreases blood pressure

11) Better SEX!

12) Increases inner strength

and the list goes on and on and on...

Why do I do it?  Overall increased health benefits and mindfulness.  Yoga really helps me to stay in the present.  Remember the past is the past, the future is yet to come, so make the most of the present moment!  

I personally feel yoga helps with pregnancy symptoms and will greatly assist me when I go into labor and God knows I need all the assistance I can get!  

If you've never tried yoga I highly recommend giving it a go.  Yes, you may cut some poses short in the beginning or fall of the wagon for a bit, but if you jump back on and keep at it think of all the health benefits yoga can and will bring into your life.  Try yoga already!  Don't know where to start or what to do... thats fine you don't need to go buy a new wardrobe, just throw on something comfortable you can move around in and google yoga poses.  Try Youtube and watch some videos to pick up some techniques.  Better yet, just follow along.  The benefits of the world wide web!

If you're already a yoga master and do it daily, good for you my stretching and breathing beauty!  I'm so happy you've adopted yoga into your life and I'm sure you're experiencing all of the beautiful benefits.

Cheers to YOGA!