These are the “big three” that form a strong foundation for good mental health, as well as good physical and whole health. As a bonus, here are three other important factors for managing mental well-being.
Life purpose, self-esteem and resilience
1. Having a life purpose: Finding a mission in life can significantly improve how a person feels about their place in the world, which improves their mental health. Whether it’s doing charitable work, finding a job they love, starting a family or dedicating themselves to a fulfilling hobby, it’s important for everyone to find a reason to get up every day.
2. Boosting your self-esteem: Self-esteem is shaped by opinions and beliefs about one’s abilities and limitations. Encourage your employees to challenge negative thinking and self-disparagement, avoid all-or-nothing thinking like “should” and “must” statements, and speak self-encouragement mantras to generate higher self-esteem.
3. Being resilient: Resilience refers to one’s “toughness” or capacity to rebound in the face of setbacks and difficulties. One way to become more resilient is to journal about difficult life events and note how you survived during those periods.
Learning from the past by reflecting on patterns and coping strategies can improve how you deal with similar situations in the future. Another tip for increasing resilience is to refuse to avoid problems and take action—ownership is empowering. Brainstorm possible solutions, make a plan and work on resolving the situation.