How to stay positive and mentally well
Photography by Danielle Ann Rose @bydanielleannrose
Life has been absolutely all over the place lately and as I am human I did not manage to balance it all and because of that I haven’t had a chance to write and create a new blog post that I felt was ready to be shared, so for today’s blog post I want to throw it back to a question I was asked on Instagram (@skyefellows) I wrote this as a caption and spoke about it on my stories, which can be found in my “Mindset” highlight
I wanted to share this here today because I really do feel like it’s still relevant after all this time. I hope you enjoy
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I think it’s important to start by saying, there is such a thing as toxic positivity and I want you to keep in mind that we don’t always have to be at 100%, it’s human to experience highs and lows in life. We are human, we have emotions, and it’s okay to feel them all, it’s healthy to feel them all, so we don’t have to “stay” positive, all the time
I don’t really even like to refer to myself as a “positive person” because it’s honestly not true. I am an optimistic person, and I do always try to look for the “good” or “positive” in life, but obviously like everyone I have down days, and truthfully I believe those days, when I don’t want to leave my bed are essential for my mental health, even if I feel flat, or down about something, that’s my time to recharge, and recuperate, no matter how long it takes, it’s necessary
If I didn’t listen to my body or my heart and just went out and put on a happy/positive front, ignoring the signs that I’m not doing that well, I would only be making it worse for myself in the long run, suppressing those emotions, is not the answer and I get to feel them and face off with them when they come up, so that they don’t stick around longer than necessary
When I distract myself and don’t allow myself to process what’s going on, that’s when I start to get this overwhelming feeling, like I’m drowning or being crushed by my emotions.. because the small things do build up over time, and they do get heavy
So basically what I’m saying is, the key I find to “staying mentally well” is listening to what my body is telling me, respecting what it needs, and not ignoring how I’m feeling. I am not wrong for feeling down, having a good cry, or needing a break from all the things
I am human and I am doing the best that I can. The sooner I allow myself to feel and process what’s really going on in my mind, heart or body, the sooner I find my headspace clearing up and my optimistic mindset coming back in to tell me I got this!
Feeling alllll the things = Healthy mindset
Environment is everything!
Who you spend your time with, what music and podcasts you listen to, shows you watch, books you read, how you dress, the vibe in your home/bedroom, all of it is important. Depending on your priorities, some hold more weight than others, but nonetheless, all play a role in mental well-being
I personally, prioritise my connections with others and self-expression
An example for self-expression is that for me my bedroom has always been a place where I could be creative and artistic in my own way, a space where I could truly be myself and express myself however I wanted. I am very fortunate to have parents who understood how important that was for me, growing up. I painted the walls in different colours, put hooks up for canvases and glued lyrics on the wall, anything you can think of, I pretty much did it, they just drew the line at my request to “paint the roof black” which I can reason with. When I am in my room, I feel completely at peace with myself and who I am as a person, because creating that environment is a priority to me. I feel the same way about fashion and accessories. I have piercings, I like to wear heaps of rings and earrings and I own a lot of overalls and this is because I feel like they accentuate and express who I am, and my personality. I don’t have to wear any of it, I am Me regardless, but I enjoy it, so I do
I really believe that it is so important to feel like we are fully expressing who we truly are. I am proud of who I am, and I want to share that. I hope you feel the same way
Find what lights you up, and do it wholeheartedly
