12 Ways to Develop a Healthy Mindset

Health is not simply a state of physical well being, it also involves the emotional, psychological, mental, and spiritual well being of an individual. And being unhealthy in any of the aforementioned aspects leads to a reduction in the quality of life of the individual.

On the other hand, mindset refers to how an individual perceives life – their beliefs and assumptions. Mindset runs deep into the human psyche and cuts across the emotional, psychological, mental, and even spiritual aspects of that individual. 

That being said, a “healthy mindset” refers to a way of thinking that leads to growth, and improvement of the life of the individual and those around. Basically, a person with a healthy mindset would exhibit lovable attributes such as 

•     Calmness
•     Clarity
•     Empathy
•     Focus
•     Determination
•     Courage
•     Hope

In this article, we would be discussing 12 ways to develop a healthy mindset.

How to Cultivate a Healthy Mindset

The bad news is that the human mind is not designed to be positive, but rather to survive. That is why we focus more on the bad news and dread things that may never happen. It is the reason we may find it hard to trust a stranger and would stick to harmful habits for the simple reason that “it feels good”. 

We are wired to sense pain and pleasure – so that we are drawn to pleasure and abhor pain. And whilst this mindset was helpful during the “Hunter-gatherer age”, it is no longer effective nor helpful – because we are not “Savages”.

Sometimes what is most beneficial might be painful, and what is toxic might be pleasurable. That is to say, if we stick to our “feelings” we would get in trouble. That is why to cultivate a healthy mindset, we must look beyond our “feelings”.

This transition beyond “the world of feelings” moves us away from survival mode, into a life of purpose, growth, and happiness. That is, a positive mindset can bring us happiness and fulfillment in life.

Considering all our actions spring from our thoughts, it is expedient then that our mindsets are healthy as its effects permeate over our physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual, and even financial health. 

Below are some ways you can do to develop a healthy mindset:

1. Know yourself: There can be no growth if you don’t know who you are – your strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, hobbies, and talents. The first step in developing a healthy mindset is to know what that mind of yours is equipped for. This phase requires introspection and might be the most elusive of all the steps.
2. Accept yourself: After knowing yourself, you must accept yourself. You must be willing to accept your weaknesses and limitations. For example, you should be willing to accept that you may not be the richest, prettiest, or smartest person in the room. On the other hand, you must also accept that you are quite good and exceptional in other areas of your life.
3. Read books: Life is too short to keep stumbling in obscurity. Books are lamps and roadmaps given to you by your predecessors. Your job is to read and expand your awareness and knowledge. Books are perhaps the fastest way to upgrade your mindset.
4. Choose the people you spend time with: Your mindset is an aggregate of the mindsets of those around you. If you want to cultivate a healthy mindset, then you must have people with healthy mindsets around you… or at least, no toxic person.
5. Control the things you consume: From TV shows, movies, music, down to social media feeds, your mind is literally being fed. That is why you need to take charge of these contents. It is not just enough to look out for the PG rating, you also need to ensure that the content is not toxic to your mind.
6. Plan and stick to healthy routines: “We are creatures of habit”. We like routines, and it is activities that we perform consistently that get wired into our minds. Hence, you need to consciously pick your routines.
7. Exercise: Working out would help clear your mind – giving you clarity and perspective.
8. Meditate: Meditation is a powerful tool that enables you to step outside your own thoughts and examine them. Practicing meditation can help you become self-aware and help you identify deep seethed emotions, and then resolve them.
9. Challenge and rewrite unhealthy thoughts: Most people have been unconsciously programmed by traumas, abuses, gaslights, and other toxic experiences into believing and clinging to unhealthy and limiting beliefs; You can hear it when they complain about what they don’t want instead of asking for what they want, talk down on themselves, see only obstacles and problems, or believe in scarcity rather than abundance… You should be ready to challenge such thoughts whenever they pop up, and also rewrite them using positive affirmations.
10. Practice positive affirmations: Positive affirmation entails repeating kind and true words to yourself. It involves reminding yourself who you truly are, and the potentials you hold.
11. Let go of fear: You can’t grow if you let fear stop you. It is totally okay to be scared, but you must have the courage to let it go – to proceed even when the result is uncertain.
12. Learn from mistakes and failures: Finally, rather than giving up when you encounter setbacks, it is crucial that you learn, strategize, and attack the challenges again. The keyword here is “learn”, and the secret is to separate yourself from your mistakes and failures.

With these minor tweaks in approach and perspective, you are on your way to developing a healthy mindset.