Some of My Thoughts On Sound Mental Health

During 43 years of practicing clinical psychology, I have accumulated some tenets for sound mental health. I would like to share them with you:

* Start each morning thinking “this day will be special.” Then work hard all day to make sure it happens.

* Strive for focus and direction, but allow for change and flexibility.

* Make balance and healthy priorities cornerstones in your life.

* Rather than focusing on unhappiness, boycott “pity parties,” especially your own.

* Give of yourself, but don’t expect anything in return. The joy of giving will be sufficient reward.

* Let anger leave you with the speed of light and come upon you like the slow movement of a glacier.

* Strive for a marriage where joy and happiness shine like the sun, but arguments and unhappiness seem like the faintest stars.

* Find a job that you enjoy, but that doesn’t go home with you.

* Let optimism be your default mode, but have realism as your spell-check.

* Find people you like to be with, but don’t expect every single person you meet in life to like you.

* Learn to say no in a kind, straightforward manner, but don’t let feeling guilty be an echo.

* Make forgiveness a gift you readily give and learning from experience a gift you readily accept.

* Let beliefs in a higher power support you through the speed bumps and potholes of life.

* Let faith and prayer provide guidance for your journey through life.

* Don’t be surprised that your teenager thinks that you are an imbecile and frequently gives you eye rolls. These are signs of the disease of adolescence and they too shall pass.

* When your wife also is your best friend, your marriage is made to last a lifetime.

* Don’t try to be good friends with your children when they are young. There will be plenty of opportunities for friendship when they become adults.

* Don’t let modesty prevent you from giving yourself a pat on the back for your accomplishments because sometimes this is the only pat you will receive.

* Make lifelong habits of physical and mental exercise.

* Keep a tight rein on the need to control. Use control like a good cook uses salt, a pinch at a time.

* Make tact and diplomacy the dynamic duo of your communication skills.

Sound mental health can be achieved and maintained with insight into your own behavior. Change what needs to be changed and keep practices that bring stability and contentment.