Now that spring has sprung, it is a great time to re-evaluate and start doing things differently by helping yourself toward living a life you love.
Here are my top five tips on how to spring clean your mental health.
Stop comparing
Social media is full of six-packs, idyllic beach scenes, yachts, perfect pets and immaculate styling. We get to see people’s highlight reels; it’s very unlikely to be everyday life for the person you are looking at.
It is important to remember that we all have ups, downs and struggles in life, and yet no one is posting about that stuff. So, remind yourself every time you choose to look at what other people are doing that comparing your life with those of others is a total waste of your time.
Don’t compromise too much
Compromise is required in pretty much all relationships because we are all different, with different wants, needs and desires.
Compromise is a good thing – most of the time, if the compromising is equal on both sides. The problem occurs if you give up your wants and needs the majority of the time in any one relationship, whether that is with a friend, lover or colleague.
So, evaluate your relationships and decide whether it is really healthy for you to be a part of it, or what you might need to do differently to recalibrate the situation.
Get some soul food
I believe we are all born with something that we are amazing at. Whatever your passion, or whatever you enjoy in life, make a resolution to feed your soul with what inspires you.
You will know when you are doing something you feel inspired by because your spirit will lift. If you are not sure what your passion is, then start to try new things and different activities until you find a few that give you that feeling of real happiness inside.
Then, you can feed your soul with the things you love.
Live for you
A huge part of many of my clients’ lives is taken up by taking care of everyone else, leaving them no time for themselves. It is no wonder they are exhausted and stressed out.
When life gets like this, it is important to check your motives and reasons for doing things. For example, are you saying yes to people because you are worried that they might not like you if you say no?
Remind yourself every day that you can’t make everyone in your life happy and try to begin to make the best decisions for yourself, instead of others, first. You will immediately see how life gets easier and a lot less stressful.
Worry less
I teach my clients that worry is a feeling, created by a thought. Once we realise that worrying will not change our outcome, we can begin to accept whatever is going to happen.
No amount of worry is going to help you; it can only ever hold you back. Worrying doesn’t make you better.
So, start to become more conscious of what you are thinking about and start to become aware when you are thinking negative thoughts that are creating the worry – then turn them into happier thoughts, which create calm.
Jacqueline Hurst is a life coach. Visit jacquelinehurst.com or thelifeclass.com
