Is Your Mind and Body in Balance?
“Where there is hope…there is life…” Anne Frank
Mira was all set to go to Heathrow in a few days. She was about to continue her career journey in one of the best hospitals in the UK. That’s when her mother passed away due to a heart attack. She felt the ground slipping beneath her feet. She felt so weak, despair and couldn’t believe what was happening. She closed her eyes and wished all was a bad dream; that her mother would come and wake her up. The anger and frustration of not being able to undo things were harming her body and mind. She felt paralyzed and helpless. She wasn’t able to sleep, eat or do anything. It was like being completely drained of energy.
Friends came to support her and filled her life with positivity when she wasn’t able to think clearly; to help her get through hard times. She was able to battle her anxiety; accept the situation and take control of her life with the help and support of friends and family. With time and grace, she overcame her struggles with body and mind.
“A good friend is like a four-leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have.
Irish Proverb
Have you ever dreamed of something big in your life? You let your wings spread and tried to fly high? You are excited and full of joy and spread joy to others. You felt alive and happy when you were almost there but it all got shattered in the split of a second. Everything changes. You feel numb and broken. Your heart feels heavy and you try to shake it away. You try to be calm with your loved ones but can’t. You feel angry and frustrated which makes you feel weak and tired. The agony of mind and aching heart continues and you feel weariness.
How can hurt in your mind cause physical changes in your body? Is there any direct or indirect effect between physical and mental health?
A study conducted to find the correlation between physical and mental health shows vital cross effects made by lifestyle choices. Regular exercise and socialization can have a positive effect on our health which in turn helps in making better lifestyle choices.
Mind and Body Tie Up
· The lifestyle choices we make have a direct effect on our physical and mental health.
· People who have good social life live longer and stay happier and calm.
· Less exercise and poor diet lead to disease which can eventually cause stress and anxiety. People who exercise more are less likely to contract anxiety or depression.
· A person with a good job and income performs better at jobs, has lower stress levels, and better sleeps. Loss of income leads to cheaper options and substitutes for healthier foods.
· The indirect effect of exercise is improved self-esteem and better social skills which were more prominent in men than in women. People who engaged more in social activities were healthier and had sharper minds.
· Stress affects our decision-making and thus the quality of life. Regular exercise can improve your mood and reduce anxiety as the brain releases dopamine and endorphins; chemicals that make you happy. The choices we make have direct effects on our mental and physical well-being.
As these are two sides of a coin self-care and good choices are important to stay healthy and as we have the power to make better choices, let’s work to make a change to remain happy and healthy.
“Life gets better when health becomes your priority.” Maxime Lagace
Steps to improve health
· Regular exercise can improve your fitness and reduce stress. It will uplift your mood by releasing hormones in your body making you happy and confident.
· A healthy diet can avoid so many health problems. We should eat better every day to be well, to improve health and stay energetic. Make an effort every day to transform your body.
· Avoid stress, play some music, dance to the tunes, stay hydrated and sleep well.
· Talk to someone; find time to connect with your friends and family. It is okay to ask for help. Have conversations without guilt or doubt. We are not here to fight a war so love and support each other. It’s always good to have a support system
· Avoid smoking and limit alcohol consumption.
· Think positive, have more sunlight, more laughs, and more conversations, and make good choices.
We have one life to be thankful for everything. Just be happy and make the right choices. Stay happy because it’s a choice. Stay happy because you deserve it.
“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” — Henri J. M. Nouwen
