Physician Assistant Elizabeth Hedlund discusses the importance of Mental, Emotional, Social, and Spiritual health.

“I’m done.”

“I quit.”

“I can’t do this anymore.”

I suspect that all of us have said at least one of these statements in the past, and maybe just recently. When our Mental, Emotional, Social, Spiritual (MESS) health is struggling, our attitudes, thoughts, words, and behaviors will reflect this. Usually, then, we are not living well for ourselves or others.

Yet January is typically the time that we reflect on the past and make goals or resolutions for the coming year. Many people will look forward with anticipation and desire, but then those same goals and resolutions take a backseat or fall off the wagon by the end of the month. What happens?

Life happens. Life is hard and throws us curveballs. All of us have had difficult life experiences and challenges. This actually begins during our development in the womb and continues throughout life. We are exposed to the elements of the world including that from the air we breathe, foods eaten, life surprises, stressors, joys, injuries, abuses, tragedies, and celebrations. The insults come to us physically, mentally, and emotionally. So then, what are we to do?  How do we survive, and thrive, in a world that can disrupt our day, or shake us to the core in the blink of an eye? 

These are principles I’ve learned over the years through study, spiritual growth, places I’ve worked, colleagues I’ve known, therapists and coaches I’ve worked with, and working through my own life experiences…

1. Purpose and Faith. Humans crave purpose, and we need it whether we realize it or not. Fortunately, we have a Creator that made each one of us and gives us purpose in life. No one is a mistake. We cannot thrive without purpose. Know your Creator, He is your refuge and strength. (Psalm 46)  Be thankful for the big and little things in life, they are gifts to you. 
2. Talents and Gifts. Identify the work that energizes you, your specialty and niche, and do it. We are each unique and have talents that we can develop and grow for the sake of helping people. 
3. Friendship, Community, and Fellowship. As human beings, we are created to live with one another, not in isolation. Social media allows us to “be alone together” which is not good for us. While some time alone is needed (even Jesus spent time alone to pray), we cannot live this way all the time. Make eye contact with people and smile, every day! Develop close relationships so that you can share your innermost feelings, worries, and dreams with one another.
4. Maintain self-care behaviors for physical health—good nutrition, physical activity, adequate  sleep, healthy stress management—about 80% of the time. Don’t take yourself too seriously.  Mistakes happen, bad days happen, life surprises happen, no one is perfect. You will get through it and get back on track. His mercies are new every morning! (Lamentations 3)
5. Forgive and ask for forgiveness. Remember, no one is perfect. Learn about yourself (you cannot change others), feel the feelings when they occur, and move forward one step at a time. A life lesson from the movie Frozen II teaches us to “do the next right thing.”
6. Daily accomplishments, even small ones, make a difference, and can lead to big changes. Plan to “do just one thing” different today such as make your bed, pack a snack, throw dirty clothes in the basket. Then, identify small joys during the day (hot coffee, a sunrise, a child’s smile, a dog’s welcome). Work through the hard, but focus on the good (Philippians 4). Today you will make many decisions, do the best you can with where you are in the moment.
7. Realistic expectations. Is personal happiness the goal? Should we be striving to live our best life now? No and no. Accept where you are today, move forward one step at a time, realize that more money and less weight will not fix your life or even make you happy. Living is about loving and caring for one another with a non-self-focus. This world is not our home, but we are here together now to live the life God has given us (Hebrews 13: 14-16). We can take care of ourselves, so that we can take care of each other in a fallen broken world.
8. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Laugh as often as you can. 
9. Seek professional help if needed: a therapist, life coach, health practitioner, or pastor. Remember, we need one another, that’s okay! For those of you who, like me, are empaths with a sensitive heart and feel so deeply, I’ll share something my friend and coach, Sandy Anderson, spoke to me one day. She said, “Empathy without action is despair.” This blew me away! I had no idea that one simple statement would give me clarity that I never saw before, helping me to understand many aspects of my life.
10. Seems like there should be a #10 but there isn’t!  Oh well, consider this a challenge for you Type A list-makers who like even numbers.

Stay tuned… next month we’ll conquer how to achieve world peace…LOL, not really! Here’s to peace for today. Be well.  

Soli Deo Gloria.   

"Be Mindful of Mental, Emotional, Social & Spiritual Health (MESS)" is chapter nine of the Health, Energy & Longevity Plan. Request your copy of this free booklet here!