We all know that maintaining overall well-being is more than just skin deep. It is just as essential to have a healthy mindset too. But sometimes it can be a struggle to keep on top of our mental health. However, it is vital to prioritize how you are feeling and make sure to check in with yourself regularly. Here are three key ways to help you maintain a healthy mindset.

Self-acceptance

A healthy mindset starts with self-acceptance. After all, if you don’t accept yourself, how can you expect anyone else to either? Self-acceptance doesn’t mean that you have to like everything about yourself – of course not! That would be unrealistic. Self-acceptance is more about assessing the whole self, acknowledging what you like and what you don’t, but finding a way to love the whole in the process. As a society, we are often all too aware of comparisons and what is perceived as our potential flaws. However, it is vital to find a compromise within yourself and let go of past struggles, unfulfilled dreams, or even people that are no longer serving you in your purpose. Self-acceptance can seem like a sometimes overwhelming and scary task, but there is plenty you can do to encourage a better self-image.

So when looking to start improving your self-acceptance, why not highlight your favorite points, whether that’s a skill, hobby, or a body part? We all owe it to ourselves to show self love and make the very best of ourselves. Other fun ways to encourage self-acceptance can be to set a focus or intention for your day, making sure to keep the focus on what you are good at and what you are working towards. Celebrate your achievements and don’t allow your inner critic to get the best of you when things don’t go so well. Life is about the journey, not just the destination, and it is important to encourage yourself and allow yourself to be human sometimes.

But self-acceptance doesn’t just help you; it can promote a positive change for those around you as well. By having the courage to accept yourself, flaws and all, you are allowing others to find the same space within themselves to do so too.

Self-reflection

A more challenging part of keeping a healthy mindset is self-reflection. This can be both challenging and uncomfortable at times. It is essential when staying on top of your mental health. Self-reflection isn’t about punishing yourself but rather about seeing what has gone well, what hasn’t and where you can improve. Forgiving yourself for mistakes can be tough sometimes, but it is imperative to move on. Life is about change, growth, and progress.

Finding a quiet moment to check in with yourself is integral to regular self-reflection and personal improvement. Practices that encourage stillness and a focus on breathing, such as yoga and meditation, can be perfect for this. If you are finding this hard to start with, tracking your actions and thoughts can be useful too. Why not begin journaling to see patterns in actions or behavior that perhaps you are looking to change? Writing things on paper can help to cement decisive self-examination. Writing will also allow you to compartmentalize your self-reflection without being too hard on yourself.

No one finds looking at themselves objectively, an easy task. Chatting and talking things through with friends can be equally beneficial when looking to unpack your current situation and acknowledge and let go of the past. It can also be a great way to hold each other accountable and give you the stepping stone to progress in the future.

Surrounding Yourself with Like-minded People

Your body is a reflection of what you eat and how you move, so it is no surprise that every aspect of your living environment affects not only your physical form but also the way you think, act and feel. It has often been said that you are a reflection of who is around you. This means it is vital to have an awareness of who you let into your life.

Surrounding yourself with like-minded people doesn’t mean having a group of ‘yes’ people all the time, telling you what you want to hear. Instead, it is ensuring that the people in your life are helping you to live and feel your best. True friendship inspires honest, uncomfortable conversations all within the network of unwavering support. Family relationships can sometimes be a little trickier to navigate. However, it is still essential to ensure you are not allowing a negative family relationship to take up space in your life if it is making you unhappy. Deep down, we can always tell who is right for our lives and who isn’t – that is the natural part! The hard part is letting go of those who may be we love and care about, but who may not be the best for us.

If you are finding it hard to track down your tribe of like-minded friends, why not try making some small changes in your life to help meet new people. Taking up a new hobby can be fun and rewarding, as well as a great way to make new friends. It is easy to stay stuck in a rut, so don’t be afraid to do things differently. If you aren’t happy in your job, see if there is somewhere else you could use your skills that would see you surrounded by people more like you. Even something as simple as switching up your routine and going to new places in your local area can find you bumping into a new friend when you least expect it.

These three keys to a healthy mindset can make a big difference in your everyday life if you practice them regularly. Being conscious of ourselves and our behavior can be a challenging skill to master, but once you do, it can have a hugely positive impact on every area of your life.