The concept of the mind can be a little tricky to grasp. Some might argue that when we say “mind,” we really mean “brain.” But it is not at all that clear that the mind and the brain are exactly the same thing.
For example, the questions “What’s on your mind?” and “What’s on your brain?” are likely to have very different answers. The former is a question about what you are thinking about, while the latter may well be a question about a growth on the physical structure of your brain.
All of that said, this blog entry is not really about parsing the difference between “mind” and “brain.” Instead, this post is a roundup of blogs that address issues related to the mind. You might think of it as a mind rewind.
Let’s jump into various matters of the mind.
The Body and Mind Connection
In a post titled “Your Mind and Body are Connected,” we explored how good habits related to your physical body can have positive impacts on your mind. The fact is that physical health and mental health are intertwined, so caring for one is good for the other.
In the post, we identified three behaviors related to your physical health that can have a big impact on your mental wellbeing:
- Exercising regularly
- Eating healthily
- Sleeping restfully
Making positive changes in those three areas—and maintaining those changes over time—can have an ongoingly positive impact on your mental health. Again, what is good for your body is also good for your mind.
Choosing a Growth Mindset
In an entry titled “Mastering a Growth Mindset for Mental Health,” we explored the differences between a “fixed” mindset and a “growth mindset.” Here is how we set the two apart:
A person with a fixed mindset believes that certain essential characteristics that they possess cannot be changed. They believe that their intelligence, their talents, their personalities, and more simply are what they are—they can’t grow or evolve or change. Instead, they are “fixed.”
A person with a growth mindset knows that change is not only possible but inevitable. With that in mind, they can use their energy, as the name of the mindset suggests, to grow.
Adopting a growth mindset is, as you might imagine, a better choice for your mental health. As we put it in that post:
[I]f you remind yourself that change is possible (and inevitable), you can harness that fact and begin to foster positive changes in your mental health—and in your life as a whole.
To put it another way: The fix for a fixed mindset is a growth mindset that embraces change, possibility, and the future.
Give Yourself the Present of Mindfulness
In a previous post titled “Right Here, Right Now: The Mental Health Benefits of Mindfulness,” we examined how centering yourself in the present moment can be a powerful way to protect and improve your mental health. We wrote:
So often, our minds seem to be filled to bursting with rushing thoughts going every which way. We find ourselves ruminating about past mistakes or regrets. Or we let our thoughts dwell on worries about the future. Sometimes, paying attention to our thoughts is like watching a tennis match with regrets on one side of the net and worries on the other. The ball of our thoughts whizzes back and forth between the two, leaving us sad, stressed, and more. There is no winner in this metaphorical tennis match of thoughts.
When we are being mindful, however, we focus our attention on the moment in which we are actually living. We stay present in the moment, enjoying what is happening right now rather than following our thoughts into the past or future.
That post goes on to explain what mindfulness practice is and how you can get started. You can find additional resources and thoughts on mindfulness in a number of our blog posts, including:
- Put Your Mind to It: A Mindfulness Reading List
- Mindfulness and Yoga are Two Routes to One Destination
- Mindfulness on Your Mind? Here’s What You Need to Know
- Mindfulness, Growth Mindset, and Mind Mapping
Keep Us In Mind If You Need Mental Health Care
Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Peak View Behavioral Health is all about helping you renew balance and embrace hope in your life. We are committed to an ethos of compassion and empathy, and we create personalized treatment plans grounded in evidence-based practices as well as our high levels of experience and expertise.
Depending on your specific situation and needs, you might choose our inpatient program, our outpatient program, or our dual diagnosis treatment option that addresses substance use disorders as well as the mental health disorders that accompany them.
We provide support and treatment for adults, adolescents, and families who are struggling with any of a number of mental health disorders. When it is time to make a change for the better, we hope Peak View Behavioral Health comes to mind as a place where you can receive the help you need.
