Countless charities, celebrities, and organizations have done a brilliant job of normalizing conversations on mental health – especially among men. Last month, Paddy Pimblett, a much loved UFC fighter made a heartfelt appeal to the sports’ many male fans to be okay with reaching out to a friend if they need to talk, save it leading to someone taking their life, like Paddy’s friend did only a week before.
But it is time to talk about mental fitness.
We all understand what it’s like to experience mental ill health. I, like many others, have struggled in numerous ways; with shaking off the identity I formed as a teenager, of being uncool, unpopular and the butt of many not-so-funny jokes, to realize myself as a well-balanced man. I have had issues with body image, and having to understand and overcome issues with anxiety, fear, and anger.
In my early 20s, I had to process the trauma of discovering a victim of suicide – a gentleman that had hung himself in the woods only a few hundred metres from the gym I was working at in a leafy Surrey suburb. Dealing with flashbacks, often on nights I was drinking and celebrating good times ended in me balling my eyes out with deep sadness.
Now, I think it is time that we advance the conversation from awareness to empowerment.
We all understand that regarding physical fitness:
- Fitness is fluid and If you’re not actively improving, you are getting less fit
- If you suffer an injury – even a minor one, it’s a good idea to rest and get treatment – from a physical therapist
- Having a good level of physical fitness prepares us for the physical rigors of work, family, hobbies, and life
The current general assumptions around mental fitness:
- We’re all fine…until you’re not.
- Going to see a therapist is when shit is hitting the fan, not before
- Meditation is a good thing. Journaling might also be a good idea.
I want us all to understand that our mental fitness is something we can proactively improve, with intention, effort, and guidance.
Mental fitness can help prepare you to navigate difficult times or it can help you accelerate toward great times, connections, abundance, and joy.
For many of us, this is an afterthought at best, but I cannot stress enough how vital I think it is to our well-being.
If you are not pro-actively working on your mental fitness then you’re leaving it to chance. And chance is a terrible strategy for success in any walk of life.
Here are 3 things you can begin to include in your mental fitness workout program:
- Build a morning routine. Activities such as journaling, intention setting, meditation, and visualization are all powerful tools to help create a mindset. By setting our minds, we prepare ourselves for what’s to come and where our mental and emotional focus should be. This can lessen the impact of negative events and allow us to capitalize on opportunities
- Mind your tongue. “Whether you believe you can or can’t you’re right” – Henry Ford. Be really careful about what you say about yourself. Human nature is to attach meaning to events. The good news is we get to choose the meaning we attach to things and it’s way better for us to focus on positive thoughts and narratives. Actively listen to the things you say about yourself out loud and internally and only keep the stuff that helps.
- Get a guide. Seek the help of a trained professional who can help you understand your own thinking, help navigate current or past traumas and rid yourself of blockers that are getting in your way. Even if you’re in a good place, the right person can supercharge you to new levels of success in your relationships, business, your well-being, and more.
To that point, finding a guide can be daunting for many. We have a team of coaches that can help you address and move past trauma. However, the most important factor is that you find the right support. If you have questions, we’d love to answer them regardless of whether you want to work with us. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch wherever you are on your journey.
