How to Overcome Limiting Beliefs?

    

“I don’t have any experience”, “I’m not prepared”, “I won't be able to do that” and “I’m too old or too young for that” are examples of self-limiting beliefs that are toxic. Self-limiting beliefs limit us from gaining achievement in our careers and lives. But what are self-limiting beliefs? They are negative self-perceptions that live in our conscious and subconscious mind in past experiences, judgments by others, values and opinions of our family and friends, and even updates from social media.

Limiting beliefs are our comfort zone. They can greatly limit progress and success in our aims, both personally and professionally. It is these thoughts, whether conscious or unconscious, that we regard as simple truths. However, these negative thoughts, which control our journey towards life goals, can be overcome and replaced with more positive notes. By shifting your thinking, you can change everything too.

If you have beliefs that are keeping you behind, now is the time to mark them head-on. Stop letting them fester while keeping you up at night and stopping you from taking action toward your purpose in life.

Below is a method that I use with clients to identify, evaluate, and eliminate self-limiting beliefs.

1. Understand and Identify one of your limiting beliefs

The first step to overcoming your limiting beliefs is in understanding what they are. If you fear there may be various limitations, then start with the most comprehensive one and then repeat this step with each limiting belief. Self-limiting beliefs lead to easily get rooted in our conscious and subconscious and are rarely questioned. Flip the book and assess the validity of the self-limiting belief that you are carrying with you. Are there facts to carry it or is it the thought or opinion of a friend, family member, or co-worker

2. Eliminate self-limiting beliefs

Once we know what they are and where they come from, the next step is to eliminate serious self-limiting beliefs that are getting in your way.

Acquire an Alternative Viewpoint - One way to overcome a negative belief is to think of an alternative. For example, I started to think, “I’m a good content writer” and stopped living on struggles interpreting literature given its limited efficacy in my current work. Replacing negative thoughts is a key action to hitting back self-limiting beliefs.

Constantly challenge your Self-Limiting Beliefs to overcome - Another tip to overcoming self-limiting beliefs is to deliberately challenge them instead of sitting back in fear. For me, it was to post my first blog and to resume blogging to prove to myself that my old idea was illogical. Constantly challenging your old beliefs will start to prove they are wrong and help you move on.

Recite Daily Mantra -  Daily mantras or affirmations are another way to move past your self-limiting beliefs. Repeating a positive statement daily will help to reset your mind and take the offensive on your negative beliefs. Challenge the belief with an affirmation such as “I can do this", “I am powerful” and becoming your inspiration can boost you to persist.


3. Keep Self-Limiting Beliefs Dormant: It takes consistent, deliberate effort to overcome self-limiting beliefs. That same sense of intentionality is needed to keep them going. Be sure to spend time recognizing and addressing old beliefs that come up as well as new ones to reduce future roadblocks to your progress.

In addition to the steps above, another highly useful way to identify and overcome your limiting beliefs is with the support of mentoring and coaching.

This approach has several techniques used in the search for individual advancement. Part of that process is the result of self-knowledge and motivation, learning and understanding from those with a sense of success.

When you realize that you can improve your life through your beliefs, you will discover that you can remove toxic thoughts that earlier prevented you from reaching your goals. When a coach or mentor begins to focus on your skills and how they can grow, you will be inspired to eliminate limiting beliefs and achieve your goals.

I hope you found this post valuable and I encourage you to share this process with people nearby to you to help them improve their beliefs. Lastly, when you see people around you achieving and living by your new belief, praise them because even if you aren’t quite there yet, it’s reaffirming what you want is possible!

Do comment in what all ways you can see meaning to your life and don’t forget to share it and follow me on Instagram & Facebook - @relivewithsangeeta & ReLive-Because You Matter

Happy Reading!

Why Boundaries are important in relationships and how to set them effectively?

   

Boundaries explain who you are in a relationship. Mainly, what you are and what you are not. The boundaries built in a relationship are meant to reveal where you end and someone else starts.

Boundaries are all around us. Their idea is to help us maintain a well-balanced and functional society. This is necessary because everyone is different and as usual, our needs, wants, and habits don’t line up.

Many people don't like the concept of setting boundaries in relationships, it seems to be a bad one or something unnecessary. The reason why they think boundaries in relationships are bad is that they think they keep people disconnected. However, this theory is very wrong.

On the contrary, it is important to have your boundaries in a relationship to have a loving and healthy relationship. The truth is that a relationship cannot be healthy if clear boundaries are not set and respected.

In a very simple way, boundaries show us where one thing ends and another begins. In a relationship, a boundary can take any form of a limit you set about what you are comfortable with and how you would prefer to be handled by others.

Healthy boundaries in relationships also mean taking responsibility for your feelings and lives. It also means being comfortable to not take responsibility for another person’s feelings and activities.

Also, setting boundaries helps to assure that a relationship is commonly relevant, respectful, and caring. Thus, healthy boundaries encourage partners to take each other’s feelings into account, seek consent from each other, and show gratitude.

Setting healthy boundaries is also a great way to respect your partner’s activities as well as their different ideas and views.

One of the benefits of setting healthy boundaries in relationships is the elimination of blames. The trend for one partner to blame the other is reduced. This is because boundaries leave no place for the deflection of the ownership of a problem.

The set boundaries support each partner to take responsibility for their part in any dispute, conflict, or wrong approach. This way, resolving conflicts becomes a lot easier for the partners.

So, the establishment and respect for personal boundaries in a relationship form good support for the development of strong emotional affection between partners.

How to set healthy boundaries effectively?

Setting boundaries will ultimately help reduce stress and assure that you have a healthy bond with your partner.

Here are 5 tips for setting healthy boundaries in your relationship.

Understand boundaries are healthy for your relationship.

Boundaries are an essential element of healthy relationships because they help to keep a balance between you and your partner. They also help reduce conflict, because they set an example of what you both expect from each other. Having boundaries can bring you closer to your partner because they keep open communication.

Be honest about what you need:

Communication is the key to a healthy relationship. Conversing openly is an important part of every healthy relationship. When discussing boundaries with your partner, being honest about what you are comfortable with or not comfortable with will help in knowing what you expect from them. You could even write down your expectations so it will be easy while sharing them with your partner.

Indicate When You Need Space

This tip is particularly relevant at the moment. If you’re spending a lot of time together mostly, be sure to interact with each other when you need time alone. It’s just as important to set aside time for yourself as it is to have quality time with the person you admire.

Listen to What Your Partner Needs

Since you expect your partner to notice your boundaries, it’s also important to thoroughly listen to their needs as well. Relationships are a two-way road, so you will need to listen to the boundaries they want to set and discuss those as well. Remember, that in a relationship, you should be able to say anything, but the way you say it matters a lot. So, be a good listener when your partner is expressing.

Communicate With Respect

Healthy relationships demand respect from both sides. The best way to communicate your boundaries is with understanding, compassion, and respect for each other’s expectations. Having respect each time you communicate will eventually make your relationship healthier and stronger.

While setting out the boundaries for oneself never forget to explain the limitation of each partner’s boundaries in a clear-cut way.

For example, what exactly does cheating as a boundary breach mean? Is cheating just about the physical connection, or is it about going on a date with the opposite sex? Does it involve sharing personal secrets with others, watching porn, or even fantasizing about someone else?

While communicating your boundaries in a relationship, try to be open to listening to how the boundaries affect your partner. Also try to explain the issue as openly as possible so that both of you feel heard, valued, and cared for.

In review, healthy boundaries need to have an empathetic mind and heart. Setting boundaries is never about being mean to other people and it is not self-centered. Rather, it is about being present and sensible to others while not overlooking our own wants and desires.

Do comment in what all ways you can see meaning to your life and don’t forget to share it and follow me on Instagram & Facebook - @relivewithsangeeta & ReLive-Because You Matter

Tips to get Healed from Childhood Toxicity.

   

Someone rightly said, “The childhood of today is the manhood of tomorrow”. We all have certain memories of childhood. Some are sweet and some are scary. But a toxic childhood is a growing period in an environment that negatively influences the child’s self-esteem and sense of belonging. It’s connected with how this child was treated, was neglected, or was getting enough love and care, or considering life is good and secure or complicated and toxic. Toxic childhood is a by-product of toxic parenting or any toxic situation that happened during the period.

Healing from a toxic childhood may be difficult but not impossible, it’s so because those flashbacks and the behavior stay within you for long. Gradually, you start to question yourself for your choices, decisions because the initial stage of your life should have taught you how to live a healthy and well-balanced life but ended up teaching you more about fear, stress, doubts, and insecurities.

Here I’m going to clarify in bullet form to keep my thoughts straight for a better understanding.

Never blame yourself: There is a lot of embarrassment that comes together with childhood trauma, and you have to let that go. Children are taught to be hesitant to tell anyone and are often humiliated into silence. Understand this is something your abuser imposed on you. The fault lies at their feet only. You wouldn’t expect a child to save you from abuse now, so why should you hold the child you were to in several ways.

Seek the help of an expert: this is not something you can deal with on your own. Childhood toxicity often occurs while the brain is still in progress, which means there could be results to it, of which you are unaware. Only by hard work in dealing with core, underlying concerns could you even begin to heal from the harm that could have been done to you.

Realize there will still be people who don’t accept you: Recognize that and respect your boundaries and privacy. It will be painful to hear, so be selective in the people with whom you share your story.
Make something good out of a bad experience: Become a mental health supporter or guide to end childhood abuse. There are children right now going through the same thing, and you can make a real difference in their lives. People are mostly open to listening to someone who has experienced trauma themselves, so use that platform to educate people and help the stigma surrounding it. This will help others with helpful tips of warning signs to look for and may save a child from continuing in a state of constant abuse - and it will help in focusing all that pain, humiliation, and rage into something productive.

Focus on your healing: Ignore the stigma (I know that’s hard) and focus on anything that makes you feel stronger and wiser. One of the big things for me is that I felt weak and helpless to stop what was happening to me, so as an adult, I worked on my Mental Wellness exercises until I felt strong again. Also, distracting yourself to de-stress is part of this. Find a hobby, something you can drive yourself into and get lost in so that you find pleasure and a sense of achievement.

Allow yourself to be self-indulgent: Do whatever it takes to heal. Close out the world for a while if that is what is needed. Cut out the toxic people, completely go no contact with those who know and saw what was happening but did nothing to help.

Remind yourself that you are no longer in pain: For people who deal with childhood trauma, the symptoms are incredibly challenging to deal with. Your body always reacts as if you are still in danger. Keep in mind that you hold the power now. That needs to settle into your mind, and this is where therapy will benefit you most.

Don’t allow anyone to underestimate what you are experiencing as an adult: Childhood trauma stays with us, lives in each of our cells, and influences our thought patterns well into adulthood. Do not listen to people who say, “but that happened ages ago,” “just let it go,” “learn to live in today.” Those people do not know what they are addressing. You have every right to your feelings. What happened to you was shocking and something that people are uncomfortable confronting, so they blame you for not being able to deal with it. Don’t allow that to be a part of your story.

I know it’s a process and not a simple one, but it’s important for your mental health and your well-being. Maybe your toxic childhood didn’t teach you much about love, security, peace, and happiness but it taught you whom you don’t want to be, how not to act, what kind of partner or parent you don’t want to become, and sometimes that’s the best knowledge anyone can give you.

Do comment in what all ways you can see meaning to your life and don’t forget to share it and follow me on Instagram & Facebook - @relivewithsangeeta & ReLive-Because You Matter

How can we support men's mental health?

We all have been listening since our childhood whenever we hear ‘my man’, ‘man of words’, ‘responsible man’ or a ‘family man’, all we get an idea at first sight that man is considered as an epitome of handling responsibilities. No matter a world may change from here & there but a man is expected to never back off from his responsibilities. In cases where a family is led by a woman, she is also deliberately called ‘the man of the house. This overpowers the situation for men. But with more power comes great responsibilities. As the situation turns challenging & progressing, they are expected to be more powerful & stronger than before. Sometimes, they manage to be that powerful while sometimes they fail to make it after all they are also humans & they too have emotions.

Movies & society have set a benchmark for every man like - “Mard ko dard nahi hota (Men don’t feel pain)” or “ Ladke kabhi nahi rote (Boys don’t cry)”. It became so easy to set that benchmark but what about the scar behind those clothes which they receive due to failed careers, bad relationships, abuse, or assault. Somewhere a generation made sure about a thing that there exists nothing like mental health because men don’t have emotions or any emotions to express while women's emotions or mental health were suppressed or ignored subsequently. With changing times, both men & women took their first step forward to speak, share & talk about mental health. Change is coming with time. Women’s mental health has been given due importance with time-based on the changes they go through in their lifestyle personally & socially. While with men, mental health is just related to depression or a failed relationship. There is a lot more beyond what went unnoticed around you only.

Yes, it’s true. We have our younger & elder brothers around us with whom we stay day & night. We never give a thought if they’re going through anything they need to talk about. Sometimes, people just ignore their issues by saying - ‘this is nothing, be strong & ignore’. This is so easy for someone to speak but at the same time so tough to implement. He needs a guide who can save him come out of it successfully. And there is no particular age group that might be facing these mental health struggles. Men of any age can be a victim of mental health struggles. You still doubt - let’s talk about students. Be it school-going or college-going boys, they come across various intercomparisons among each other in terms of height, weight, looks, appearance, physique, strength, or wisdom. It can be either of them or any of them. A boy with superior qualities in any of these tries to make fun of or bully the one who’s less in it. Some try to fight with it while some get embarrassed with their deficiencies which makes them start hating themselves. As they start hating themselves they start losing confidence in everything including the things they can excel in. These are basic struggles almost every boy has experienced in their childhood to teenage.

When they move forward, post completing their education they are expected to get a job or start working as early as possible. If they fail or delay in doing so, they are taunted with harsh words with a view that they start working next time before they get hurt again. Those harsh words are sometimes not just limited to their casual nature towards their lifestyle but often they are put up as a question on their character. Eventually, they end up either settling down with a bad job or being ignorant after being affected mentally. When it comes to work-life or a workspace, the scenario is almost an upgraded version of what it was in schools & colleges. In a workspace, no matter if it’s a job or a business a man goes through different challenges like getting compared with peers/colleagues, getting scolded/insulted by seniors among the entire team/office, or a fear of getting fired from work or business getting shut. Many people just continue a bad job or business just to save their family.

In case a man fails there, often the family members start biting the man with harsh words again without understanding what he was/have been going through. Often a man’s wings of ambition towards pursuing their dream job or role get cut/destroyed due to family needs or responsibilities. As he is expected to take care of the family, sometimes intentionally & sometimes out of situation demands he is made to forget his ambitions. We think it’s not a big deal but the person who suffers knows the pain. It goes up gradually further when a man is rejected outright or doesn’t receive the necessary love from his partner or kids or parents. Every stage has a situation that disturbs mental peace for a long time.

This doesn’t mean that there is no solution to it. A small step at every point can help a man come out of it stronger than before.
When your child/younger brother tries to share about any problems, listen to them very carefully. Sometimes, they might hesitate to share their problems with you on the first go. Give them some time and listen to their problems.
Talk with your child/ younger brother like a friend. Let them speak about their concerns. Sometimes, they might be going through some serious abuses or assaults you might be unaware of.
The same is similar with men. Whenever you talk to any of your male friends if they share anything which is affecting or bothering them by any means. Try to understand and help them in coming up with the solution.
In some cases, a boy comes across different quarrels in childhood. It could be between parents or family members. Speak to your child about the problem, let them know, and understand the situation because we can't expect the wisdom of taking the right decisions from them until we involve them in every aspect of the decision-making process.
Often men don't open up with their emotions so easily. They only come out where they feel trusted, understood, and not judged at all. Once they feel that zone, they will open up their heart like a child.

You might be surprised why there has been so much focus on a boy rather than a man. It's because that's where the first initial shock of mental health is experienced. If that is taken due care of in the beginning, it makes a boy live a stressful free mentally happy life. Else ignorance just keeps increasing troubles. If you are in distress and need immediate help or are feeling like going out of the track, please feel free to contact ReLive-Because You Matter for further assistance.

Do comment in what all ways you can see meaning to your life and don’t forget to share it and follow me on Instagram & Facebook - @relivewithsangeeta & ReLive-Because You Matter

5 Ways to Overcome Victim Mentality!

When things go wrong, it’s easy to feel as if every bad thing happens to you. Suddenly, it’s you versus the world, and you’re on a never-ending losing streak.

I’ve certainly had my good piece of times like this, where I couldn’t help but questioned why me? Do I deserve this? It felt like everything and everyone was out to notice me, and it was more peaceful to place the blame for my unfortunate fate on others, rather than own up to my faults.

What is Victim Mentality?

This kind of mindset deflects liability for your actions and viewing yourself as a victim of the actions of others, known as “victim mentality.” Victim mentality is an acquired personality feature that can have serious negative outcomes.



Source: REDEFINEDNARRATIVE.COM

If you or a close one of yours is coping with a victim mentality, here are ways to overcome it.

Identify actionable ways to make improvements

The first step in taking real control of your life is identifying actionable ways to improve your situation. Have you or a friend been tossing about how you’ll never find a job? Instead of complaining to anyone, make a list of ways you can make accessible, real changes. For Example, Try to upload your CV to various job portals or go for an interview. Take action to see your progress.

Manage your Mood

When you feel great, you do great. When you’re focused on what you have, you have more confidence and passion in going after what you want.

A study by Dr. Martin Seligman noted that there are three proven methods of enhancing our emotions. The first is following mindfulness, meditating, or praying.

The other two methods are practicing gratitude and helping others. If you want to feel better, there is no better way than focusing on the good and assertive things in your life. Serving others also strengthens and empowers us. There may not be a more satisfying feeling than knowing you can help others and then observing that result when you do so.

Find a Victor’s Mantra

For many people, mantras do miracles. By realizing that they’re acting like a victim, then they’re able to motivate and allow themselves through self-talk. The solution is shifting of mindset towards positive thinking to call yourself out at the moment you start playing the victim game.

I love the last line of the famous poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley: “I am the master of my destiny, I am the captain of my soul.”

Reframe your Story

You have the authority to change your own story. Every time you feel like complaining about something or someone else for your difficulties, take a moment to flip the scenario and focus on things you can change. Are you struggling financially and disappointed with friends that keep inviting you to fancy dinners? What can you do to appreciate your friends while making lifestyle shifts to improve your possibilities?

Indulge yourself with kindness

Take time to identify the role you play in creating or contributing to your situations. You can be sorry to yourself, and treat yourself to something that makes you feel happy like a small walk, a hot bath, or cooking your favorite dinner. “When you’re criticizing the world and life for your pain and suffering, you’re not treating yourself to feel better. By claiming the victim part, you are increasing your pain.

At the end of the day, it’s important to remember coping with a victim mentality is not a tough job or a life sentence. With little care and help from a mental health professional, you or anyone around you can set free from these negative thinking patterns.

The Bottom Line

The first step to overcome your victim mentality is to realize you’re suffering from it. Once you understand this, you can take an effective role in overcoming it. While doing so, it’s important to stay kind to yourself and don’t make yourself a victim for believing like a victim. There are some things that you can manage in life, and that’s how you react and interact. When it comes to others, you cannot handle what they do, but you can control how you respond. By practicing self-love, acceptance, self-reflection, and gratitude, you can work towards feeling confident and taking responsibility for your own life and relations.

Do comment in what all ways you can see meaning to your life and don’t forget to share it and follow me on Instagram & Facebook - @relivewithsangeeta & ReLive-Because You Matter

How to Build Emotional Resilience? Importance & Benefit of building Resilience.

     

Life isn’t constantly easy. It is full of struggles. Change, in our personal and professional lives, doesn’t appear to be vanishing. There always seems to be something making us concerned. Maintaining calm and developing Resiliency is very critical.

Emotional resilience is when you can calm your raging mind after encountering an unpredictable situation. It is intrinsic motivation, an inner strength by which we can handle ourselves through all the downsides of life. The word ‘resilience’ originates from the Latin word ‘resilio’ that explains ‘to bounce back’ or rebound.

Emotional resilience is an art of living that is wrapped with self-belief, self-compassion, and improved consciousness. It is the way through which we allow ourselves to see difficulties as ‘temporary’ and keep growing stronger through the pain and difficulties.

A basic aspect of building emotional resilience is accepting the reality that everything is interlinked and unpredictable at the same time. For example, building resilience at work would also make you resilient in your relationships, and vice versa.

Here are 5 tips to build your emotional resilience & help yourself when going through tough times:

Self-Awareness

The ability to control our own feelings, internal conflicts, and perception of the world is termed Self Awareness. Through self-awareness, we get a deeper knowledge of how feelings contribute to our actions. Rather than looking for help outside, or criticizing others for our problems, self-awareness gives us the strength to look for solutions within us. By making us more aware of our inner self, it helps us to become more capable and conscious.

Emotional Control

People with higher levels of emotional and self-control can redirect and manage their feelings. They are less likely to be overwhelmed by stress or let it influence their lives. They think twice before taking any action and won’t climb fast into settling.

Persistence

Resilience helps a person increase their compliance and commitment to keep striving. Whether dealing with outside tension or managing internal conflicts, perseverance keeps the inner strength alive.

Flexible Thinking

Flexible thinking is an important aspect of mental health that contributes to the personal and professional achievement of any human being.

It is a dominant social skill that includes adjustability, rationality, happiness, and positive thinking. A person who has developed these skills through life experiences will be more emotionally resilient and can stay well-balanced in life.

Interpersonal Relations

Having healthy personal relationships is both an end result and a requisite for emotional resilience. If we have the power to build healthy interpersonal bonds at the personal or professional level, we have already taken one step ahead for a resilient life. We are social animals, and being encircled by people gives us the energy to overcome difficulties, survive them, and grow from them. For building emotional resilience in a broader context, we must have the ability to enhance our living interpersonal relationships and be open in developing new skills.

Why is building Resilience important?

When we are in a sensitive and unpredictable situation where we sense as if things are not in our control, it can be very challenging to find our stability or paddle against the wave, or, overcome and relive our life.

During challenging or stressful times, it is important for many reasons - it helps us to have emotional balance in our lives, and can also work as a shield in the development of some mental health struggles and problems and also it allows us to develop mechanisms for protection against events that could be overwhelming.

The benefits of Resilience:

The benefits of resiliency are many.

When faced with a challenge, resilience pushes us to gain knowledge, develop our skills, and value our talents to overcome and flourish.

With resilience, we can face struggles and rely on our strengths and succeed. Maybe things won’t turn out exactly the way we would like, but resilience will give us the strength to accept the outcome and move forward positively.

Moving ahead

Life will knock you down. However, it’s up to you whether or not to waste your time. Whatever you do, don’t give up. Wipe away the tears, get up and proceed to move forward. Your inner strength is the calm force within you that knows when to act and gives you the power to do so. Listen to it and believe that, no matter what follows, you’ve got this.

Resilience can differ from one person to the other, but mental strength and proven practical tactics can mean we can, not only survive, but grow, in the face of adversity.

Do comment what all ideas you can see adding meaning to your life and don’t forget to share it and follow me on Instagram & Facebook - @relivewithsangeeta & ReLive-Because You Matter

What is MOST Important - Money, Love, Relationships, Or Peace Of Mind?

As human beings, we go through a lot of things in life. Be it physically or mentally or financially or emotionally, one sees different phases of life from these aspects. Every aspect of it has its own side which we all have been aware of. People work hard throughout their lives to achieve different milestones. For some, money is the milestone, for some love is the milestone, for some maintaining relationships & for some just surviving. But did you know there are some people who work hard to achieve something which is common among these all milestones & it’s that valuable? It is none other than a ‘Peaceful Mind’.

In today’s time, especially after experiencing different phases just wish to have a peaceful mind. For that, people are ready to pay hefty amounts to achieve that peace. Either by taking a vacation or shifting away from a toxic atmosphere, everyone wants to escape from the chaos to have a peaceful mind. In anyways, it is never wrong to take these actions because all you are doing is for your peace of mind. Lately, people have started accepting & acknowledging the importance of a peaceful mind. But it all starts with different emotional, financial & social factors which disturbs it & we all feel to get away from it just for the sake of our peace of mind.

Some of you might be perplexed by the thought of what is more important - money, love, relationships, or peace of mind?

Let’s see each of the aspects

Money - We all have heard about - “Health is Wealth”. If there’s a peaceful mind, that is the biggest wealth for an individual because it all starts from there. The journey of being a successful person starts with a peaceful mind. Once the mind finds its peace, the body also responds positively to the actions. But many people focus on making more & more money. For that, they are ready to compromise with a bad boss, toxic work environment & enormous amount of work pressure. No doubt, the initial period seems more thrilling but eventually after earning a good chunk a person ends up paying that amount to find peace of mind.

There is no limit of needs when it comes to money, for some 1000 is enough while for some 1 Cr is insufficient. It depends on a person & Their lifestyle how they get acquainted with what they earn. A person earning millions & billions or a person earning a meager amount - both would be worried about money which would cause sleep deprivation, disturbed lifestyle & wrong decisions. But a peaceful mind can let a person be alert & well decisive about money.

Love & Relationship - A peaceful mind is the most essential aspect when it comes to relationships. We have come across people who come out of relationships just because their peace of mind was affected. Not just that, many young people have been moving away from their families just because they experience a toxic atmosphere that disturbs their peace of mind. When a person’s mind is at peace, they can distinguish between good/bad and right/wrong. Some people claim being single is best, some claim being with someone is best. People eventually share their views where they find their peace of mind because no matter if they are alone or with someone, most of them prefer a peaceful mind first.

You still might feel why a peaceful mind is so important over money, love & relationships. Have you seen ‘Dear Zindagi’ starring Alia Bhatt? This movie shows how a person like her despite being surrounded with talent, money, work, love & relationship found it challenging in managing it all. It’s because she wasn’t able to make peace with the things they were coming around until she came across a counselor who helps her in decluttering things & ways to achieve peace of mind.

But there are some ways you can do self-help to lead and live a peaceful mind:

• Prioritize your Work, make a schedule & stay organized.
• Let go of things you can’t control or manage.
• Exercise, relax & meditate
• Listen to music, get involved with nature.
• Live in the moment, don’t take yourself seriously.
• Speak your heart out, connect with people.
• Socialize & share a laugh.
• Ignore people who share negative vibes or who let you down.
• Be kind & don’t compare yourself with anyone.
• Take good sleep

While going through this blog, some of you could relate to it while some of you have noticed these stances in your friend’s case or people around you. There might be some who are actually going through one but never gave a thought to sort it out. Here you can try to segregate your things & put them in order to achieve your peaceful mind.

Remember a peaceful mind comes above all other factors & aspects, so never be shy in giving that a priority. Peaceful minds help us in living fulfilling lives. In case you feel messed up with problems & unable to find solutions to them, a counselor or mental wellness coach is always there for you to guide and help you achieve a peaceful mind.

To get more insightful pointers and knowledge you can follow me on Instagram & Facebook - @relivewithsangeeta & ReLive-Because You Matter

Ways to Get Motivated for People Going Through Depression.

Depression is a mental health state that affects thinking, energy, feelings, and behavior. It is a very common mental health condition that affects 1 in 10 people at any point in time.

Depression can drain out your motivation to perform even the simplest of tasks. Studies say depressed people have a tough time finding the motivation to go to the office, hang out with friends, or even have food.

Signs of depression can range from mild to severe. It can be chronic or can happen as a one-time event caused by traumatic life issues such as a death in the family, breakup, or financial crisis.




Sign & Symptoms of depression include:

• reduced interest in normally pleasurable activities
• insomnia or disturbance in sleep pattern
• inadequate self-image
• anxiety, impatience, or lack of energy and weakness
• difficulty in focusing and attending to usual tasks

Here are a few tactics for motivating yourself when you're depressed:

Set small, simple goals.

Set small, easy goals. If the idea of doing something seems terrifying, start with a low-key. Set small and easy goals. As you meet these goals, you can continue adding more on top of them until you finally achieve all of your goals.

Practice self-compassion.

If you hit yourself up for being so unproductive and slow, you're going to keep yourself feeling like crap and thus, paralyzed. Rather try using some encouraging words you might use for a friend or loved one.

Imagine how you'll feel after the task.

Getting in the shower, going for a walk, preparing a meal, or hanging out with a buddy seems like a very serious task if you focus on the energy involved. People who are depressed usually have low self-efficacy, which means they have low confidence in their ability to do tasks. As such, they feel overwhelmed and avoid doing such tasks. Have low expectations for yourself within the task, and imagine how you feel after the task rather than during.

Ask for support and help.

Some of us have difficulty in holding ourselves accountable at the best of times. Disclose to someone you trust, and ask for their help. Ask your buddy to hold you to your promise. Ask your partner to join you in a Zumba class. Schedule a counseling appointment, or have a Spa Session.

Recognize your courage for moving out of your comfort zone.

As painful as it is, depression can become content in a devil you know kind of way. You know the pain, you're in the pain, you can predict that tomorrow will be the same. The thought of moving out of this comfort zone can be pretty anxiety-provoking.

Steven Hayes, a psychologist whose practice I value, said, "If you keep doing what you've always done, you're going to get what you've always gotten."

Socialize more often

Embrace positive relationships, encourage people to socialize with you when you feel up for it, and keep suggesting a chance. Helping someone in need will surely enhance your mood and encourage you to get out of bed the next day. Plan a house party with your colleagues or go for dinner with your team or family or friends.

Depression and motivation

Lack of motivation is a symbol of depression, but the cause is not definite. For example, you may lack motivation if you’re having problems coping with an issue in your life or feeling something that affects your self-confidence.

If depression is subject to your lack of motivation, you may find that your level of motivation is linked to how depressed you’re feeling. If you or a loved one is feeling a lack of motivation due to depression, there are ways to improve the situation.

So, if you are able to do something different, compliment yourself. There's a big chance whatever you're experiencing may come with anxiety because anxiety brings uncertainty. It may be telling you you're walking out of the usual routine of depression, so recognize your courage and try to bring such experiences forward in your journey.

When to seek help

If you or a loved one is experiencing depression, and have trouble feeling motivated and normal. Counseling may help. If your mood and motivational level don’t get better, it's time to talk to a mental wellness coach.

If you or any loved one are struggling to get motivation while going through depression, get support. ReLive-Because YOU Matter can help you talk through any tough feelings you're dealing with.

To get more insightful pointers and hacks you can follow me on Instagram & Facebook - @relivewithsangeeta & ReLive-Because You Matter

What Do Emotions Mean? How to identify your emotions.

How are you feeling right now? As you start reading this, Do you feel curious? Expecting that you'll get to know about yourself? Are you excited about your weekend plans or broken because you just went through heartbreak?

Emotions like these are just a part of human nature. They help us to be aware of what we're feeling and help us know how to respond.

We understand our emotions from the time we're kids. Children react to their emotions with facial expressions or with actions like laughing, touching, or crying. They feel and show emotions, but they can't yet express their emotion in words or say what they are feeling & why they are Feeling so.

As we grow up, we are more skilled in understanding emotions. Instead of just reacting as little kids do, we can recognize what we see and feel and can express it in words and expressions. With time we get to know what we are feeling and why. This skill is called emotional awareness. It is the first step towards building emotional intelligence that can help people succeed in life.

Here are some basic ideas about emotions:

Emotions come and go. Most of us feel many emotions throughout the day. Some last just a few moments. Others might stay to get in the mood.

There are no good or bad emotions, but there are always good or bad ways of expressing them. Knowing how to express emotions in a subtle way is an excellent skill, managing and controlling emotions that is built on a basis of being able to understand emotions.

Emotions can be strong, mild, or anywhere in between. The power of emotion can depend on the situation and the person.




Source: Kindling a flame

Let’s understand the differences between Emotions & Moods.

In common language, people often use the terms "emotions" and "moods" Interchangeably, but psychologists showed differences between the two. How do they differ? An emotion is normally quite short-lived, but strong. Emotions are also likely to have a clear and identifiable cause.

For example, after discussing with a friend about the new Netflix series that you wanted to watch but before that, they gave you a spoiler, you might feel angry or bad for a short period.

A mood, on the other hand, is usually milder than an emotion, but longer-lasting. In many cases, it can be tough to know the specific reason for a mood. For example, you might find yourself feeling sad or disturbed for several days without any clear, identifiable reason.

If you've been struggling with frequent mood swings or stressful emotions, talk to a mental wellness coach about your concerns. They can offer help, guidance, and solutions that can assist you to get back to feeling your best.

How To Identify Your Emotions

Understanding what emotions mean and how it is different from mood, your next step is to understand and identify those emotions. You can simply start by asking yourself which will help you identify the emotion of the idea that has affected you. Some questions to ask include:

• What am I thinking now?
• What are my thoughts telling me?
• What ideas or judgments have I made, are they valid?
• What is that I really want?

The answers to these questions are the key to using your emotions in your life goals, rather than letting your emotions manage you.

Usually, your body reactions suggest important signs of the nature of your emotional state. If your face starts to get warm while you are talking with someone, you may be embarrassed. If you get butterflies in your belly, maybe you are worried or anxious. If you feel excited, there is a smile on your face, or maybe happy. If your head pounds, your heart races, and you feel increasingly anxious and hot, you are angry. However, if you feel tense, your heart is pounding, your palms are sweating, and you feel cold, you are scared rather than angry.

Take time to know your emotions better. Just notice how you feel. Accept how you feel without judging yourself. Show yourself some kindness. Tell yourself that all your emotions are normal. But how you manage and act on emotions matters a lot. When you know your emotions, you are advanced in making wise decisions about how to control and act no matter what you're thinking.

If you have emotions that feel stressful or overwhelming, get support. ReLive-Because YOU Matter can help you talk through any tough feelings you're dealing with.

To get more insightful pointers and hacks you can follow me on Instagram & Facebook - @relivewithsangeeta & ReLive-Because You Matter

Self - Confidence - A booster to a Peaceful Mind

Confidence is an important aspect of your personality and life. It’s a state of mind which makes you believe in yourself, and the way you feel about yourself influences the peace of mind and also makes life either more or less stressful. Everyone will tell you that with confidence you can attain success but not many will tell you how to strengthen your confidence. It’s not something that can be learned and implemented within a day. It’s something that needs to be learned, practiced, and mastered just like any other skill every single day.

Self-confidence is most needed in a doubtful situation about something because when you are positive you are already confident. However, the degree of certainty differs from person to person, and also the same methods might work better for someone than others.

For example, if you trust your ability to respond to any situation or whatever happens in your life, then you will be more likely to see tough situations as an opportunity to grow instead of as a warning or challenge; conversely, if you don’t trust your own ability to face and overcome difficult situations, you will be more likely to see any adverse situations as warning and stress-provoking.


Source: Dreamstime

There are various things you can do to increase your self-confidence and self-esteem and are also very effective to achieve a peaceful mindset. This can work in multiple ways to help you feel more empowered in your life and build flexibility.

Here are easy, effective tips to boost your confidence and help you in having a peaceful mind.

Accept yourself for who you are: Knowing and accepting yourself is the first step towards self-confidence. By accepting yourself you can understand that all people are not the same, neither are all human conditions suitable for everyone. And it is absolutely ok to be who you are. We all are different with unique characteristics and behavior. Accepting the flaws and embracing the real you is the foremost step to gain self-confidence in you. Your uniqueness is where your power and success lie. You won’t be comfortable and positive in all conditions all the time, however, having high self-esteem will help you to cope with any situation.

Albert Einstein said, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

Stop labeling yourself as shy, weak, or dumb: When you label yourself as shy, weak, or dumb, your subconscious mind act accordingly, and psychologically it feels inclined to live up to those expectations. Rather than labeling and absorbing negative self-talk, imagine and affirm yourself as confident and bold. Close your eyes for a minute and visualize yourself in a different position as you would desire to be.

Experts consider that positive affirmation and good mental health practices like visualizing yourself succeeding or achieving a goal can lead to greater awareness of self-confidence and serve you to achieve success & overcome any failures.

Follow your Hobbies that you love doing: Whether it is playing a musical instrument, reading a book, going for a walk, or painting, do what you enjoy and what makes you truly happy usually. It will boost your self-confidence, calm you and allow you to identify your strengths and skills. That will in turn support your self-belief and build your confidence exponentially. You might not become famous for doing what you love. Being famous doesn’t make you happy; doing what you enjoy does.

Keep Smiling: One positive step to instantly boost your confidence is a smile. Experts say that flashing those pretty, pearly white teeth will immediately make you look both confident and composed. But, the outcome of smiling is not just visible. Studies show that smiling can also help in boosting positive feelings and grant the way for a peaceful and more relaxed you.

Confront Your Fears: The best way to build your confidence is by facing your fears head-on. Practice facing some of your fears that lack self-confidence. If you’re afraid you’ll confuse yourself or you think that you’re going to mess up, try it anyway. Tell yourself it’s just an experiment and let's see what happens. You might learn that being a little worried or making a few mistakes isn’t as bad as you imagined. And each time you move ahead, you can get more self-confidence in yourself, which will help you from taking any risks that will result in any major negative outcomes. Facing your fears and trying difficult things will ultimately boost confidence in yourself.

Surround Yourself With Positive People: Give attention to how your buddies make you feel. Do your friends encourage you or bring you down? Are they continually judging you or do they accept you for who you are? The people you spend time with impact your feelings and attitudes about yourself more than you think. If you feel bad about yourself after spending time with a particular person, it may be time to minimize spending time with them. Be with people who love you for who you are and want the best for you.


Source: Vivekananda homeo clinic

Everyone struggles with confidence issues at one time or the other. But if your self-confidence concerns interfere with your Social, professional, personal life, education, you should consider seeking help from a mental wellness coach, who can guide you to get back on track.

To get more insightful pointers and hacks you can follow me on Instagram & Facebook - @relivewithsangeeta & ReLive-Because You Matter

HOW CAN A MENTAL WELLNESS COACH HELP RESOLVE CONFLICTS BETWEEN COUPLES.

Let’s start with a general question that a therapist asks all the couples in the first meeting. “How’s your relationship going with your spouse or partner? Are you both struggling to have a thriving relationship?

If you are in the midst of a relationship struggle or crisis, you may be working to address the problem on your own. There is nothing wrong there; normally, you stay committed to getting a solution for your relationship. However, it is better not to wait too long before actively working on your problems with the guidance of a mental wellness coach.

So, next, is when to seek relationship counseling?

Many people assume that you should only seek relationship counseling after detachment or divorce is looming. But that is often too late. Relationship counseling should start as soon as the obstacles get in the way of your regular life. 

Here are some signs that you might avail from a consultation:

You have difficulty in expressing your emotions to each other

You have one or more unsolvable conflict

There is ignorance, criticism, or disrespect in your interactions

You face challenges in making decisions together

A stressful event has moved your regular life

You felt betrayal, addiction, or behavioral issue

You want a healthy relationship

A mental Wellness Coach can help you nurture a good relationship, and it is a good strategy to fix your disputes and issues.

Credit: Lifehack

Here are five ways a therapist or coach can help you and your partner:

A coach can assist you to examine your concerns from scratch. Opposites attract, and you and your partner may have enjoyed each other's company from being different, but this can also cause conflict in your relationship. If your efforts to resolve problems are not working, it is smart to analyze other approaches. Sticking to your old solutions may only lead you into a never-ending cycle of conflict. A mental wellness coach can offer you a different perspective to prevent fights, manage them to the extent of the disagreement, and address them afterward to heal your pain or resolve your frustration or anger.

They can motivate you to express yourself more sensitively. Anger, frustration, and hurt may have made you stop talking to each other. Avoiding your problems by not talking is a big problem. Talking is the only solution for clarity and peace between couples! It can break down the barrier you have created between you. Communicating is essential for a healthy relationship, but it has to be the kind of talk that nurtures positive interaction. A counselor can help improve your communication. Quality talking and interactions can suggest opinions and restore trust and respect, which are the core of a loving relationship.

They can assist you to work on your issues without getting panicked. When you are overloaded with multiple emotions, it is natural to panic about what lies ahead and hard to identify what is so valuable in your relationship.
A coach can help you see or recall the strength to sort through the things that you need to work on fixing your relationship.

They can help you identify the reasons for constant conflict. You and your partner may have become so entangled in constant fights and your feelings that it is difficult for you to identify what usually leads to it. A coach is furnished with effective tools that can help you understand the signs of an imminent conflict. With their help, you can minimize if not dodge toxic confrontations.

Most importantly, they can assist you to improve your bonding and your relationship. If you both are willing to do what it takes, one thing is for sure, it's all because there is love. It may have been blurred out by your temporary conflicts and issues, so you need to work on them to make that love and commitment take center stage again. Your coach can help you see things in a different light by speaking, accepting each other’s flaws and faults, and working on ways to fix old problems and block new ones from growing too intense.


Source: Redbubble

Last Words:

Deciding to go for couple counseling can be tough. If you have a disturbed relationship, however, seeking help is more effective than overlooking your problems or expecting them to get better on their own. While in sessions, your coach might give you homework or ask you to try new techniques of communication and interaction in between appointments. It's going to take time and effort, but remember one thing that it is worth it.


Do comment what all ideas you can see meaning to your life and don’t forget to share it and follow me on Instagram & Facebook - @relivewithsangeeta & ReLive-Because You Matter

  

Working Women’s mental health during the Pandemic AKA ‘New Normal.’

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of working professionals all over the globe. Although the continuing crisis is affecting both women and men equally, working women are facing exceptional difficulties.

Even if the death rate has been twice higher for men than for women, the Covid-19 pandemic has affected women more than men, both at work and at home. This blog aims to observe mental health and the struggle of women in the COVID outbreak.

Certainly, the pandemic has taken a massive toll on the daily lives of many working women. Flexible hours comforted the workflow initially but eventually, it distorted personal life, balancing work life and home became a major challenge. In that case, organizations should take a step ahead by promoting work-life balance and flexible work patterns to avoid difficulty in reaching gender equality in the workplace.

Women and Mental Health During Pandemic

An additional toll on women's mental health addressed about a lot of women having to leave the job to take care of children or other family members at home, or are dealing with an incredible and consistent juggling act of children, plus career, plus household chores and other responsibilities. With the build-up of responsibilities, like homeschooling or caring for in-laws, it becomes harder for women to care for themselves, which in turn affects their mental health.

For those struggling with anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues, you are not alone. Support & Assistance is available, and part of restoring a sense of stability is taking time to care for oneself during an unusual experience of social isolation, continued effort, and grief.

There are things a woman can do to manage work-life balance during the COVID-19 pandemic like:

• Seeking help from other colleagues in work to reduce the pressure.
• Keeping due time for self-care.
• Creating a dedicated area for workspace.
• If you are a mother, involving your children in your planning can be helpful.
• Prioritizing tasks from the first place allows versatility.
• Staying organized.

Working women can easily overcome mental health issues during pandemics and adopt a new normal by simply following some quick steps mentioned below:

Practice the Art of Self-Care

When you have a full-time job, or you are a mom, sometimes self-care doesn’t ever make its way to the top of the to-do list. During this tough time in a pandemic, with stress running high, it is more important to take care of your physical and mental health. We have to learn how to manage ourselves, to simply get through this. Because this is definitely a marathon and not a race.

Many of us did not expect the pandemic to stay as long as it is, so why not take care of ourselves in the meantime and come out more energetic?

Activities such as walking, listening to music, talking to a therapist, journaling, and developing a uniform sleep pattern are ways you can have both for your physical and mental health.

Plan a Solo Day Out

Everyone likes to have a personal space, despite the chaos around them. Nothing can be as great as a day out without any daily routine work. Plan a weekend with yourself and have a guilt-free day out. Certainly, self-time is a hypothetical concept in our rigid lives. Yet, it is one of the few ways to restore some much-needed headspace, which may clarify why a growing squad of women is exploring the world alone. While it would be simple to suggest that this kind of solo trip resolves every problem, it does hold a boat of benefits that encourage positive mental health.

Connect With People

Socializing is one of the best ways to understand yourself and it also helps in releasing happy hormones oxytocin and serotonin. The talent to make new connections, whether with your next-door neighbor or a street vendor in town, is an essential stage of happiness. Connecting with people helps to overlook temporary moods and feelings. So, never get disconnected from your chosen ones by considering your busy and hectic schedule as the highest priority. Speaking over the phone or just meeting for a coffee is all you need to have a happy and peaceful mind.

 


To conclude, it is imperative to carry in mind that the COVID-19 crisis is just worsening current gender biases. Policymakers and organizations should consider a gender strategy when making important choices during and after the pandemic, including the improvement of mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. As women are undergoing mental health effects of the pandemic to a higher extent than men due to job loss and the pressures of balancing work and house responsibilities. If you feel you are struggling with your mental health, there is no shame in reaching out to a Mental Wellness Coach for guidance and better support.

Do comment what all ideas you can see meaning to your life and don’t forget to share it and follow me on Instagram & Facebook - @relivewithsangeeta & ReLive-Because You Matter

HOW PARENTS CAN HELP THEIR CHILDREN DURING COVID-19 TO OVERCOME HEALTH ANXIETY?

                

As Covid 19 continues, parents everywhere are trying to keep children healthy and involved. Most schools, public gatherings, and non-essential companies are closed, children and parents are together adjusting with each other in coping up with the new normal.

The COVID-19 starts with feelings like anxiety, stress, and uncertainty, and they are felt particularly by children of all ages. Though all children deal with such sentiments in different ways, if your child has been facing anxiety issues due to school closures, canceled events, or disconnection from friends, they are going to need to feel loved and encouraged now more than ever.

 

Hence, here are some tips on how parents can help their children during COVID-19 to overcome anxiety.

1. Firstly, Stay calm and listen patiently to your children - Parents should have a calm, proactive talk with their children about the disease (COVID-19), and the crucial role children can play in keeping themselves healthy. Parents should assist their children to let them know about their emotions and feelings if they are feeling anxious about the virus so that the parents can be of help. Clarify that while we don't know how long it will take to "get back to normal life as before" to reduce the number of those infected, we do know that this is the most crucial time and we must follow the rules and guidelines of health specialists to keep ourselves safe.
2. Monitor about what they’re viewing or hearing - Parents should monitor the internet usage, television surfing timing and channels, and social media activity both for themselves and their children. Watching frequent updates on COVID-19 may increase fear and anxiety. Some improper information, or news created for adults, can also cause anxiety or confusion, especially in growing children. Check out what your child already knows and start from there in terms of getting them on the right track. Provide options to explore their interest, passion and engage your child in games or other thrilling activities instead.
3. Be aware of your children’s mental health - Most children are able to handle well with the support of parents and other family members, even if showing symptoms of some anxiety or concerns, such as difficulty in sleeping, mood swings, or focusing on studies. However, some may have risk factors for more intense feelings, including severe anxiety, depression, and even suicidal tendencies. Parents should reach out to a professional if children show variations in behavior or any of the subsequent symptoms carried for more than 12 days.
4. Hold to a routine - I would firmly suggest that parents should create a schedule for the day, that adds playtime where your child can get on their phone and join with their buddies, but it also should have technology-free time and time set by to help around the house. We need to think about what we value and build a structure that follows. It will be a great help for children to have a sense of a predictable day and a sense of when they’re supposed to be working and when they get to play. Talk to your child about their feelings - With school closures come canceled school plays, shows, sports events, and other curricular activities that children are deeply distressed about missing out on because of the COVID-19. This is huge for them than it is for us because we’re measuring it in terms of our life and experiences.
5. Check out your behavior towards them - Reply to their questions honestly, but don't offer casual details or facts. Don't avoid giving them the information that experts show as important to your children's well-being. I would like to urge parents to do what they can to control their anxiety in their own time and not to overshare their concerns with their children. That means a bundle of emotions, which may be hard at times, especially if they’re feeling those emotions rather deeply.
6. Guide basic Health & Hygiene lifestyle habits - Encourage your child to practice certain simple steps to prevent spreading the virus. Applaud your children when they sneeze or cough into the arch of their elbow. Teach them the importance of throwing away used tissues quickly after sneezing or coughing. Guiding what your child can do to limit viruses gives them a greater sense of satisfaction, which helps in reducing anxiety. Motivate your child to have a balanced diet, get sufficient sleep, and stretch regularly; this will help them develop a sound immune system to fight off disease.

           

It is very necessary to remember that children look to adults for direction on how to respond to stressful situations. Recognizing some level of concern is relevant and can result in taking certain steps that overcome the risk of breakdown. Educating children on certain preventive measures, talking with them about their doubts and worries, and giving them a sense of some direction over their risk of virus can help in reducing anxiety.

This is also a great chance for parents to create a strong bond during the process of helping children in problem-solving, flexibility, and compassion as we all work through setting daily schedules, balancing work and other activities, getting creative about how we use time, preparing new data from authorities, connecting and encouraging friends and family members in new forms. Still, if the problem is severe and you want some help, then don’t forget to reach out to the counselor and have a brief discussion on the concern you have about your child’s behavioral or emotional well-being and handling your family’s stress during the Covid pandemic.

Do comment what all ideas you can see value addition to your life and don’t forget to share it and follow me on Instagram & Facebook - @relivewithsangeeta & ReLive-Because You Matter

Why is it important for couples to think about their Mental Wellness?

Mental Wellness and Couple Relationship have a cause-and-effect connection, and they play a major role in the game called Life. Human beings are social creatures, and they seek comfort in other people’s presence from time to time.

Various studies indicate that our mood and overall psychological states affect our relationships. Whether good or bad, our mood will explain how we react to the difficulties in our relationships.

Almost 50% of the adult population experience signs of a mental disorder at least once in the course of their lives. Research highlights the fact that mental health breakdown can make an individual experience dissatisfaction, reduced efficiency, and impact productivity in work, and even impact well-being.

In my career as a Mental Wellness Coach, I’ve worked with couples in multiple settings. I’ve witnessed the healing effects that a healthy relationship can have on an individual struggling with mental health. Healthy relationships serve as a shield to help the individual in both physical and mental health conditions.

On the other hand, it’s well known that relationship stress with a partner can negatively affect the person who is struggling with mental health and make the condition worse. The stress in the relationship can affect them physically as well.

Now that we have got to know why mental wellness and relationships are inter-connected, I would like to share a few tips on why couples need to think about their mental wellness.

Here are ways Mental Wellness For Couples can be helpful and impactful:

Less Stress - Being in an active relationship is associated with less production of cortisol, a stress hormone. This suggests that paired people are less responsive to emotional stress and that the social and emotional support that comes with having a partner can be a great buffer against stress. There's even evidence to recommend that couples who stay together are more satisfied and peaceful than those that don't.

Deep Connected Relationship - Interpersonal relationships become incredibly difficult when one person is dealing with a mental health issue. This is especially true in the case of parenting. Here, the couple needs to set the boundaries and keep open communication regarding thoughts, feelings, and the situation they are going through.

Emotional Intimacy - Some mental health disorders, especially depression, can also let people spontaneously distance themselves from a partner just because of fear that their presence negatively affects others. Or, sometimes they simply don’t have the strength to socialize and end up departing from mates. Social withdrawal, however, can drastically degrade feelings of closeness or intimacy with a partner and eventually worsen other mental health traits.

Physical intimacy - Several emotional factors can also make it much more stressful for some people to engage in physically intimate acts like sex. In particular, depression and anxiety, as well as some of the pills used to treat them can lower libido and cause performance concerns like erectile dysfunction or painful intercourse.

Higher Quality and longevity of Life - Simply put, you’ll live longer and be happier when you care for your partner's mental health needs. When mental health issues are taken care of, then eventually there is less possibility of having any health risks. You’ll also be able to understand each other, socialize in healthy ways with your partner, be more resilient and keep emotional stability.

I’ve often seen the adverse effects of Relationship stress on people who struggle with depression, anxiety, and related complications. The partner may initially spend a lot of time taking care of that person and working hard to keep the relationship. This pattern can go on for years. But it often happens that the caregiving partner gets tired of this part because they’ve been ignoring themselves in this process. The result is that the partner may end up slowly withdrawing from the part of the caregiver, or may respond in angry outbursts. This can make the other person’s original traits more serious.

If one or both of the partners is struggling with mental sickness, these negative emotional reactions are often intensified. At a behavioral level, individuals tend to isolate themselves, may turn to alcohol and drugs addiction to numb heavy emotions, and sometimes turn to have extramarital encounters. When marital stress is at its peak, there’s a greater likelihood of being misused, the movement toward divorce, and male aggression.

Get help to get back on track!

Couples need to get professional help and guidance to get their relationship back on track before the situation leads to crisis relationships. Sadly, many couples who go to couples therapy have been experiencing these dysfunctional patterns of comparing to each other for a long time.

Many marital researchers and therapists claim that having a clear idea of what you want for yourself and in your relationship is important for the health of both the couple in a relationship and for the individuals.

A healthy outlook of the couple's relationship includes having rational expectations of the rewards that marriage brings, and realizing that it still requires personal effort by both people to make it work.

Do comment what all ways you can see value addition to your life and don’t forget to share it and follow me on Instagram & Facebook - @relivewithsangeeta & ReLive-Because You Matter

Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Couples. How understanding Mood & Emotional State can enhance Relationship

  

Whenever there are talks about emotions, mood & mental health - people tend to react distinctively.

Some show empathy while some show lack of interest. For some, it is just random gossip while for some it doesn’t matter to them. When we see such ignorant reactions of some people, we feel like why did they react that way. There might be reasons like either they feel scared or uncomfortable talking about it or don’t get it because they haven’t experienced it.

Whether it’s a youth from today’s generation or a kid from Gen - X or a grown-up person from our previous generation, everybody goes through different mood swings & has different emotional reactions to different situations.

How do they manage? Either they are used to it & they manage somehow of their own or let it burst out open in front of everyone or in between their closed ones or they just don’t let it come outside, keep bottling up inside & when it comes out it is either troublesome for them or people around them.

Working on mood & emotional state becomes important on a personal level because one should not let these control your mind & body. Not just personally, socially it is equally that important - be it with family or in any surroundings as people who would understand your emotions & mood might calm you down but people who don’t might react in a manner that would leave one hurt more. We sometimes ignore this thinking that, ‘Eventually we will grow up without working on ourselves.

The real challenge comes when you start sharing your time & space with a partner. The first thing we do as human beings in a relationship is express our love, also we share things that affect us or disturbs our mood or emotions. In a romantic situation, we accept all these things verbally. The real test comes when we experience that situation. Sometimes out of love we just accept the partner’s mood, sometimes we tend to ignore, sometimes it leaves the other one hurt while some react counter-impulsively to one's mood.

These grow eventually from the first stage of the relationship until the last stage where the couple either separate themselves for not being tolerant or a situation where one partner doesn’t change their mood & reaction while the other starts ignoring them just to keep everything calm. Many couples just get separated due to anger management issues, lack of patience, Ego that stop them to fix up which starts from silly mood reactions. Meanwhile, in other cases, a partner might ignore their partner’s mood & emotion, but they don’t realize that this is just declining love & trust in the relationship.

But there is another category of couples who not only went through the same phase of troubles, misunderstanding mood & emotions but they improved personally as an individual & also grew as a couple together. To make a relationship stronger & keep that love for a lifetime - having open-mindedness & acceptability towards each other’s emotions is very important because the partner is the first person where he/she can express their unfiltered emotions. The person who conveys their emotions just expects their partner to have a non-judgmental acceptance.

We tend to make many decisions in our life out of emotion no matter whether they turn out to be good or bad. But the emotional side with your partner in understanding them & making them understand will just lead to peace of mind and build trust between the couple. Sharing & understanding the emotions have brought couples closer but it starts with the presence of emotional intelligence. Not just one person, both the partners should be emotionally intelligent, then only they can face the challenging situations in life together. Challenging situations in life put us at test on how to respond to those situations as an individual & also as a couple.

But when you deal with these problems with emotional intelligence, not only you personally come out of that problem but also you often help your partner to come out of it & walk off from the situation as a winner.

Now as you found how emotional intelligence can impact relationships, here are some basic hacks you can practice personally & together as a couple to manage moods & emotions and maintain a healthy relationship

Talk - Having a good conversation is the easiest way to solve all the problems. Speak your heart out.

Be a good listener - When a partner speaks, the other must be a good listener. A major problem is not listening from the heart. A good listener always tries to understand the meaning & depth of the emotion-blended words he/she has been conveyed.

 
Stop reacting furiously or impulsively in silly situations which eventually leaves embarrassment & awkwardness post the situation.

Convey peacefully to the partner things that disturbed or bothered you or left you hurt. The other partner should listen peacefully. Once a partner is calm, you can correct them politely what was right or wrong.

Never shy from apologizing for your actions if they left your partner hurt or affected. You won’t lose any self-respect if you take the step to save the relationship from your wrong action.

Emotional Intelligence is the key to manage the mood swings & emotional state of a person individually & as a partner together. Sometimes we know the problem, we have the solution to the problem too but we are unable to work it out. For a situation like this, you can always refer to a counselor or a couple therapists. There is nothing to shy from discussing your problems because they are the experts who can identify the real reason behind the situation which is not letting things work out. Once this is fixed, life becomes a joyful ride with a partner by your side.

Do comment what all ways you can see value addition to your life and don’t forget to share it and follow me on Instagram & Facebook - @relivewithsangeeta & ReLive-Because You Matter