Characteristics of a Mentally Healthy Person

Good mental health is more than just the absence of mental illness. It involves managing one's emotions, coping with stress, maintaining healthy relationships, and making sound decisions. Conversely, people with poor mental health tend to struggle in these areas.

• Positive mood: People with good mental health generally have a positive outlook on life, regularly participate in activities they enjoy, and possess a good sense of humor.
• Emotional resilience: Mentally healthy individuals tend to have the ability to cope with stress and adversity and can quickly rebound from setbacks.
• Self-esteem and self-worth: Another sign of good mental health is having a positive sense of self and feeling good about oneself.
• Good relationships: Other common characteristics of good mental and emotional health are positive relationships with others and assertive and effective communication skills.
• Self-care: Individuals with good mental health also tend to prioritize their physical and mental well-being by engaging in self-care activities and practicing good habits such as eating well,
• Getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly.
• Productivity: These individuals can also maintain a high level of productivity in their work and personal life and can set and achieve their goals.
• Flexibility: Mentally sound people can adapt to new situations and challenges and see things from different perspectives.
• Ability to seek help: Recognizing when someone needs support and seeking help when necessary are signs of positive mental well-being.
• Setting boundaries: Mentally strong individuals are also able to create healthy boundaries. This includes saying 'no' whenever necessary. If you're mentally strong, you're aware of your limits and don't guilt yourself for declining requests that are inconvenient or harmful to you.

Causes of Mental-Health Issues in Contemporary Society

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health problems can stem from a variety of biological and psychological factors, as well as exposure to unfavorable social, economic, and environmental circumstances. These risks can emerge at any stage of life but are particularly impactful during sensitive developmental periods, such as early childhood. Nearly half of the population has experienced a mental health disorder at some point in their lives.

As for the types of mental illness, there are various categories, including:

• Mood disorders (such as depression or bipolar disorder)
• Anxiety disorders
• Personality disorders
• Psychotic disorders (such as schizophrenia)
• Eating disorders
• Trauma-related disorders (such as post-traumatic stress disorder)
• Substance abuse disorders

Some of the causes contributing to mental health problems include:

1. Psychological factors, such as emotional skills, substance use, genetics, and psychological resilience.
2. Biological factors, which may involve certain medical conditions, hormonal changes, or brain damage resulting from serious injury.
3. Environmental factors, such as poverty, violence, inequality, environmental deprivation, social isolation, domestic violence, relationship breakdowns, financial or work problems, social or cultural expectations, and changes in jobs or schools.
4. Childhood experiences, wherein negative events like abuse or neglect can heighten the risk of developing certain mental illnesses.
5. Life events, such as stressful situations like financial difficulties, the loss of a loved one, or divorce.
6. Other factors, including a family history of mental illness, a lack of social connections or healthy relationships, and experiences of stigma and discrimination, including racism.

Possible Solutions to Improve Mental Health

1. Talk to someone you trust: Speaking with someone you trust—whether it's a friend, family member, or colleague—can be beneficial. Sharing your feelings with someone who cares about you can help you feel better. If in-person interactions are limited, staying connected through video calls, phone calls, or messaging apps is still possible.
2. Look after your physical health: Taking care of your physical health is essential for improving mental well-being. Aim to be active for at least 30 minutes daily, whether through activities like running, walking, yoga, dancing, cycling, or gardening. Additionally, maintain a balanced and healthy diet, and ensure you get enough sleep.
3. Engage in enjoyable activities: Continue participating in activities that bring you joy and meaning, such as cooking, spending time with loved ones, playing with pets, walking in nature, reading, or watching films or TV series. Establishing a routine with activities that make you happy can contribute to good mental health.
4. Avoid harmful substances: Refrain from using harmful substances like drugs, alcohol, or tobacco as coping mechanisms. While they may provide short-term relief, they can worsen your condition in the long run and pose risks to your health and safety.
5. Practice mindfulness: Take a few minutes to ground yourself and focus on your surroundings, helping to quiet your mind. You can do this by taking slow, deep breaths, feeling your feet on the ground, and asking yourself questions like:
   • What are five things I can see?
   • What are four things I can hear?
   • What can I smell?
   • How does it feel to touch my knees or another object within reach?
6. Seek professional help: If you feel overwhelmed by stress and unable to cope, reach out for professional assistance. This could involve contacting your local mental health helpline or scheduling an appointment with a counselor or doctor. Remember, you're not alone, and there are resources available to support you.

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to identify and manage one's own emotions, as well as those of others. It generally includes several skills: namely emotional awareness, which is the ability to recognize and name one's own emotions; the capacity to utilize those emotions to aid in tasks such as thinking and problem-solving; and emotional management, which involves regulating one's own emotions when necessary and assisting others in doing the same.

Elements of Emotional Intelligence

1. Self-awareness - A fundamental aspect of emotional intelligence is understanding and being self-aware of one's own emotions. An individual with high emotional intelligence not only recognizes their own emotions but can express them. They can also understand the consequences of their emotions and how they may evolve over time.
2. Self-regulation - Once an individual has attained self-awareness, they can progress to self-regulation. Someone with a strong awareness of their own emotions can better control the emotions and behaviors associated with them. This may involve recognizing a challenging emotion and then slowing down or resisting any impulsive reactions.
3. Motivation - Motivation is the driving force that propels someone toward achieving their goals. It is a crucial aspect of emotional intelligence, as suggested by research in 2016. Motivation enables a person to remain committed to their objectives and persevere even in difficult times. While someone with low motivation may easily become discouraged by obstacles and give up, a person with high motivation understands that the rewards of their goals justify the time and effort invested, even when facing challenges.
4. Empathy - Empathy refers to how attuned a person is to the emotions of others. Someone with high emotional intelligence can accurately identify the emotions another person is experiencing and can distinguish between genuine and false emotions. This may be accomplished by observing facial expressions or changes in another person's tone of voice or body language.
5. Social Skills - Individuals with higher levels of emotional intelligence may excel at appropriate interaction with others compared to those with lower levels of emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence can aid in building relationships, effective communication, and the maintenance of friendships.

Characteristics of Emotional Intelligence

1. Emotional Awareness: The ability to recognize and name one's own emotions, as well as accurately perceive the emotions of others. This includes understanding the subtle nuances of emotions and their impact on thoughts and behaviors.

2. Emotional Utilization: The capacity to harness emotions to enhance cognitive processes like thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving. Emotionally intelligent individuals can channel emotions like excitement or calmness to improve performance.

3. Emotional Management (Self-Regulation): The skill of managing one's own emotions effectively. This involves recognizing triggers, implementing strategies to regulate emotions, and avoiding impulsive reactions.

4. Social Awareness: The ability to understand and navigate social dynamics, including group emotions and interpersonal relationships. This involves picking up on non-verbal cues, understanding social norms, and adjusting behavior accordingly.

5. Relationship Management: The skill of building and maintaining healthy relationships. This includes effective communication, conflict resolution, empathy, and the ability to inspire and influence others.

Advantages of Higher Emotional Intelligence

1. Personal Effectiveness - Emotional intelligence is regarded as a critical ingredient for personal success. It provides individuals with the ability to manage their own affairs and those of others successfully. Emotional intelligence equips individuals with the tools and strategies that can enhance self-awareness and teach them how to effectively manage their emotions, both positive and negative, thereby increasing personal effectiveness.
2. Thinking Skills - The complexity of an issue often lies not in its inherent difficulty, but rather in the perspective from which it is approached. Emotional intelligence facilitates the development of strategic thinking capacity and the ability to inspire and motivate teams by fostering new perspectives.
3. Professional Relationships - Higher emotional intelligence enables individuals to better understand what motivates people, crucial for fostering harmonious and positive working environments and relationships. By boosting emotional intelligence, individuals can enhance their ability to interact and communicate effectively, thereby strengthening professional relationships.
4. Leadership Capability - Effective leadership necessitates understanding and empathizing with those being led. Emotional intelligence provides essential strategies for persuading, influencing, motivating, and inspiring others, enhancing managerial and leadership success by fostering stronger workplace relationships.
5. Physical Well-Being - Emotional intelligence significantly impacts overall well-being, particularly in stress management. The ability to react positively to life's challenges is essential, as stress can weaken physical health and diminish quality of life.
6. Mental Well-Being - Emotional intelligence shapes one's attitude and outlook on life. Low emotional intelligence may result in anxiety, depression, and mood swings, eroding positivity and optimism. Mental stability thrives when emotional faculties, including the ability to understand and interpret emotions, are functioning optimally.
7. Conflict Management - Conflict is inevitable, but successful resolution depends on understanding the emotions of those involved. High emotional intelligence facilitates empathy and insight, making conflict resolution easier and even preventing conflicts from arising. Emotional intelligence enhances negotiation skills by providing insight into the desires and needs of conflicting parties.
8. Success - Success hinges on internal motivators and self-confidence. Higher emotional intelligence fosters self-discipline, resilience, and the ability to overcome setbacks, thereby increasing the likelihood of achieving goals. Emotionally intelligent individuals can prioritize long-term benefits over instant gratification, boosting their chances of success.

Steps For Improving Emotional Intelligence

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs & Self-Actualization

Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a psychological theory that explains human motivation and fulfillment. It outlines five fundamental human needs essential for well-being:

1. Physiological Needs: These encompass basic requirements for survival, including food, water, warmth, shelter, and sleep. Without satisfying these needs, individuals cannot function optimally, as they form the foundation of human existence.
2. Safety: Safety needs involve seeking security and stability, whether it's physical safety, financial security, or protection from harm or danger. This includes living and working in safe environments, having a stable income, and feeling protected from threats.
3. Love and Belonging: This category pertains to the need for social connections, affection, and acceptance from others. It involves forming friendships, establishing emotional bonds, and feeling part of a community. Without love and belongingness, individuals may experience loneliness and isolation, impacting their mental and emotional well-being.
4. Esteem: Esteem needs encompass both self-respect (self-esteem) and the desire for recognition and respect from others. Self-esteem involves feeling capable, worthy, and independent, while external esteem involves gaining respect, acknowledgment, and status from peers. Without a positive sense of self-worth and recognition from others, individuals may struggle with feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.
5. Self-Actualization: It involves realizing one's full potential, pursuing personal growth, and striving for fulfillment. Self-actualized individuals are characterized by a realistic perception of reality, acceptance of imperfections, autonomy, strong morals, creativity, and an appreciation for life. They are driven by intrinsic motivation and a desire for personal growth rather than external rewards.

Maslow's hierarchy is often depicted as a pyramid, with the most basic needs at the bottom and higher-level needs at the top. According to Maslow, individuals must satisfy lower-level needs before progressing to higher ones. However, achieving self-actualization is seen as an ongoing process rather than a fixed endpoint.

Each level of the hierarchy builds upon the previous one, highlighting the interconnectedness of human needs and the importance of fulfilling them for holistic well-being.