Oct 12 2022 Is The Truth Distorted, Or Is Just Me?
What’s true?
You might as well ask people, “What’s real?”
What’s true for someone may not be true for another person. However, isn’t the truth the truth? A fact is a fact, not an opinion. If something is true, isn’t it irrefutable and undeniable? The truth doesn’t care how we feel about it. It’s the truth.
It seems like the truth these days is based on what people think is real, or at least real for them. Sometimes, when the truth doesn’t work for someone, they try to find ways to “make” it work for them or support their biases. They will look for situations or examples, articles, and information that point to “their” truth. When we want to be or feel right, we will consciously or unconsciously engage confirmation bias as a way to help us feel better about ourselves and our choices.
We also employ things like rationalization as defense mechanisms when we are called out or proven wrong about something. It’s another way our ego protects itself in an effort to achieve a sense of self-preservation. When we begin to believe the assumptions and stories in our heads, which can often be completely false or wrong, it can also adversely affect our mental health.
In our search for the truth, we can neglect or dismiss the importance of our own mental health. We want so badly to feel right or justified about something that we often don’t realize the impact it’s having on our well-being. Life is so much more than finding the truth or being right. When we overlook the importance of our mental health and developing mental strength, it takes a toll on us and those we love. The mental health crisis we are experiencing, worldwide, is something we see and hear about daily. Mental health awareness and developing mental strength can no longer be ignored.
Our mental health can be impacted by many things: Life experiences, circumstances, genetics, relationships and physical health. To name a few. Just like our physical body, we must work to maintain it regularly. Too often, our mental health gets neglected or even dismissed. Placing more focus on it is an important key to moving humanity forward into a better future.
You certainly can’t prevent all mental health problems – factors like genetics and traumatic life events certainly play a role. But everyone can take steps to improve their mental health and prevent further mental illness. – Amy Morin
A big part of maintaining our mental health is challenging cognitive distortions, or thinking errors, on a regular basis. We must do this in order to really avoid spiraling into negative thought patterns or creating more mental health challenges for ourselves.
An effective treatment for thinking errors and making negative assumptions is CBT. This form of therapy helps us stay present and work with the therapist to find solutions which are personally effective for each of us, as individuals.
Fortunately, mental health has recently become more of an emphasis and less stigmatization exists around focusing on it. Therapy is more normalized, as it should be, and people are seeking treatment more often. We all have something we’re dealing with and none of us are immune to the challenges life presents. We could all use therapy in one form or another. Caring for ourselves and practicing daily mental hygiene is essential. Just like many things we do in life the more we do it, the easier and more habitual it becomes. Anyone can do this, including you…
Mental strength is not the same as mental health. Just like someone with diabetes could still be physically strong, someone with depression can still be mentally strong. Many people with mental health issues are incredibly mentally strong. Anyone can make choices to build mental strength, regardless of whether they have a mental health issue. – Amy Morin
When we make our health and developing mental strength a priority, we develop a deeper sense of fulfillment in life. Understanding and valuing our personal worth definitely plays into this. If only we could see ourselves the way those who love us see us. Each of us has something unique to offer the world and nobody can bring what you bring, or do it like you do. We need you, the world needs you, and your value is immeasurable.
Our mental health and the development of mental strength are instrumental to a life well lived. That’s a truth we can all agree upon!