Improving our mental and emotional health is not a destination but a journey. Though rough spots are on the road, we can progress toward our goals over time. 

Before we begin this journey, we want to prepare ourselves to make a good start. Below are five assets you will find beneficial during your trek of improvement. Take time to assess and develop these assets as you progress toward your flourishing self.

Sleep: Sleep helps us maintain a rhythm in life. It is beneficial to our overall health to have a consistent sleep schedule with the goal of seven to eight hours per night. 

Diet: What we eat affects every aspect of our physical and mental health. Our diet influences our cholesterol, blood pressure, energy levels, and brain chemistry.

Exercise: When our mental health suffers, we can become sedentary and jittery. Exercise helps our bodies process the biological chemicals our bodies overproduce when we are depressed and anxious. You can notice an improvement in mood with a simple walk to raise your heart rate. 

Community: Mental health struggles often cause us to isolate ourselves from others. We believe lies like no one will understand, everything is fine, or no one wants to hear about it. Intentionally invite others into your mental health journey. 

Priorities: Could you be overcommitted to good but not essential things? Do your mental health struggles necessitate cutting back on your commitments to focus on getting better? Regularly reviewing and prioritizing your activities and obligations is a beneficial practice. Knowing your priorities will help you make more rational choices.

Which of these five areas are you the healthiest, and which needs improvement? Does one asset seem more significant for you to improve? Refrain from thinking of these areas as failures if they need improvement. Every human I have known could polish up at least one of these aspects. Pick one to improve upon, and remember, the work is a process. 

A special thank you to Brad Hambrick, Counseling Pastor at The Summit Church and Professor of Counseling at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.