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5 Things To Fill Your Mind With For Better Mental Health

Somedays, you probably feel like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed. You lash out at the cab driver, say words that you aren’t proud of, or give a bombastic side eye to that little kid running around you. On some days, you just seem to be on the edge. 

And on the other side of life, there are those with similar life situations as you who go through life like they won the lottery. They’re in high spirits and seem to constantly be in a good mood. 

In a moment of rude awakening, you probably take a keen look at them and wonder how they seem to maintain high spirits despite all life throws. 

The difference lies in what we all choose to focus on. Our emotional and psychological well-being has huge ties to what we fill our minds with. 

The books you read, the thoughts you conjure up, what you listen to, and what you watch accumulate into the way you feel when you wake up on a Monday morning and the way you feel on a Thursday evening.

Nobody enjoys low moods, so here are five things you should fill your mind with to enjoy better mental health. 

God’s word 

In a world that prioritizes bad news, the good news of the gospel and God’s word is a chance for us to live in continuous moments of refreshing. 

God’s word shapes our perception. How we feel is always born out of our perception of what goes on around us, and our perception ultimately becomes our reality. 

So when we focus on what God says versus what the news stations say, we can tune out information that makes us spiral down and instead focus on the awe-inspiring hope that God gives. 

Edifying content

We can all relate to experiencing a major mood change when we watch certain movies or shows. In a moment of elation, you could be bursting out ridiculous dance moves right in your room after watching an inspiring grass-to-grace movie about a dancer. 

Or you could scream out your lungs in the shower after watching a movie about a main character, who after going through trials, finally realized their dream of wanting to be a famous singer. 

That’s just an example of how much impact the content you consume has on you

In light of that, know that the world is alarmingly toxic, and your mind cannot maintain a neutral standpoint – it will either be positive or negatively inclined. The negative predisposition of the world means that your mind would sway towards negative things and reactions if you don’t make a conscious effort to fill it with good, edifying content like:

  1. Edifying messages
  2. Good music
  3. Good books 
  4. Uplifting conversations

In the book of Romans, Paul admonishes that we should not be conformed to this world, but we should be transformed by renewing our minds with uplifting books, motivational talks, Christian messages, and positive podcasts to prevent our mental health from taking a downward turn.

This means that although life has its many twists and detours, you don’t have to resign to a sour mood, because you have become consumed by what you have fed your mind with.

A ‘Nevertheless’ sense of gratitude

Our mental health takes a hit when we let comparison take center stage.

When we look at the lives of others and zone in on what they have that we don’t, we turn around to look at our own lives through the lens of dissatisfaction. Nothing seems good (even if they are good) and you probably start having thoughts like “Why is life so unfair?”

But when you choose to focus on the things you appreciate and are thankful for, it shifts your attention away from negative things. You can then focus on all the beautiful things that make your life wonderful. 

Ephesians 5:20 encourages us to “always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. 

Wake up each day and say out loud to God at least 3 things you’re grateful for. A good starting point is to be thankful for the fact that you are alive and able to read this. 

Faith-filled thoughts 

You’re probably familiar with the statement “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he”. 

When you allow negative thoughts to dominate your mind, you naturally have a bad outlook on life and your mental health can take a plunge, but the very act of thinking faith-filled thoughts and believing God for favorable outcomes causes a major mental shift. 

Watch this Sycamore Church video on Mental Health

2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalt itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity our every thought to the obedience of Christ. 

Faith-filled thinking, that is, believing that God can and will work things out focuses on the good and will help you to see the bright stars of hope even on the darkest days. 

Positive Confessions

What do you confess about yourself and your present situation? 

In those periods of work, school, or life pressures, what you say and believe largely influences how you interpret much of what goes on in your life and your attitude. We’re not talking “aspire to perspire” here, rather, we’re talking about positive confessions flowing from what God’s word says about you.

See a confession that we say and believe at Sycamore Church below.

The book of Proverbs tells us that “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

 When you’re faced with things that threaten your mental health, a simple reminder from God’s reservoir of promises like “God is my strength, therefore I am stronger than the pressures of work” helps you maintain a more optimistic outlook, find solutions, and bounce back from adversity with increased resilience and determination.

Knowing that “all things work together for the good of those who love God gives the assurance that no matter what, we’ll be just fine.

We like to say in Sycamore Church that Christianity is about belonging as much as it is about believing. So, if you need someone to pray with you or encourage you, please reach out to us through the forms below. 

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You can join a Christian community of people that will do life with you, love on you and help you to grow in your walk with Jesus. We call these communities lifegroups and you can join one here.

Don’t be afraid to reach out if you need help. Jesus loves you, and so do we at Sycamore Church. 

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Written by: Lolade Folorunsho

Lolade volunteers with the Content Team at Sycamore Church.

(Blogposts are creative expressions generously provided for Sycamore Church. The ideas and thoughts do not necessarily represent the position of Sycamore Church)

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