By Sis. Grace
Emotional health describes how we think, feel, and relate to ourselves and others (intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships).
Few tips to improve your emotional wellbeing;
- Work on your thoughts. Think wholesome thoughts only. Philppians 4:8: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.
- Be content with your life, but not complacent. Say no to the comparison game “you are doing just fine”. 2 Corinthians 10:2 For we dare not number ourselves, or compare ourselves, with some who commend themselves. For in measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, they are not wise.
- Develop a healthy self-esteem. Yes to more confidence in your abilities, no more self-doubt.
- Your problems are not you. Your negative feelings are not you. Do not attach your emotions to your situations.
- Consume wholesome content. What you read and watch forms your thoughts.
- Let your identity be grounded in who God has called you regardless of what your situation says.
- Accept that you will not win at every game, you will lose some, again actively and intentionally focus on the lessons and the blessings.
- Cast your cares on God. Don’t get used to carrying your problems. The reason you get overwhelmed is because you carry burdens that should be cast. We suffer needless pain because we have not learnt the art of laying our burdens down at the feet of Jesus. Your best bet for a sound emotional health is letting Jesus carry it all (your cares) for you.
1 Peter 5:7 – Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and watches over you very carefully.
- Spiritual health. This forms the core of your connectedness to the supreme being that controls your life affairs. Spirituality is a sense of internal wellbeing and how you connect with something greater than yourself. The foundation of spiritual health for the Christian is salvation. This is a process that happens when you encounter God on a personal level, it is the game changer. It makes you have free access to God; it frees you of guilt and pain that comes with leading a sinful life.
Here are recommended ways to a healthy spiritual life;
1. Discover your purpose- purpose is the reason God created you, this is what he desires you to live for. Purpose gives you a sense of identity and add meaning to your living. Worthy of note is that only in God can you find your purpose, this again boils down to encountering God on a personal level through salvation, after then he’ll reveal your purpose to you.
2. Studying God’s word in-depth and applying this to your personal life. There is not a single aspect of our lives the bible has not addressed. God saw the future before us and wrote us specific instructions in his word on how to navigate through life successfully, read your bible, believers!
3. Fellowshipping with other believers- you were not saved to isolate. Finding a group of fellow believers heading the same direction like yourself makes the Christian journey easier. Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
4. Get busy with spiritual activities at your local church. The idle hand is a tool in the hands of the enemy, fill in your free space with profitable spiritual activities.
5. Let the word of God dwell richly in you. This helps you live free of worry, anxiety or fear. Knowing the word also gives you a hint on the kind of prayers to pray in specific situations. It makes you grounded in your faith and conviction.
6. Be deliberate about praying always, everywhere and anywhere. Prayer means talking to God. The beautiful part is that it prompts God to also talk to you back. Prayer is not meant to be a hassle. It does not have to be eloquent, long or at a specific place. It can be in your kitchen while cooking, in the bathroom while having a wash, on the road while driving or at the store while shopping. The key thing while praying is to do so in faith.
7. Live in faith and not fear. Fear means you trust in the enemy’s ability. Remember the one who lives in you is greater than all the enemies in their numbers 1 John 4:4; Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (ESV)
