Below is a short discussion inspired by the episode "A Mental Health Toolkit: Defeat Loneliness & Learn to Love Yourself" from The School of Greatness.

Our mental health matters, but oftentimes, we neglect it. We fail to recognize its importance. Therapist Kati Morton says that our mental health relies on us checking in on ourselves. This is just as important as relying on our connections with other people. To be able to deal with our trauma and pain, we need to get to know ourselves. We need to be vulnerable enough to open up to people. We need to share what we are feeling and ask for help.

How do we check in on our mental health?

• Listen to what your body needs. Sometimes, we don’t feel well mentally because we don’t feel well physically. We haven’t been taking care of our physical needs.
• Check in with yourself. Don’t repress your negative emotions. Learn to deal with them in a healthy way. Acknowledge how you’re feeling. Allow yourself to sit with it, then move on.
• Make authentic connections with others. It doesn’t have to be a deep and meaningful conversation every time. But allow yourself to go beyond social niceties. Allow yourself to open up a little more than usual.
• Ask for help when you need it. There’s no shame in needing support from other people. There’s no shame in needing therapy for mental illness. It needs to be treated just the same as physical illness would be.

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Get to know yourself better and form relationships with other people. Learn to listen to yourself and what you need.

the distilld lessons

Here are the distilld lessons inspired by the episode "A Mental Health Toolkit: Defeat Loneliness & Learn to Love Yourself" from The School of Greatness.

Our mental health matters, but oftentimes, it gets neglected. We fail to recognize its importance.

To be able to deal with our trauma and pain, we need to get to know ourselves. We need to be vulnerable and open up to people. Share what you're feeling.

A positive attitude is important to have. It’s just as important for us to acknowledge our bad feelings along with the good. Sit with your emotions, don't repress them.

Allow yourself the time and space to adjust if there are major changes happening in your life. A disrupted routine is stressful. Seek help if you need it. You don’t have to be alone in what you're going through.

We feel lonely because we never let people truly know us. There are two reasons why we do that: because we don’t feel safe or because we don’t know ourselves.

We feel unsafe when we let our insecurities and negativity take over. These can come from a place of shame or guilt. We cage ourselves when we're afraid of being shamed by others for being who we are.

Examine your own thoughts. That's the best way to get to know yourself. See where your negative thoughts are coming from. Find what they're rooted in.

Have the courage to share your struggles with people. An authentic connection allows you to be open and vulnerable.

When we struggle with mental illness from our trauma, it can be a very difficult experience. But there's no shame in that. Depression is a mental illness that needs to be treated just as any other physical illness.

Connect with others when you’re hurt. Let them help you when you need it. Seek help if you need treatment. These are all the things that can get your mental health on track.

Remember that the things that have happened to you do not define you. You're not a victim of your circumstances. You have agency in your life.

Reshape your narrative. Things aren't happening to you. They're happening for you. You can control your life, even if it's just the little things.

Applying It

• Recognize and acknowledge your emotions. Don’t suppress how you’re feeling. Sit with your emotions. See where they’re coming from and how they’re affecting you.
• Take time to be introspective. Think about how you’re feeling and why you’re feeling that way. Get to know yourself better by processing your thoughts.
• Find someone to talk to. Whether a therapist or a friend, share your emotions with someone. Learn how to be vulnerable and to open up.
• Nurture your authentic connections. Check in on your loved ones. Find out how they’re doing. Develop your relationships by setting aside time to have meaningful conversations.
• Rephrase your language. Instead of saying something is happening to you, rephrase it into something is happening for you. Find your agency. Don’t let your circumstances dictate what happens to you.

For a more in depth conversation, the distilld lessons (extended) are here.