Dipping into the wells of mental health
by Joe Glassman
In trying to find and keep my own sanity, and in trying to assist hundreds of others solve problems in living, I’ve found value from dipping into five wells for emotional health. Balance means dipping into different wells for sustenance. My wells are not everyone’s wells. I can only speak to mine, yet I believe there is some universality to them.
The Health Well. This includes eating healthy foods and doing some kind of regular exercise — so you just plain feel better. Minimizing or eliminating dangerous substances is important. Adopt positive self statements, such as, “I am okay the way I am. If I decide to improve myself in any way, I will do it.”
The Intellectual Well. This includes being a student of something that interests you. Following one’s curiosities and wonderments can lead to keeping the mind fresh and vital. If you have skill, be a teacher.
The Spiritual Well. This well includes people who do not believe in a God or a Higher Power and extends into humility and gratitude. Be humble and thankful to a higher power or at least to those in your life whom you need and love.
The Interactional Well. We are social creatures. There is no substitute for face-to-face interaction. A group is greater than the sum of its parts. No one person can provide you with everything you need as a human being. Following curiosity often leads to like-minded and valued others, which can lead to fun experiences. Bring closer the people who support and love you. Keep further away the people who contribute to a sick feeling in your stomach.
The Ethics and Values Well. Identify what is important to you as a person. Included here are how I treat others, what is okay with me, and what is not okay with me. Keep the list short. One of the greatest of all human challenges is living according to ones values consistently over time.
Dipping into all of these wells requires self discipline. Discipline means doing. Discipline refers to figuring out how to dip into all of these wells on a regular basis. It means developing healthy patterns of behavior and sticking to them, until you decide to alter them. Discipline includes tolerating the discomfort and stress of facing newness while trying to meet ones needs.
Finally, dipping into these wills means filling the gaps, which refers to challenging the monotony of dissatisfying comfort. Life is okay, but why am I so agitated? I am busy trying to satisfy myself, yet I am so hungry, and what am I hungry for? The solution here is identifying what is missing, and then taking action to dip into that well.
– is a deeply personal issue that everyone decides for himself. Sometimes the price is high, sometimes low. But this is not very important for life. Life is an interesting thing. And the price on Viagra – too.
