People aspire to money, physical fitness, and travel. We aspire to long term health, raising happy kids, and building businesses. And we aspire to lives of adventure, charity, and helping others.

So why don’t we aspire to mental wellness?

When we are emotionally and mentally un-well we take on a variety of un-healthy coping mechanisms.

These negative coping methods include binge watching TV, social media fixation, constant complaining, blame, outrage and entitlement, over-eating, self harm, and substance abuse. Yes, that is an uncomfortable list and its reality.

Why aren’t we looking for improvements to our mental game so we don’t need those coping mechanisms? Is it lack of awareness? Fear of a taboo topic? Maybe we don’t realize all the tools available to improve how we experience life.

I want to have mental wellness just like my physical wellness. I eat well, vary my exercise, and look for new ways to test my cardio, strength, coordination, and balance. On the mental side, I research a wide variety of topics, meditate on my emotional discomforts, and look for ways to expand my range (writing this is a range expander).

I’m sure other people are working on expanding their mental wellness but they aren’t talking about it. I’d like to see that change. Just like sweating and struggling in the gym to build strength, it’s a struggle to build up mental wellness. Being honest about our bodies helps us see where to focus in the gym (my pull-ups are suffering because I’m carrying too much body fat). Being honest about our mental states help us see where to focus on building mental strength (I’m still afraid of doing sales and need to work past that fear). My physical wellness lets me casually bike 20 miles whenever I want. My mental wellness lets me have challenging conversations with my partner.

I can see how my pursuit of mental wellness has given me all kinds of adventures and a great life. I also know that so much more is available as I find and strip away self limiting beliefs and fears.

Today I biked 10 miles to work and I’ll be riding back tonight after work is done.

I did a voice-over for some content we are producing, happily it was emotionally easier than last week’s work.

What are you working on?