Summary

We can take actions to address our wellbeing. Our choices contribute to the actions we take. Our choices are affected by the environment and other variables. Seek help from mental health professionals if you need treatment for mental health symptoms which can affect your ability to pursue wellbeing.

Wellbeing through Deliberate Actions

In previous posts, wellbeing has been explored and interventions to achieve wellbeing have been discussed. Wellbeing is a process and not an outcome. Let’s explore wellbeing through deliberate actions.

Actions to Promote Wellbeing

Many actions promote wellbeing.

Showering regularly. Eating healthy foods. Spending time with friends. Expressing oneself artistically. Exercising. Being charitable. Helping a stranger. Engaging in mindfulness practices. Sleeping for a healthy number of hours. Spending time in nature. Cultivating a curious spirit. Learning something new. Nourishing a friendship. Breathing new life into a relationship.

Talk is cheap.

It is so easy to preach, even to oneself, and not take action.

Why Not Take Action for Wellbeing

Why not take action for wellbeing? Because at a given moment in time, some people may genuinely not be able to initiate and maintain actions towards wellbeing.

Some people may not be able to take care of their activities of daily living (showering, eating, dressing, etc) because mental health symptoms interfere with their energy level; their motivation; their interest in doing things; their memory; and their hope.

Imagine not having the energy to shower. Imagine not remembering to eat. Imagine not wanting to change clothes. Imagine not being hopeful. Thinking like this can be debilitating.

If you or someone you know is experiencing these or any other mental health symptoms, please contact your local mental health service providers and schedule an appointment.

If you live in New York state, connect with the Office of Mental Health (https://omh.ny.gov/).

If you are feeling like hurting yourself, if someone you know is feeling like hurting themself: call 9-1-1.

If you or someone you know wants to hurt someone else, call 9-1-1.

Able to Take Action for Wellbeing?

If you are able, take action to address your wellbeing. Deliberate actions are choices. Choices can spell success.

But making choices is not as simple as having free will. To be conscious of one’s actions is one aspect contributing to actions. Sometimes, people may not even be aware of their actions, let alone the underpinning reasons for the actions they take. Thus, we need to espouse a nuanced approach to the actions embraced to achieve wellbeing.

And, each of us is tasked to embrace a nuanced approach before we judge other people for their actions.

Take a listen to the podcast by two of my favourite neuroscience geeks, Andrew Sansone-Cooper and Taylor Guthrie:

Are Your Choices Predetermined? Neuroscience + Free Will

The Social Brain, episode 31

December 21, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okqhpo8JZdU

Consider how environment affects us and our choices.

Consider the rhetorical question: what influences our thoughts, our choices, our decisions?

In life, we make choices all of the time. Choices we make can foster our wellbeing. Our wellbeing depends on us making sound choices, as often as possible. What we choose to be in our environment may affect our choices as much as our conscious decision to make a selection, to pay attention to an issue, to direct our energy to addressing a situation.

Wellbeing: Actions Speak Louder than Words

Wellbeing through deliberate actions is the theme of today’s post. The message is simple. Take action or get help to take action. Work towards wellbeing.

Life is not easy if we perceive it to be a mountain we must climb. Life can be easier if we recognize that each step is part of a process of maturing, evolving, and growing in life. The choices we make about our environment can be impactful to our wellbeing. Certainly, we are climbing mountains. And, we climb one step at a time.

Take-away

Talk is cheap.

Actions speak louder than words.

Louder than Words: from tick, tick, … BOOM!

2018 Jonathan Larson Awards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irYGTV0gRGQ

Start a revolution in your life. Take action and make wellbeing a reality in your life. Wellbeing through deliberate action.

Seek treatment if you need assistance in addressing your symptoms and embarking on your journey towards wellbeing.

Selected References:

Sansone-Cooper, A., Guthrie, T. (December 21, 2023). Are Your Choices Predetermined? Neuroscience + Free Will. The Cellular Republic. Accessed online on November 3, 2024, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okqhpo8JZdU

Disclaimer: This post is not meant to substitute for a consultation with your mental health professional team.