Mental health has been a hot topic in recent years, particularly because more and more adults and young children are being encouraged to talk about and share their emotions with others. In the news, on our social feeds and in the conversations at our workplaces, we hear devastating stories of how poor mental health has led to serious incidents where individuals can no longer cope and decide to take their own lives. While these cases are heartbreaking for families, friends and millions of others across the globe, they can inspire others to take care of their mental wellbeing when they're feeling low or not like themselves.

For this reason, everyone must understand what it’s like to have a happy and healthy mind, so they know what to strive for and what to be concerned about. Here is what good mental health looks like.

Awareness

Someone with good mental health is extremely good at recognising and listening to their emotions. They will also become accustomed to times when not listening to their emotions, for example in stressful situations or when the brain is overthinking. No matter if these emotions are positive or negative, they will be able to sit with and embrace them. For example, they will be experienced with overcoming negative emotions which aren’t worth their energy, like when their favourite lip liner is out of stock so they can’t wear it for a special occasion they had planned.

Resilience

The second sign of someone with good mental health is resilience. This means they are successful at overcoming challenges and setbacks, in any instances that they may occur. They don’t try to control every outcome in their lives, but rather accept that days can both be good and bad. They are particularly good at learning from these experiences, rather than resenting them and appreciate the growth they can help them to achieve.

Acceptance

Having a healthy mind allows you to accept both your strengths and weaknesses. Instead of desperately trying to change what you dislike about yourself, people with emotional and mental strength accept that they will never reach perfection, and they begin to see their flaws as entirely normal and proof that they’re unique and human. Acceptance can be tricky to master, but often starts with techniques like positive self-talk, which allows you to reframe negative thoughts in your brain into thoughts that are more optimistic.

Purpose

The final sign of someone who has good mental health is having purpose. Every day, they have a reason to wake up - a reason that was defined by them and no one else. They will often use this purpose to fill their cup and motivate them to achieve greater things in the future. Everyone’s purpose will be different, depending on your morals and motivations in life. Those who are motivated by money may find purpose in an additional income stream that allows them to support themselves and their families financially. Others may find purpose in looking after their health and wellbeing and decide to learn about traditional mindfulness practices like yoga and meditation.