Cultivating Mental Health: Growing a Resilient Mind Like a Well-Tended Garden

Introduction

In this article we are going to use the metaphor of a garden as it applies to creating good mental health, resilience and personal growth. Positive mental health is sometimes taken for granted, but in truth it is something that requires nurturing, and just like a well tended garden it doesn't just happen all by itself. It occurs within context of given surroundings, environments if you will, and undertaking of timely tasks that come together ecologically, as a whole.

Instinctively, we know how we can feel uplifted, at peace, or maybe even energized being exposed to landscapes which are aesthetic, and appear to be in harmony and balance with nature. Imagine how this contrasts with a space which is overgrown with weeds that choke out the flowers, is littered with trash and neglected overall. It doesn't conjure up a place that would be conducive to sustained well-being does it ?

The metaphor of mental health as a garden is a powerful way to visualize the ongoing process of nurturing one's emotional and psychological well-being. Just as a gardener tends to a garden, removing weeds and pests, and planting flowers and trees you can cultivate mental health, by setting boundaries, addressing negative thoughts, and fostering positive habits.

This metaphor emphasizes the importance of patience and consistent care, as mental health improvement is not an immediate process but one that requires ongoing attention and effort.

It also highlights the need to protect oneself from harmful influences, much like a gardener would secure a boundary to protect their garden from mindless trespassers. So, how do we cultivate a healthy inner landscape that facilitates thriving rather just surviving? Well awareness acts as the first steps to taking action.

The Seeds of Awareness

Like seeds that need planting, awareness paves the way for growth. However, awareness alone does not ensure success. Experienced gardeners usually need to apply specific skills and knowledge if higher quality yield (particularly when growing vegetables and fruit) is to be attained from their endeavors. Sure, you can aim to sow seeds randomly, in any old soil, and hope for the best, and sometimes we can find adaptable and thriving plants in surprising places, but seasoned gardeners understand that better outcomes come our way if optimal growing conditions are adhered to and when high grade nutrients are provided.

Positive outcomes, or yields for ourselves as human beings, is reflected in how we perceive our "quality of life. " According to the World Health Organization Quality of Life is ...

"...an individual's perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards, and concerns. It includes various facets such as personal health (physical, mental, and spiritual), relationships, education status, work environment, social status, wealth, a sense of security and safety, freedom, autonomy in decision-making, social belonging, and physical surroundings. "

A satisfying sufficiency in these combined areas, help sustain a rewarding, purposeful life and can arguably be compared to the nutrients necessary for attaining hardy and healthy plants in the garden. They are the soil which facilitate our personal development and maturation.

Just as observing garden plants helps in understanding their needs, recognizing emotions also helps in addressing mental health. Emotional intelligence is a crucial bedrock for supporting our crucial "social" landscapes. Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to perceive, use, understand, and manage emotions effectively. It involves recognizing emotions in oneself and others, using emotional information to guide thinking and behavior, and adapting emotions to suit different environments.

EI is important for mental health because it facilitates better communication, and ability to cope with stress thereby building stronger relationships whilst reducing negative behaviors.

Cultivating Positive Habits

A garden often doubles up as a habitat, or in other words a place - conducive environment- where organisms take up residence! In such gardens, there is the right mix of accessible resources, usually in constant supply, that support safety and survival. Generally speaking, it is difficult to sustain a habitat that is subject to instability and chaotic conditions. Excessive Chaos in our own living environments is detrimental because it can lead to stress, anxiety, lack of control and loss of security. However, when we consistently instate positive daily practices into our routines a framework becomes established for encouraging behaviors and lifestyle choices that can improve well-being, provides structure and gives sense of continuity in daily life. Healthy habits can assist us with maintaining measured balance, flow, pace or "tempo. "

As an acronym TEMPO stands for " the individual's doing" the right Things at the right Time, with right Energy (and Expectancy), in the right Mode, in the right Place, with the right Objects," to achieve the desired performance. A sense of TEMPO is necessary for people to function well in the society and to find personal fulfillment in their mode of functioning. " (Howe and Briggs, 1982)

Habits can be very affirming. For instance maintaining a daily journal can help in the processing of emotions and as an aid to problem-solving. Some other regular practices that support well-being include:

- Meditation and mindfulness which could be considered as watering the plants to keep them healthy.

- Regular exercise for growth, strength and maintenance of anatomy and physiology.

- Connecting with nature - spending time outdoors is a natural remedy, akin to sunlight for plants.

and outdoor activities boost mood and reduce stress.

Weeding Out Negativity

Recognizing and addressing negative thoughts, and their sources of influence, is integral to our health.

Just as choking plants need to be identified and removed from desirable flower beds, so too do unproductive thoughts need to be "weeded." Techniques for reframing unhelpful thinking patterns, such

those learnt from traditional Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) can be considered as gardening tools in this regard.

Gardeners often need to establish perimeters around vegetables and flowers in order to keep out pests. As individuals it is often necessary that in order for us to protect our mental space, we need to set clear boundaries in relationships and situations so that we do not become energetically drained or damaged.

Fertilizing with Support

Just as fertilizers enrich the soil, positive environments and support networks nourish mental wellness.

In gardening "companion "plants are frequently grown together, and they help each other thrive. Having a good social circle of friends, family, and professionals can help cultivate a healthy mindset. There is often benefit from sharing our mental health journeys and challenges with others when it comes to instillation of hope and for having staying power to achieve goals.

The Importance of Patience and Persistence in Harvesting the Benefits

Gardens take time to flourish, mental health requires ongoing effort and long-term commitment

Understanding that setbacks are part of growth, and not failures, is all part of the process. Regularly

checking in with ourselves is similar to routine garden inspections. Self-assessment and ability to healthily adapt to " changing seasons" are crucial elements in personal growth but so to is celebrating personal achievements. Just as gardeners get to enjoy the fruit of their labors, we as individuals, can recognize the milestones and progress made in our mental journeys. Often our success stories are in inspiration for others

in our communities. Fostering a collective culture of care is akin to sharing a bountiful harvest, but remember that a diverse harvest is the result of many different gardens. You are your own imagined garden. May it grow into a well nourished, healthy, vibrant and unique one!

References:

May 1, 1982 - Margot C. Howe, Anne K. Briggs; Ecological Systems Model for Occupational Therapy. Am J Occup Ther May 1982, Vol. 36(5), 322–327