Are you struggling with any aspect of your health and wellbeing?

Maybe you use alcohol, drugs, or food as a coping mechanism? Or perhaps you have sleepless nights and suffer from stress and anxiety?

In the chaos of modern living, we are constantly bombarded with all sorts of unhealthy situations, messages, and challenges.

We have stressful jobs where we never quite switch off, we rarely have enough time for physical activity, and we struggle to make healthy food choices.

We spend too much time on technology, and yet we still feel lonely and struggle to make real connections.

Self-care, hobbies and passions often take a backseat and we’re obsessed with the next ‘quick fix’ or finding a ‘magic pill’ to make it all better.

But what if I told you that health and wellbeing begin with your mindset?

Mindset comprises the beliefs and attitudes we hold, and the way we view ourselves and think about the world.

It affects all aspects of our lives; from the choices and decisions we make, to our approach and behaviour in relation to situations and experiences. It can be the difference between giving up when faced with a hurdle or responding with more effort and persistence.

In 2006, Carol Dweck, Professor of Psychology at Stanford University, published a book called Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. In this body of research into how people succeed, Dweck identifies two types of mindset: a fixed mindset and a growth mindset.

A fixed mindset is when we believe we are born with a fixed amount of talent, intelligence, and ability.

People with a fixed mindset are more likely to choose options that are easy, rather than challenge themselves, face problems or put themselves in uncomfortable situations. However, being stuck in this rigid way of thinking means we become stagnant and we don't grow or develop. We also close ourselves off to opportunities and success that we would otherwise be capable of achieving.

When we adopt a growth mindset, we believe we can learn anything, and the focus is on improvement.

People operating in this mindset believe that we can improve our abilities and create success by putting in effort and practicing consistently. People with a growth mindset view failure as an opportunity to learn and grow, and they work hard to solve problems, embracing constructive feedback. They believe that we are always evolving and if we are proactive, we can change our stories.

So why is mindset important when it comes to health and wellbeing?

Mindset is an integral part of the journey when it comes to achieving health and wellbeing. It can be the difference between eating a slice of cake over a healthy snack or rolling over to snooze our alarm clock, instead of getting up and going to the gym.

But it’s not just about physical health; it’s about the mental and spiritual side too. They all feed into each other.

If any part of our body is struggling to do its job, it will affect other parts.

But when we have a healthy relationship with ourselves and we’re in balance, that’s when all areas of our life improve.

When we eat well, sleep and exercise, we improve our mood and mental health. And, when we are in good mental health, we tend to treat our body with more respect. It’s a cyclical process.

Wellness is also personal; what works and is healthy for one person may not work and might be unhealthy for another person.

It’s about finding our own balance between mind, body and spirit.

These days, I follow a personalised version of the seven pillars of wellness for a healthy lifestyle.

This includes Movement & Exercise, Healthy Nutrition & Water, Mindfulness & Meditation, Stress Management & Sleep, Emotional Self-Regulation, Meaningful Relationships & Community Connection, and Life Purpose & Passions.

But this was not always the case.

Seven years ago, after the passing of a dear friend, my whole life fell apart.

I was immensely angry with the world and felt guilty for even being alive. Without realising it, I stopped taking care of myself, and my physical and mental health began to deteriorate.

I got lost in a destructive lifestyle, which, at the time, had massive repercussions on all areas of my life.

I ate copious amounts of junk food, rarely exercised, drank to excess, and smoked 20 cigarettes a day. I was also heavily reliant on recreational drugs; it kept me numb and helped me to avoid dealing with my real emotions.

I still made sure I showed up and functioned for work, but I was working more than ever. I was also playing harder than ever, and my party lifestyle started to spiral out of control.

On the outside, everything seemed fine. But on the inside, I was unhappy with my body, and I struggled with my self-worth.

Mindset influences our self-image and self-worth, and it affects our confidence and resilience.

It took me a long time to grieve and finally accept what happened to my friend, but it made me realise that life is short, and I made the choice to spend each day being true to me.

I also realised that my destructive lifestyle just served to distract me from the real, underlying issues I’d yet to resolve; my grief, and the fear of losing another person I loved.

So, I took back control.

I got rid of some terrible habits and beliefs that were no longer serving me and disciplined myself to introduce new, mindful habits and beliefs.

Now, I stop and breathe. I practice yoga, I exercise, I get out into nature. I read and write. I eat healthy food, spend time on my hobbies and passions, and with the people I love. I do things every day that nourish my soul. And I always say yes to myself.

Don’t get me wrong. I still have bad days; I’m only human. But I’ve learnt to be kinder to myself. And it all started by shifting my mindset.

Want to improve your health and wellbeing? Start from the inside out.

Remember, there is no quick fix or magic pill. Sustainable change happens over time.

It’s about adopting a growth mindset, taking action and persisting with it.

The Importance of Mindset for Health And Wellbeing