Understanding How the Mind Works:

Often times the challenge isn't always the event or what is happening around us, but having too many thoughts about the events and just not having a clear head about what is happening.

Perhaps we have all experienced running a mental check list for work, school, home one right after the other or even all at once. Other times someone is speaking to you, while you are completing a task, note, taking care of a loved one or working on an assignment; multi-tasking. Your on the phone, putting away groceries or working back in the shop or garage or working out in the yard; any of these daily events sounding familiar?

Some of this may not be able to be entirely avoided, per se', however, there are times when we have habitually created additional thought patterns that have become unnecessary and thus cause us to be unproductive or self sabotage the very efforts we have desired or goal for in life. We will take a look at an example to gain a better perspective of this.

Imagine preparing for a job interview in an industry you are familiar, however the position will be relatively new for you. You took time to prepare a proper resume' and cover letter and clearly there is interest, as you have been called for the scheduled face to face interview.

Mentally however, because it is new and unknown, you tell yourself that you don't know if you can do this job and since the economy is poor you also convince yourself not to get your hopes up that you will be selected for the position prior to your interview.

When you go into the interview, after your internal dialogue, you now have less self esteem during your initial presentation and you are feeling quite insecure, even though you try to hide it. Unfortunately, because you will make less eye contact to hide your insecurity and will probably fidget more and sound unsure of yourself when responding to the prospective employer, they will hear this in your tone of voice and see your physical responses and be receptive to the potential that you may not be able to do this job either.

This is also an example of how we teach others how we want to be perceived and how we want to be treated. If you want to be treated as insecure, you will act insecure as a result of how you first think and believe about yourself.

Now taking the same example, but with a different perception to see another result in thinking.

Imagine again, preparing for a job interview in an industry you are familiar and the position will be relatively new for you. You took time to prepare a proper resume' and cover letter and clearly there is interest, as you have been called for the scheduled face to face interview.

This time, though the position is new and unknown, you feel excited, exhilarated and enthusiastic. You tell yourself that it must be meant to be since the call was made to schedule to initial interview and you are looking forward to meeting the individuals and making new associates. You may even try to visualize what you new work space or office might look like and bringing your own items, such as plants, briefcase and family pictures with you.

As a result, after your internal dialogue, your self esteem has increased and you feel secure in yourself and your ability to do the best you can and are open to learning new skills. During your interview, this is perceived as you make consistent eye contact, respond accordingly and are receptive to direction by the prospective employer as they hear it in your voice and see it in your body language and physical responses and are more apt to consider your ability to fulfill their requirements.

Even in a situation where they may professionally find another with higher qualifications, you are still open to move forward, verses taking on an attitude of total defeat and not moving forward at all or being open to other potential opportunities and thus lacking ability to see them as well.

Mental health and well being is the ability to function satisfactorily at an emotionally and behaviorally state of well being. (1) If you find yourself unable to move forward dealing within your present job, career, employment status, relationships, mental health, emotional well being, physical health and even spiritual concerns, then let this be your personal indication to make an internal change. Become aware of your needs and even seek and attain professional help; know that professionals get the support and help from other professionals to ensure their well being because they care for their own health care, families and life.

So can you; start today.

(1) http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=mental%20health