The actions I take to Let Healing Happen

why does mental health matter?

Mental health is just as vital as physical health—honestly, sometimes even more so.

The two are constantly feeding into each other. When your mind isn’t in a good place (say, you're struggling with a low mood), your body feels the hit.

It directly impacts your drive to hit the gym, stay active, or maintain a healthy diet.

That’s why finding a balance is so crucial.

For me, that means doubling down on the tools that stabilize and lift my mental state.

You can find endless "hacks" online, but these four methods are what actually moved the needle for me—and there's a good chance they'll do the same for you:

1. Gratitude: The Bedtime Ritual

I’ve made it a habit to practice gratitude right before I sleep.

I grab a notebook and write down 3–5 positive things I’m grateful for—whether they happened that day or are just general blessings in my life.

The beauty of this is that you don't have to be really creative.

You don't need "new" things every day; it's perfectly fine to appreciate the same things over and over, What matters is the feeling.

By doing this right before bed, I gently let my brain shift gears.

Instead of looping through the day's stressors or nagging thoughts, I’m focused on the positive. This release of tension leads to much deeper, higher-quality sleep.

2. Meditation: Finding Stillness

After some trial and error, I found that meditating right before bed works best for me.

I started small and gradually increased the duration each day.

Meditation is incredibly flexible— Since everyone is unique, you can tailor it to your needs—do it alone or with others, at any time of day, for as long as you feel like.

It’s an amazing tool for stress management, sensory regulation, and emotional resilience.

It helps me process anger and find a sense of calm and presence.

When we sit in silence, we create the space to grow and ask ourselves the "big questions."

That experience alone is incredibly empowering. Beyond the mental shift, research shows it can help with chronic pain, boost dopamine (our mood and energy hormone), and lower inflammation.

Key takeaway: The more time the body spends in a state of total relaxation—the way it does during meditation—the more it enters a "creating state" where true physical healing can begin.

Of course, meditation isn't always easy.

It makes you face the real, big questions without distractions. It makes you confront being alone—which, ironically, helps me enjoy my own company and become more selective about who I choose to spend my time with.

Here are the techniques I rotate through:

• Mindfulness: Focusing on the "here and now."

I pay attention to my breath, physical sensations, background noise, and even the temperature.

The trick is to acknowledge thoughts or distractions without judgment and let them go. I imagine my mind is a clear blue sky, and every thought is just a cloud passing through the frame, carried away by the wind.

• Transcendental Meditation: Silently repeating a mantra/ mantras that align with my goals.

• The "Inner Smile" (Guided Healing): This is where I channel warmth and self-love toward a specific part of my body that needs healing. I visualize that organ functioning perfectly—vibrant, healthy, and clear of inflammation.

I breathe in abundance and health, and as I exhale, I imagine releasing all the "toxins"—inflammation, resentment, self-criticism, and any other negative emotions—that may be stored in my body.

How to start:

Find a slightly elevated seat (to stay alert), use eye masks or earplugs if you need to, and keep a journal nearby to write down any nagging thoughts before you begin.

At the end, keep your eyes closed for a moment, slowly move your fingers and toes, and finish with a positive mantra, repeated multiple times.

3. Sun Exposure:

Syncing with Nature: Catching the sunrise isn't just aesthetic; it resets your biological clock (circadian rhythm) and tunes your body's internal systems.

Whether it’s a clear day or a gray one, the sun is always providing benefits: freedom, joy, and a deep connection to nature—and by doing so, it encourages healing and recovery from any physical/mental issue a human being may have.

The sun helps regulate melatonin for sleep and serotonin for mood. It even plays a role in gut health (the microbiome) and provides essential vitamin D and nitric oxide.

Doing it right:

To get the benefits safely, I usually wear a shirt and a hat. I prefer mineral-based or natural sunscreens over conventional ones, as some studies suggest the latter can be harsh on our DNA.

Also, keep in mind that the lighter your skin, the less time you need in the sun to reap the rewards, and the riskier it is to get a skin burn.

A quick note on sunglasses: some research suggests that wearing them can actually interfere with the hormonal signals the sun sends to our brain, potentially doing more harm than good for our overall system.

4. Grounding:

Walking in the Wild.

I love walking in nature—forests, fields, the beach, or the desert.

I take off my shoes and socks and let my feet touch the soft grass or the earth.

I imagine all the "negative charge" in my body—inflammation, toxins, or heavy emotions—draining out of me and into the ground.

This practice is deeply healing on a physical, mental, and spiritual level.

I recommend leaving your watch and your stress at home. Just be present. In the here and now.

While the research might be thin, I find the sense of healing and positivity you get from it to be absolutely undeniable.