While the components of mental health can vary depending on the perspective, some common elements include:
Emotional well-being: The ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions in a healthy way.
Psychological resilience: Coping effectively with stress, adversity, and life’s challenges.
Positive relationships: Establishing and maintaining supportive connections with others.
Self-awareness: Having insight into one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Purpose and meaning: Engaging in activities that provide a sense of fulfillment and purpose in life.
Adaptability: Being flexible and able to adjust to changing circumstances.
Balance: Maintaining a sense of equilibrium across various aspects of life, such as work, relationships, and leisure activities.
Noetic, spiritual well-being: finding meaning, purpose, and connection to something greater than oneself; for Catholics, a deep connection with God, sense of purpose aligned with one’s faith in God, and the practice of virtues such as love, compassion, and forgiveness of other people as a way to demonstrate love for God.
Differentiation: the ability to maintain a sense of self while also being emotionally connected to others. It involves being able to express one’s own thoughts, feelings, and values, even in the face of disagreement or conflict, while also respecting and empathizing with the perspectives of others. Differentiation allows individuals to establish healthy boundaries, make independent decisions, and maintain emotional resilience within interpersonal relationships.
