A Relationship Worth Working On

When people think of the word ‘relationship’, one of the first things they’ll think of is a romantic relationship. Although this is true, one of the least thought of examples of a relationship is the one that you have with yourself. 

In a time where young adults are driven to be productive with their fast-paced lives, taking care of oneself is often put on the back burner, leaving mental health and ideas of self-worth, confidence, and self-forgiveness to deteriorate. These are some of the most important things when it comes to having a healthy relationship with yourself. A common mistake with young adults is pursuing relationships with other people but lacking self-love. 

According to Mental Health America, “46 percent of Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their life...half of those people will develop conditions by the age of 14”. For those people, the causes of mental illness are not the result of one factor, but oftentimes multiple. Those factors include but not limited to: 

● Familial pressures 

● Lack of self - love or self - worth 

● Feelings of uselessness, hopelessness, etc. 

● Societal pressures

● Poor relationships with others 

Unfortunately, a large percentage of young adults in the US face at least two or more of these problems but it's common for only one thing to impact your health and how you see yourself. Additionally, taking care of/loving yourself is something that isn’t always talked about so the resources available to people aren't always there. Although navigating through a fast-paced life and mental illness is hard, there are still a few ways you can practice self-love. 

Be firm on your boundaries. It can be easy to overlook these, especially when it comes to the important people in your life such as family, friends, and partners. It may feel like you’re disrespecting them or upsetting them by setting boundaries between yourself and others. However, by setting boundaries, you give yourself the power and confidence to make time for yourself, recharge, and maintain bodily autonomy. 

Forgive yourself. It’s okay to not have everything figured out. It’s okay to take breaks. It’s okay to not be okay right now. Productivity and future planning can be great, but not when it affects your mental and physical health. We’re all human and forgiving yourself for “falling short” doesn’t mean you’re a bad person. You’re just human. 

Be realistic on what you can and can’t do right now. As mentioned before, we are all human so no one is perfect. Pushing yourself to be the person you want to be is crucial for development but be aware of your limitations. By being aware, you can avoid hurting yourself or beating yourself up. 

Loving yourself isn’t easy. It takes time and mistakes will be made. But it doesn’t overshadow the fact that it’s important. By finding ways that work for you, they can greatly impact your mental health in a positive manner. It doesn’t have to look or be perfect, it just has to be for you! 

Sources 

https://www.mhanational.org/mentalhealthfacts