Most people know that physical growth and development require adequate nutrition, such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and water. In fact, psychological "nutrition" is also very important, and a severe lack of it can affect mental health. So, what are the important psychological "nutrients" for people?
First and foremost, the most important psychological "nutrient" is love.
Love accompanies us throughout our lives. In childhood, the main source of love is from parents. Childhood is a critical period for cultivating mental health, and a lack of sufficient and appropriate parental love during this stage can impact a person's lifelong psychological development. Many psychological disorders in adults are related to a lack of parental love during childhood. As young people grow up, the love of friends and mentors becomes increasingly important. The love between romantic partners and spouses is particularly crucial during the youth stage. In middle age, the love from colleagues, relatives, and children is very important as it boosts confidence and motivation in career and family life, making life joyful and warm. As for elderly people, love is the key to happiness in their later years. Love has a rich connotation, not only referring to romantic love but also encompassing care, comfort, encouragement, rewards, praise, trust, help, and support. If a person does not receive love from others, especially from their own family, for a long time, their psychology will become imbalanced, leading to disorders or illnesses.
The second important psychological "nutrient" is emotional release and catharsis.
Whether through diversion or self-consolation, these methods can only temporarily relieve psychological conflicts and achieve superficial psychological balance. They only address the symptoms, while moderate emotional release has a fundamental effect. Of course, this kind of release should be benign, based on the principles of not harming others or society. Otherwise, it can lead to a vicious cycle and create more discomfort. For example, when you feel depressed, you can play soccer to vent your frustrations or talk to loved ones and friends when facing unhappy events, pouring out your discomfort. This is emotional release. At the same time, it is also helpful to have someone help untangle the knots in your mind or provide good advice. Emotional release and catharsis are effective ways to maintain psychological balance. If psychological burdens are not released or cathartically dealt with for a long time, they will intensify psychological conflicts and eventually lead to mental disorders.
The third important psychological "nutrient" is constructive criticism with goodwill and strategy.
It helps people discern right from wrong, correct mistakes, and continuously improve themselves. If a person does not receive correct criticism for a long time, they may develop the bad habits of arrogance, stubbornness, and self-righteousness, which are manifestations of unhealthy psychological development. However, overly harsh criticism and accusations that damage self-esteem can lead to a rebellious mentality, and in severe cases, it can cause a person to become self-destructive, detached from the collective, and unable to extricate themselves. Therefore, when encountering such "psychological toxins," it is important to be vigilant and strengthen psychological immunity. We should regularly associate with knowledgeable, virtuous, and trustworthy individuals to more easily obtain this healthy "nutrient."
Fourth, strong beliefs and ideals are also important psychological "nutrients."
The power of beliefs and ideals is remarkable and crucial for the mind. In the journey of life, we often encounter various setbacks and failures and may find ourselves in unexpected difficulties. At such times, beliefs and ideals serve as balancers for the mind, helping people maintain a stable mentality, overcome obstacles and setbacks, and prevent deviation from the path of life, avoiding entering a dark psychological zone.
Fifth, tolerance is also an essential "nutrient" for mental health.
Life is full of ups and downs, and not everything can go as desired. Frustration and depression often accompany us. Tolerance is the magic weapon for escaping various troubles and reducing psychological pressure. However, tolerance is not about escapism; it is about being open-minded and wise.
The key to maintaining psychological health is to learn self-adjustment, be adept at managing emotions, achieve self-reliance and self-awareness in psychological protection, actively supplement oneself with healthy psychological "nutrients," and provide others with the "nutrients" needed for psychological well-being when necessary.
