Mental Health

By TJ Woodward

There was so much more to be said in this post that led me to this article. First, we must understand that if we are malnourished in any of the four areas, it impacts all the others. They are all interconnected. Just think, if we are not grounded spiritually, it will show in our mental health, physical health, and relationships. If we are not doing the necessary things for our mental health, it will cause us not to work on our bodies, minds, spirits, or relationships. The enemy likes to play with our minds making us think things that go against what the word says about who we are. If we are not caring for our physical bodies, which will require us to eat right, exercise, rest, etc., then we are too exhausted to focus on the other areas. Lastly, if we are not focusing on the people in our lives, this, too, will impact everything else. Here are some suggestions on how you can focus on all areas daily:

Spiritual – Start your day by reading the Bible. Incorporate prayer, praise, and worship into your morning routine. If that’s not your thing, you can start with meditation. Try setting your mindset to think about positive things. Recite affirmations that will help get your day on the right track. Listen to motivational messages. Establish a routine if you don’t have one already.

Mental – Try some breathing exercises. Therapy works. Declutter your life and your mind. Eliminate distractions. Disconnect from social media and avoid triggers. Follow your doctor’s orders if given specific instructions. Journal your thoughts.

Physical – Get in the gym. Try running or walking. Stretching while listening to motivational messages can be helpful with your spiritual and mental wellness. Working out is good for mental health and can be incorporated with spiritual exercises. Watch what you eat. Certain foods can impact your mood, which in turn will affect your mental health and even your spiritual health.

Relationships – Be kind. Love others. Value your relationships. Love and kindness incorporate spiritual, physical, and mental fortitude. It requires daily action. Doing good things naturally makes you feel good, which makes your body feel good, AND it pleases God. Avoiding toxic relationships and embracing healthy relationships leads to an overall, not perfect, but happy life.

These are just a FEW suggestions, but there are so many more. You can do these things daily, and all areas really do work together. If we have to prioritize one, focusing on our spiritual health would be first. For me, that is my relationship with God. I start my day communicating with Him, which helps me to work on the rest. Know that putting God first will help you in all other areas. Understand that your spiritual, mental, physical, and relational health is all important and requires focused attention daily. Putting off one for the other will leave another area vulnerable and can lead to more problems down the road. It is about making YOU and all aspects of who you are a priority. It is about selfcare and presenting the best version of yourself and ensuring you have what you need to be there for others.

Faces by PURENESS

RUM: Describe to us your work as it relates to mental health and wellness.

PURENESS: My business has always touched many physically, and of course, as a Makeup/Hair Artist, the main focus for my clients is the outer outcome. However, for me, their inner makeover, paired with lifting them from the inside out, is my main intention. When clients have completed a beauty session with me, they have often said they felt beautiful, even before seeing a mirror, due to the transformation on the inside as well. The more I received this feedback, I realized not only did I have a gift to touch people but the gift of sharing. So I decided to share what I have learned about mental health and mental fitness in a book called Pure Mental Fitness.

RUM: As a makeup artist, you make women beautiful, and it builds their esteem. How do you stay confident when you are not feeling your best or looking your best?

inner love and strength so much that I could let my positivity feed others around me. Being in self-love is not a part-time thing or something that happens in downtime; it’s ongoing for a lifetime. That keeps me going, and I can see my best parts to be the best for myself and others.

RUM: What are some things you do to push through and encourage others when you need encouragement?

PURENESS: There have been times I had personal battles to deal with; however, I always ensured my clients were put first in my space. Because of this, when I speak with others about their life struggles, it helps me reflect and assess my hurdles as well. I love sharing tips on how I got through tough times and felt amazed and proud of my goals and accomplishments. There are so many ways we can take charge of our lives that we can learn what works best for us and become dedicated to building our best selves.There are so many

RUM: You wrote a book titled, “Pure Mental Fitness,” what inspired you? ... and what impact do you hope it has?

PURENESS: I had things I needed to work through, and initially, I didn’t think I could do it. I had accomplished many things before, but this was the one thing I felt may be impossible. When I finally cleared my issues and lost 250 lbs, I knew I could not only do anything but also let others know they could. So I had to put pen to paper and share what I did to finally conquer all parts of my mental health

PURENESS: As an artist, I had had times when I knew I didn’t fit the general standards of beauty; however, I still loved myself as me. I built my with Pure Mental Fitness. My goal is to help even just one person, with just about any battle they face, by using the simple tools I have set out in this book. I want people to come out feeling encouraged and determined to take charge and control their lives. I also want readers to learn their values and always strive for the best of themselves, for themselves!

Taking the time to be real about what we face from day to day and what it takes to get through it is imperative.

RUM: People tend to focus more on external beauty over healing and wholeness on the outside. How important is it that you focus on your mental health and self-care over your outside appearance?

PURENESS: It is so vital for us to see ourselves from our inner mirror. It reflects outwardly and really reflects who we are and the life we live. Outer “beauty” only goes as far as inner beauty will allow. Our inner beauty is based on how well we nurture our mental health and emotional well-being. So many underestimate how powerful these elements of ourselves are. As a Makeup/Hair Artist, I can see stress, depression, and pain in the skin, scalp, hair, and eyes. I have seen clients that have started healing their inner selves and not only reverse any negative results that their pains may have caused but feel they became even more beautiful outwardly. So never put self-care on the back burner. It is more important than you may think.

RUM: You mentioned that you left a toxic relationship and lost 240 lbs.Can you tell us about the impact that toxic relationship had on your mental health and your journey of healing?

PURENESS: When I finally left a toxic relationship everything became clear. I realized all of my years were dedicated to one person that wasn’t good for me. This person meant to shape me and protect me had their own version of what that meant and looked like. The impact this person had on my life was so immense that it affected my every move in life. Because of this I spent all of my years pleasing instead of living. It took a lot of time to finally build up the courage to tell them how I felt, and finally let it go. It was the hardest thing I have ever done, but my life has seen so much growth, peace and happiness since. The big bonus was regaining my health and losing 240 Lbs which was the icing on the cake.

RUM: Any final words?

PURENESS: I want anyone that is on a journey to give themselves grace. You have what it takes to see it to the end and will have a beautiful story to tell because of it. I would also love for anyone thinking about taking charge of their mental well-being to know that it won’t be easy, but it will be so worth it.

Mentalhealth is a crucial aspect of our overall well being, and it can significantly impact our relationships. When we are in a romantic relationship, we share their lives, hopes, dreams, and struggles with each other. In this process, our mental health can have a profound impact on the relationship’s dynamics. Mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental illnesses, can have adverse effects on both partners and their relationship. It is, therefore, essential for us to prioritize our mental health and address any issues that may arise in our relationships.

One of the most significant challenges we as couples face is communicating about mental health. Mental health issues can be stigmatized, which can create barriers to communication. However, it is essential for us to talk about mental health openly and honestly in our relationships. Communication is the foundation of any healthy relationship, and when it comes to mental health, it is crucial to be transparent and vulnerable. Partners must be able to express their emotions and concerns without fear of judgment or rejection.

Another challenge is supporting your partner’s mental health while maintaining your own. It can be challenging to support your partner through mental health issues without neglecting your own mental health. It is crucial to prioritize your self-care and communicate your needs with your partner. It is also essential to recognize when you need help and seek support from a therapist or mental health professional.

Couples should also educate themselves on mental health issues and how they can impact their relationship. Understanding the signs and symptoms of mental illness can help partners recognize when their partner may be struggling and take appropriate action. It is also important to learn healthy coping mechanisms and ways