How to Help Manage Mental Well-Being With Mental Health Quotes

Key Takeaways:

• Mental and physical health are important aspects of maintaining well-being.
• Mental health advocates work to improve the systems that support those struggling with mental health and break down the stigmas surrounding mental illness.
• Not only does speaking about mental health help those who may be suffering, but it helps to educate society as a whole. 

Taking steps to maintain optimal mental health is crucial for our overall well-being. In fact, the state of our mental health can impact us emotionally, psychologically, socially and physically. Mental well-being can also influence the way we think, feel and interact. As a result, our mental health often drives how we connect with others and deal with stress. And, when we are mentally healthy, we often make healthier choices in our personal and professional lives.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I have highlighted some positive mental health quotes that personally resonate with me. The quotes mentioned below help to remind me that mental health is crucial to ensuring that I bring the best of myself to both my personal and professional spaces.

"Mental health … is not a destination, but a process. It’s about how you drive, not where you’re going." – Noam Shpancer, Ph.D.

Positive Mental Health Quotes

Positive mental health quotes can help provide clarity in times when you need it most. I often look to quotes that inspire me in times of reflection when I am in need of support and could benefit from a new perspective.

“And still, I rise” – Maya Angelou

This quote from author and civil rights activist Maya Angelou reminds me, no matter how difficult a situation may be, you can still rise above. Angelou faced many obstacles throughout her journey as an activist, and I often imagine her embracing this affirmation to find the strength to endure.

A lifelong advocate for mental well-being, Fred Rogers, best known as Mr. Rogers, had an incredible way of describing the constant challenge that comes with maintaining a healthy mental composure.

"There is no normal life that is free of pain. It's the very wrestling with our problems that can be the impetus for our growth." – Fred Rogers

This was a doctrine that Rogers discovered through personal experience. The documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, which was about Rogers’ life, reveals his struggles with feelings of isolation and loneliness. He used his intimate understanding of these feelings to become an advocate for childhood development and worked tirelessly to teach children that they were loved and accepted for who they are. His compassion resonated with viewers across the country.

Mental Health vs. Physical Health

Although mental health and physical health are separate in many ways, they often affect one another. When people think of what it means to be “healthy,” physical health is often the first issue that comes to mind. However, mental health is also crucial.

“Self-esteem is as important to our well-being as legs are to [a] table. It is essential for physical and mental health and for happiness.” – Louise Heart

Louise Heart is an author and professional speaker who discusses the development of self-esteem, positive parenting, healthy family connections and more. Her quote resonates because of the impact that self-esteem can have on one’s mental health.

When someone is unable to feel their own value despite their achievements or success, it can perpetuate greater risks to our mental and physical wellness. Being able to recognize your strengths and use them to your advantage is key to trying new things that can maintain or improve your mental and physical well-being.

Mental Health Advocacy

Mental health advocacy is an important part of breaking down the stigma around mental illness and can help to drive legislative change and develop new programs. Advocacy organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) have programs that work to enact important policies that help to improve health, stop harmful practices, provide crisis resources and support community inclusion.

Mental health advocates are also powerful figures who can bring sweeping change. Again, I look to Fred Rogers, who was great at articulating the need for mental health help in approachable, attainable messages. The following quote always resonates with me when considering the difficulty of discussing the complicated topics that arise when talking about mental health:

“Anything that's human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary.” – Fred Rogers

Rogers reminds us that mental health struggles are something we can talk about and discuss, honestly, to find solutions.

Mental and Physical Health Is at the Heart of Well-Being

Developing optimal mental and physical health is key to ensuring good well-being. It can be difficult to find a balance between the two, but by talking about mental and physical health, and the challenges you may be facing, it can be easier to find solutions.

If you need inspiration, look back on some quotes that resonate with you, and remember that you’re never alone in the challenges you may be presented with. 

For more information on mental health, consider following me on LinkedIn, as I share more about mental health awareness throughout the month.