Three Pillars of Mental Wealth

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

Next year will be a special anniversary for me – 30 years since receiving my counseling degree. And having had a foot in the organizational space throughout that time in such roles as employee assistance professional and leadership consultant, the relationship between work and mental health is one of significance for me. One undeniably impacts the other.

Consequently, our understanding and belief about mental health can be a powerful thing, and I believe the actual term, “mental health,” comes up a bit short. What if we thought about our mental health differently – as something in which we can invest and grow, rather than just something we protect and hope for the best? Let’s talk about Mental Wealth.

Mental wealth is more than just the absence of mental illness. It is an individualized picture of emotional resilience, healthy relationships, and a sense of purpose, peace, and psychological strength. Mental health awareness and care is part of, but not the same as proactive mental wealth building. The good news is mental wealth can be cultivated through the intentional development of three pillars: Perspective, People, and Priority.

Pillar 1: Perspective — Understanding the Facts About Mental Health

Mental health affects everyone. We’re all human, and therefore all susceptible to mental health concerns. Just like there are things we can do to improve our physical health, there

are things we can do to improve our mental health as well. That said, just like physical concerns, mental health issues aren’t 100% preventable. We aren’t mentally iron-clad, no differently than we’re not walking around clad in bubble-wrap. Our family history, as well as situations we encounter in life can impact both our physical and mental health. That’s just part of being human.

Mental Illness vs. Mental Health: Related but separate terms. Mental Illness is an umbrella term for the collection of diagnosable, medical conditions that have a psychological foundation. Mental health refers to one’s overall emotional and psychological wellness. It’s helpful to know that someone can have a mental illness and still experience mental wellness. Likewise, one could have diagnosis and yet still struggle mentally or emotionally.

Misconceptions abound when it comes to our mental health. There’s absolutely no judgement if you’ve ever heard, thought, or believed some of these. I know I did before I started school and it’s amazing how these myths come back time and time again and spread like unwanted weeds. Here are just a few mistruths about mental health that actually hurt our mental health.

· “Strong people don’t struggle.”

· “Faith and gratitude eliminate emotional pain.”

· “Talking about depression, anxiety, suicidal thinking makes it worse.”

· “It’s all in someone’s head. They just need to snap out of it.”

· “Success equals wellness.”

Even though 1 in 5 adults in the US will experience a mental health issue in any given year and 1 in 10 will experience a severe mental illness that interferes with activities of daily living (Source: NAMI) and depression and anxiety are among the most diagnosed conditions in all of medicine (Source: SAMHSA), these misconceptions feed the stigma around mental health that breeds fear around mental health concepts rather than an investment in them.

Your perspective is powerful. It’s our first Pillar of Mental Wealth because understanding creates freedom over fear of mental health issues. The ability to center our perspective on facts over assumption on this and many other situations enables us to leverage our knowledge and invest energy confidently in what we can control. The fact that you’re still reading here is proof positive that you’re poised to invest intentionally in your mental wealth and reap the returns.

Pillar 2: People – Engaging with the Right People in Different Walks of Life

Mental wealth was never designed to be built alone. As human beings, we are relational by design and emotional struggle is amplified in isolation as a result. Conversely, healing and the resulting growth often happens in connection. Connection is also a growth-accelerator because the effects of failure and risk-taking that make growth possible are shared and lessened in community.

We’ve all heard the expression, “people that drive me crazy” at one time or another. And many of us may say they have or have had people in this category in their life. Maybe you’ve heard the saying about the saying people are driving you crazy – that being that no one can drive you crazy without you giving them the keys. Food for thought – anyone you’re giving the keys to lately? All joking and introspection aside, people do hold the keys to aiding our mental wealth.

Different people serve different purposes. A few categories to consider:

1. Friends: encourage authenticity and belonging and provide support and companionship.

2. Family: Offer identity, grounding, and history. Can contribute to healing or hurt. Keeping the lines of communication open and healthy boundaries matter.

3. Mentors and Coaches: Offer wisdom, perspective, and accountability and help us grow beyond our current limitations.

4. Counselors and Mental Health Professionals: Provide specialized insight and therapeutic support. Just like you’re an expert in your field, they are experts in finding solutions to navigate the psychological side of life.

5. Faith Communities: Offer hope, purpose, prayer, and spiritual encouragement while creating opportunities for meaningful connection.

The quality of our relationships shapes our mental health. Our relationships can either nourish our emotional health or drain emotional energy. Our closest relationships will likely do both across seasons of life. The good news is that just like we can teach our kids to ride a bike or we can learn to set up our smart watch, we can learn to develop healthy boundaries, honest communication and nurture our relationships. When we determine to grow our relationship skills (listening, forgiveness, assertive communication), intentionally seek community and be willing to ask for help, we bring more peace, growth and support to life and are more able to identify who brings the same. A significant investment in our mental wealth.

Pillar 3: Priority — Proactively Caring for Our Mental Wealth

Mental wealth requires intentional stewardship. Mental health does not maintain itself automatically, and prevention is often more effective than crisis management. Aiming for excellence over perfection, caring for mental wellness can become a lifestyle, not an emergency response. There may still be emergencies, but just like when we’ve run the safety briefing, fire drill or tornado drill, we’re more resourced and prepared to handle the situation.

We are whole human beings – mind, body and spirit. Sleep, nutrition, movement, relationships, and spirituality all influence mental wellness, and we know that chronic stress affects the entire person.

Engaging in simple practices that build mental wealth can go a long way. You’re likely already engaging in some of these, so take the affirmation with pride and keep up the good work! Is there another on this list that will give you a good return on your investment? A few ideas and thought-provoking questions to add to your mental wealth investment:

Rest: recognizing the importance of and making time for recovery and margin. What are your early warning signs that chronic stress or burnout may be on the horizon?

Reflection: As John C. Maxwell says, “Experience isn’t the best teacher, evaluated experience is.” Taking time to reflect on our experiences – both the wins and the growth opportunities – is always time well spent. A top “aha-producer” for my clients over the years was always journaling. Pretty handwriting, perfect punctuation and grammar need not apply. Just getting those thoughts, ideas, questions and feelings down on paper can do wonders for enhancing sleep, diminishing anxiety, and a heightened sense of well-being. What could happen if you gave your headspace some space for two weeks?

Rhythms and Boundaries: Boundaries protect our peace and healthy routines reduce chaos. Ironically, these are often the first things that we are tempted to let slide when life heats up. Keeping in mind progress over perfection, what’s one healthy routine that you’re already keeping, and one that you could add to invest in your mental wealth? My labrador and I have been getting more walks in now that he’s post-surgery and the fresh air for me and sniffs for him have been an uplift for both of us.

Purpose and Meaning: Mental health research for decades has referred to serving others in the form of volunteerism or staying close to a cause we value highly as “nature’s antidepressant.” There is power and a resilience boost in staying close to our purpose and knowing we’re making a contribution. Could your meaning meter use a boost? Try this exercise: Make a list of all of the ways you contribute to people on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis. If you’ve never made a difference-making inventory, you may just be amazed. Better: If this rattles your sense of humility, ask a friend or family member to help you. And then help them with theirs. Both of you will benefit.

Spiritual Practices: We all have a spiritual side and neglecting this can leave us feeling disconnected, drained, vulnerable, pessimistic, and even helpless and hopeless. Knowing what connects you to your spiritual side and scheduling regular, protected and even brief time for those practices is a key support to your resilience and investment in your mental wealth. These might include prayer, meditation, Scripture, gratitude journaling, worship and community, etc. I call one of my favorites, Devotions by Sunrise, and that is literally outside whenever the weather permits. What are yours?

I heard John C. Maxwell once ask, “Who’s the most important person you talk to all day?” The answer to that question happens to be the same as the most important person you can invest in on any given day – YOU. Just as financial wealth requires deposits, so does mental wealth, and the small daily choices you make will compound over time.

It’s never too late to invest in your mental health. Schedule mental wellness intentionally. Create healthy rhythms. Seek help early rather than waiting for crisis. Treat mental health maintenance as strength, not selfishness.

Building a life of mental wealth is within reach if you focus on these three pillars: Perspective gives understanding.

People provide connection and support.

Priority creates sustainable wellness.

Mental wealth is not built in a moment—it is cultivated through daily choices, healthy relationships, and intentional living. To your Mental Wealth, My Friend!