Nerian

Peter,

There's been some drama lately. Perhaps that's why you got a knee-jerk reaction. I'd still like to hear how you define psychological health. What are your goals specifically? For instance, are you interested in learning how to cope with situational depression? Are you trying to improve your relationships? Do you want to develop certain parts of your personality or to change them? That's what I'm trying to get at.

There are many facets of emotional well-being, and what is important to one person may not be important to another.

Thank you for your interest and explaining what's going on lol Very kind of you. I was pretty confused and wasn't sure how to proceed but assumed there must be something else going on.

I had depression in the past. I know what it's like to be psychologically unhealthy and have bad thought patterns entrenched and not have the inability to enjoy anything. I don't have it now, but I feel like there's still work to be done on my psychology. I would like to be better able to understand others and also not feel unworthy, etc. I found it quite funny that someone would presume I think I'm superior, as I'm more often than not feeling the opposite. I tell myself that I'm not, but I still get that feeling. This is what I consider to be psychologically unhealthy. I know I'm fine, but I don't always feel that way. Other things I struggle with is self-image problems, and feeling ugly, etc. Others around me seem much more at ease with themselves and with living life than I do.

Mainly, I want to regain some sense of daily enjoyment. I go to uni, I do my work as best I can, I get things done, I would not say I am enjoying it all. I sometimes feel satisfied, but I don't always feel good during the day. I think people around me must think I'm such a joyless, angry person, as I walk quickly, with a stern look on my face, lost in my thoughts, planning my day, my next action, and make no eye contact or make any attempt to be social, etc. lol. I guess you have caught me in my fuzzy idea of what I'm after, and I thank you for that. I'll have to have a good think about what it is specifically I'm after.

Sorry for the long post.

Peter seems a good guy in the little I read of his and responded to, at O.O.

Enthusiastic, smart and knowledgeable - also, Australian, but I won't hold it against him.

Thank you.

Hmm, I guess y'all are reading something into the guy's question that I am not. In any case, I should be clear that my response (define psychologically healthy) had a double intention. First, it's important for me to understand what he means in order to answer. Second, and more importantly, it's necessary for him to understand what he means in order to plan a course of action. Too many people embark on a journey to emotional health without a clear destination. There has to be goals, just like with physical health. However, there are no standards for emotional health as there are for physical health. There are no magical numbers like weight, BMI, blood pressure, etc.

As for resources, I'd venture to say that the only one that's absolutely necessary is the self.

I really thought it would be immediately understood. I found some definitions.

"a level of psychological well-being, or an absence of a mental disorder.[1][2] From the perspective of 'positive psychology' or 'holism', mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life, and create a balance between life activities and efforts to achieve psychological resilience.[1] Mental health can also be defined as an expression of emotions, and as signifying a successful adaptation to a range of demands."

"psychological and emotional well-being."

Good mental health is a sense of wellbeing, confidence and self-esteem. It enables us to fully enjoy and appreciate other people, day-to-day life and our environment. When we are mentally healthy we can:

• form positive relationships
• use our abilities to reach our potential
• deal with life’s challenges

Some areas I find I need to work on is doing what I have to do instead of procrasinating. I often obsess or compulsive think about a topic long after doing so is useful, and even then I may not take action, or I'll be unable to come to a decision because I'm obsessing over every little possible permutation of action and their every little consequence.

I have trouble sometimes talking to new people because I don't feel worthy. I especially don't feel comfortable socializing with girls because I feel like I have nothing to even talk to them about, and that they would have no reason to want to talk to me. I have sometimes issues with getting out of bed. Sometimes I feel anxious or stressed overly. Sometimes I don't think I'm enjoying things as I should, or don't feel much reward from doing well or achieving values. I feel like I should have done better or that what I'm doing of not of much significance. I think I am often far too serious-minded. I can't just go with the flow or enjoy the moment like many other people. I'm too lax sometimes on myself and other times I'm far too harsh.

Haven't you ever met someone who is just so relaxed, chill and happy with themselves, and who doesn't have a hard time making decisions and enjoying life? They are in touch with what they want, who they are, their purpose, their passions, they don't second guess themselves, and so on. There is no inner conflict. Their psychologly is healthy. Everything about them is inline. They do not care about what others think of them, and so on. Just a very psychologically health person. It's hard for me to come up with the complete concept as I thought it was something everyone immediately understood. Unless everyone else is completely mentally healthy from birth and it's just me who feels out of whack.

What can I do to become more psychologically healthy? What resources are there?

Since you're "enjoying life" just what is the problem?

--Brant

read Branden last big book, The Six Pillars of Self Esteem

It says 'interests', I'm interested in enjoying life. That doesn't mean I do it perfectly all the time. It means that's an interest of mine. Interest meaning "something that concerns, involves, draws the attention of, or arouses the curiosity of a person." I will have to delve completely into that book since I've found the parts I've read/listened to quite good. This is the kind of thing I'm talking about trying to find. I thought there would be other stuff concerning ones wider mental health or efficacy.

OK..Troll alert...

Adam,

Not a troll.

He's a guy named Peter and he posts under the same avatar on OO.

I think he is not too engaged right now because he leans in a direction Objectivism-wise we do not. I am not too sure of his opinion of the Brandens, but I suspect he is more in line with the Peikovian view than with ours.

That would explain the mockery you sense in the leading nature of the threads he has opened where they ape New-Age like questions. But I can't say it's mockery for sure. It just seems like it.

We have to wait until he deigns to talk to his inferiors.

Michael

I'm definitely not a troll. All my questions are completely sincere. I'm sorry if I've upset anyone here. I'm here to learn. I absolutely did not mean to rustle any feathers, and I am not trying to make a mockery of anyone or anything.

There is no doubt some history here that I'm unaware of, but I have no way of knowing what has happened here or in the community. I have no idea what the consensus is here on various topics.

I absolutely did not mean to be asking New-Age like questions. In what way are the New-Age like? Mental and emotional health is New Age?

I have little opinion on the Brandens. I have no idea what the forum consensus is on the Brandens. I've looked into some of Branden's stuff and found some of it to be quite good. I have an idea of the Branden-Rand split but I am interested in ideas only. If the ideas are good, then I'll take them.

I find both Peikoff and Kelley to be good. I wouldn't say I lean either way.

How am I not engaged?

"We have to wait until he deigns to talk to his inferiors." - What do you mean by this?

If you're a cranky irritable bastard, that's good, it means you're thinking. If you're in a good mood in means you're missing something. Try to figure out what you're missing. Paranoid is good, means you might live long enough to learn something.

But isn't the point of life to enjoy it and be happy? How can being irritable and cranky be good? How can that at all be rational? That would lessen your enjoyment of life. Can't you learn and thrive while also being in a good mood? If not, then what is the point of being alive? I know Objectivists don't consider merely existing as the goal but thriving qua man.

Is it OK to be in a good mood as you go about your day? (Assuming nothing bad has happened.)

Permit me to ask you a question.

How old are you?

None of your business is an acceptable answer.

A...

I'm 24.

A good reason to be in a good mood: you are alive.

That's a good point.

This might help:

New Age Bullshit Generator

Michael

I don't understand.

Peter writes:

I'm scared to be in a good mood for no reason.

That's not a good mood.

Greg

I don't understand your meaning.

I'm going to keep my eye on this dude.

Michael

How so?

I'm scared to be in a good mood for no reason. I think that if I wake up and I just feel good, and I feel good during the day that I won't have any motivation to do anything, and I will not see dangers, and my life will self destruct.

I'm fairly sure this is irrational. The better mood I'm in, the more productive I am, I think. But I can't shake the idea that I need a GOOD reason to be in a good mood, not merely in a good mood. On the other hand, to have a happy life, it seems clear to me that being in an optimistic, light, good mood most of the time is a great way to live. I've had those days and they are great.

Is it OK to be in a good mood as you go about your day? (Assuming nothing bad has happened.)

What can I do to become more psychologically healthy? What resources are there?

I'm looking for good self development content. A lot of them are too mystical. A lot of them believe in 'installing beliefs' because they are 'useful'. Even if they are ridiculous. Of course, this is not in line with Objectivist thought. Beliefs should be in line with actual reality. Many of them think you create reality with your mind.

Examples of things I have liked are Nathaniel Brandens stuff on self esteem and Brian Tracy on will power. I'm looking for more objective/rational people.

Democracy is working. People are getting what they vote for.

If you'd taken the time to listen to what Harriman is saying then you would not be confused. The mathematical formalisms are sound. It is quantum theory and the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics not quantum mechanics that is the problem. In terms of relativity, the mathematics is also correct. The mathematics can be correct while the fundamental theory is incorrect. And in case you were unaware, physics has reached an impasse, a real crisis, progress has halted and physicist are either despairing or believing they have figured everything out. The standard model is riddled with problems and fails to predict things. Modern cosmology fails and is constantly stumped and surprised. Quantum theory being a non-physical, non-causal theory is not physics.