Introduction

Half of my blog is going to be more research, a fourth on books and movies that apply to my topic and another fourth will be on my two cents on the blog project.

Research

Looking through my blog I wanted to do more factual research. My research blog included more of my current knowledge. I want to learn more about the subject. I am also answering some questions from my very first blog post.

Definition of mental health: A state of emotional and social well-being in which the individual can cope with the normal stresses of life and achieve is or her potential.

Characteristics of mental wellness

·         A sense of contentment

·         Think positive

·         A passion for living and the ability to laugh and have fun

·         The ability to deal with stress and recover appropriately from adversities

·         A sense of meaning and purpose, in both their activities and in your relationships

·         The flexibility to learn new things and adapt to change

·         A balance between work and play

·         The ability to create and keep fulfilling relationships

·         Self-confidence and high self-esteem  

Importance of exercise

·        Can create new neurological pathways

·         Your brain will be worked and stimulated

·         Blood will be flowing to parts of the body carrying nutrients and endorphins that can raise your mental state of well-being.

·         You feel more ready to face challenges

·         Exercise reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression

·         Increase your self-esteem; A sense of satisfaction can be achieved

Why Care

If you are not mentally sound, everything else around your life seems more difficult. EVERYTHING. It will be harder to grow as a person when your mental state sucks.

Summarizing

It is important to stay attentive to your own well-being otherwise stress and negative emotions will build up and bring you down. Again maintain a balance between your responsibilities/work and things you enjoy. Take care of yourself so you can be better prepared to handle challenges when they come (new projects, multiple exams on the same day, sport tournaments). Also mental illness is very serious. The American culture especially does not take it seriously enough.

I got most of my information from these websites

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_5919.shtml

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mental+health

http://www.mypersonalimprovement.com/whatismentalhealth.shtml

Books and Movies

Books and movies I feel like get your brain going on self-improvements are:

It’s kind of a funny story- The book was written in 2006 and the author is Ned Vizzini. The movie was released in 2010 starring Keir Gilchrist, Zach Galifianakis, and Emma Roberts. The gist of the story is that a clinically depressed teenager checks himself into a psychiatric ward and how he reacts to it. It was really good and it gives you that feel good feeling at the end.

The perks of Being a Wallflower- The book was written in 1999 by Stephen Chbosky. The movie was released in 2012. It stars Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra miller. It is set in the early 90s about a boy making his way in high school and struggling with PTSD, depression, anxiety (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) from sexual abuse and his best friend’s suicide.

Catcher in the Rye-  Critics say this book and the perks of being a wallflower go hand in hand. It was written in 1951 by J.D. Sanlinger. It is about a boy dealing with his younger brother’s death (PTSD again). He is also learning about the adult world and how to handle it.

The House of the Scorpion- It was written in 2002 by Nancy Farmer. It set in a futurist country between America and Mexico. The main character is a boy who is also a clone. He tries to find meaning in his life and understand it. At one point he is left in a cell and treated like an animal. He does not talk to humans or so long he becomes very primitive and animal-like himself. This part of the book boggled my mind. Later as the book continues, you read about how he recovers from that traumatic event.

Review of My Blog

Since I have always had a fascination on the topic of psychology, it was nice to research it. I enjoyed writing about information, including videos, books, movies, songs, that I already knew about. It gave that “useless” information more meaning. Again I have always enjoyed understanding how people work and why they act certain ways, so I liked researching about it. I am bitter-sweet about finishing the project. 

Post-Interview

Introduction

My blog has a bias due to my age, naivety, and personality. This interview was from the eyes of an adult who knows a thing or two about life. Getting his view on mental mindsets and improvements was interesting. My dad was always really busy with work, school, and family while growing up so he probably did not ponder about my blog topic much. Also if you have seen the sitcom That 70s show, Red Forman (military, strict father) is practically the same person as my dad.

My thoughts on the Interview

My dad is a simple man. I should have known that he would have responded in that manner. Some of my questions I asked I thought would reveal some really deep emotional story. But most of the time it was a simple, straight forward response. He answered many times with: Not that I can think of, nope, or never. I had to pry at his answers and ask follow up questions to get more details. But he did share some wisdom. With his studies (and life) he never let himself get overwhelmed and fall into self-doubt. He was able to handle everything one step at a time. He found where he wanted to go to college and like he said, he made decisions from there. From his interview it did not sound like he was very worried about his future.

Lessons

He had good habits ingrained in him, hard work and discipline which led to his success. Whatever goal/dream you are trying to achieve stay focused and do not give up. Also the classic motto, take the high road. Even though my dad hurt a guy’s flying career it was for the best. I also really liked his two cents on the idea of regret. You are always going to choose what you think is best. Do not regret that from what information comes later from your choice. I liked his thoughts on the quote “Is the just man happier than the unjust man?” from Plato’s Republic. I agree with my dad, that integrity is all one has. Always do what you believe is right. These characteristics will lead to success.

Connections

My interview was a success. I was able to obtain information on my topic, mental mindsets and improvements. From his comments I really just pulled out one needs to have confidence and a goal to chase. Find what you want to do and focus in on it. More choices will naturally unravel from it. Also I his thoughts on regret apply to my decision making for college. I have noticed that I am afraid of failure and regret (like I won’t be good at my major or enjoy it). I should not regret anything I have not tried.

Conclusion on the Interview

I should have been a little more prepared for the interview and I wish I did it early in the week. Also due to the fact it was my dad I was probably too casual and comfortable with him. I thought him being a military man he would have an interesting opinions on mental matters and he did. 

Interview

I interviewed my dad. He seems like he has always had it put together from the very beginning. I interviewed him to see if I could get any insight from him on my topic of self-improvements and mental mindsets.

What is the difference between pre-military rick and post-military rick?

“Not a lot. I was pretty disciplined before and goal oriented. The naval academy and then service in the military just sharpened and focused traits I already had. I have stronger friendships after the Navy as well. Post-military, I appreciate my family and life more. I went through some long deployments and some interesting situations while in the Navy.”

He asked his wife if he missed anything, they were high school sweethearts, because he was struggling with the answer.

How do you think the military affected your mental capabilities?

“Again, it intensified characteristics I already had. I could think quick and had a good memory. As a carrier based naval aviator I had to think quick because you had to compute things in your head, navigate an airplane, talk on the radio, direct your flight, etc. It also helped me become a good problem solver. Helped me look at all the possible permutations to a problem and consider all the what ifs.”

What are affects did the military have on you personally? Was it ever mentally staining or overwhelming?

“It was never overwhelming. There were times when it was mentally straining primarily being away from my family. I served on active duty in the navy for 24 years and spent almost 6 years of that time at sea, on a ship, away from home. I also spent a lot of other time away from home either on deployments or the 90 days I spent in Saudi Arabia in 1992-93. That was the main thing.”

                            

Was there a time where your morals were tested in the military? What was going through your head?

“No, not really. I never had to do anything that I felt like went against my morals.  Once as a squadron commander I had a junior officer pilot who was not cutting the mustard.  The easy thing would have been to let it go and let the next unit deal with it.  I chose to confront the situation and offered him the choice of removing himself from flying duty or facing a punitive board.  I also killed his flying career with a bad evaluation – bad for him but at least he didn’t kill himself or someone else as a poor pilot.”

What are your thoughts on this quote “Is the just man happier than the unjust man”?

“I think it is true, because at the end of the day integrity, your own personal integrity is all you have. And if you are not “just” then whatever happiness you may have is not lasting or may have been obtained with other than honest means or aren’t lasting”

While growing up was there anyone you admired? What characteristics did you admire about them?

“Yeah, lots of people. I admired my dad. I admired my high school football coach. I admired Dick Butkus, he was a pro-football player, and Bart Starr. He was another pro football player.”

“I admired them because they were hard-working and honest. Bart Starr was a Christian man. I admired Dick Butkus because he was a mean football player and I wanted to be like him.”

Who influenced you while growing up?

“My dad, my coaches and teachers.  Coach Tolleson and a high school teacher named Elmo Dunn.” Coach Tolleson is the guy who told me he thought I should go to one of the service academies.

What did you like about the teacher?

“Elmo Dunn challenged me to think and study. He taught physics and mythology.”

Was there ever a time where you were unsure about your future i.e. college, job field, marriage?

“Not unsure in that I wouldn’t be successful - not really. I was a pretty confident (might say cocky) kid.  I made one decision to apply to the service academies which put me into the naval academy and set in motion the rest of my life. I always had choices. Once I picked the naval academy and got through the first half year I was never really uncertain of my future – lots of different options opened up for me.  I was very lucky in that your Mom said yes to marrying me.”

Did school or college ever stress you out?

“Yes.”

How did you deal with it? What methods did you use to stay relaxed?

“It was hard. We opened the windows during finals and yelled. We played silly games – I am the Bancroft Hall grape catching in my mouth from 10 feet champion of 1979. I played a sport which helped. I was the Valedictorian of my high school. I thought I was a big dog. Then I went to the naval academy, and I had to work the hardest I ever had – I made a “D” in college.  I only made 1 or 2 “B’s” all of high school.  I managed to graduate in the top 3^rd of my class though. “

What do you think leads to personal success?

“Discipline and hard work.”

How do you avoid avoid regret?

“Realize that when you make a decision, you make it with the best information of have at the time. If information comes later, remember you didn’t when you made your decision.”

Introduction

I’m touching on many different topics of self-improvement in this blog. But I am mostly focusing on problems for young people. The more I think about my topic of self-improvement and i find myself thinking about what worries me. College. I have at many times this year been falling down that worrisome downward spiral; I have been consumed with fearing my future and making mistakes.  I am going to write about how to take baby steps to staying relaxed. I have found myself trying to take things one step at a time. This applies to soccer, homework, and big projects.

Less Stress

I recently just cashed in three more applications and some other random important paperwork for colleges. Right now I am just focusing on applying. I am unsure with what college I want to go to for the next four years, but I am trying to not worry about that part yet. Like I said earlier, I am just taking this one step at a time and I find myself less stressed if I can fully immerse myself in that mindset. So I guess that is my personal two cents on how to stay unstressed. Chop up challenges into bite size pieces.

Your Niche

Moving onto another note, I believe if you want to find more inner peace you need to find something that makes you happy. An easy fall back if you do not know what to do is community service. You can always find happiness in helping others.

Find something that makes YOU happy. Warning, you should not find happiness in someone else. People are not concrete or permanent. You need to be able to bring your own self happiness to some degree.

Find something you can lose yourself in and forget about your worries For example, working out, reading,  sports, movies, music, taking care of the elderly, whatever it is haha.

Do something

Get off that couch. If you have goals and wishes don’t just think about them. Start, face them head on. Put time aside during the week to start your work toward goal. Making habits of things that will help you uncover your goal, proven fact.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYt4gismyiI

Here is a TedX talk of Alex Day, a musican, running after one of his dreams.

The three main points of this if you don’t want to watch it.

A) Always chase unrealistic goals

B) The world is bonkers and you can never anticipate what it will be like

C) Never let that stop you

Conclusion

I am just trying to express inner qualities I think we (future college students) need to develop and find to be less worried about our future and be more solid creatures.

Summarizing

1)     Do not be overwhelmed with the whole problem (for example your future), look at small parts of it and take it step by step

2)     Find things that make you happy (creating art to taking jogs in the park)
3)     Take action!

Here is a college student finding his path in life and I feel like it applies to what I blogged about. two four-minute videos, they are funny and have some foul language.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0HkSWVsYOw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDG342_AJVE

Thought provoking, encouraging, and connects to what I just discussed. 

Self Improvements

I chose the subject of self improvements.I picked this topic because i constantly find myself pondering ways to improve. I try to have habits that will raise my happiness and confidence. For a random example, I try not to compare myself to others, find the happy-medium of things, or look at the brighter side of situations. This topic is a part of my life style. I am going to focus more on the mental, intellectual side of self improvements than physical improvements. I might touch on some points of physical well being (exercise and such), but probably not in much detail. I want to explore what makes others happy and how people can find peace within themselves. To find peace, people usually need to come to terms with problems and change some ways of thinking. I might tie in some ways people find happiness or inner peace in leisure activities too. For me I find drawing, music, and reading to be calming. I find some happiness in learning and expanding my mind. Connecting this topic back to my life, i tried to not have too much of a laid back senior year (not trying to sound snobby).

I remember watching this one video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SpwBmhR1go) and it is pretty cheesy, but point 5 is something I will probably blog about. It was "you think you are not doing enough". You are your harshest critic and constantly want to compare yourself to others. So I want to explore the idea of being satisfied with your work or taking breaks and actually being okay with it. As in, taking breaks without feeling guilty or for a way to procrastinate. I might dabble in the American culture in that department. America is such a work orientated country; it is becoming the meaning of life here. A random quote that I think applies to what I am writing about "We mostly work to live, until we live to work" - Vampire Weekend. I want to find the mental nirvana in work/responsibilities and rest. I have a bad habit of feeling guilty when I am not working. There is always something I could be doing right now. For example, applying to college, studying for the ACT/SAT, doing homework, working ahead, read the books I have been trying to read forever on my nightstand. I predict that I might run into answers that will have self-truths. As in the "answer" will have to have one’s own personal spin on it. Self-improvements not are the same for everyone and they may want to alter it. What I find will be what I THINK will better everyone, but everyone does not fit in the cookie cutter square. So people will again, and should take their own version of some answers. I hope I can write what I find clearly and interest others. I may try to be an experiment and follow these "guidelines". I might record my thought, reactions or struggles.