When the Body Teaches You About the Mind

 


About six months ago, I somehow injured my rotator cuff. It has cost me time, money, energy, my peace, and my sleep. It has been a long, frustrating journey.

I just finished five weeks of physical therapy. I am far from healed, and I have to keep doing exercises every other day. I am still in pain and still can't sleep well, even though both of those things are slowly getting better.

Yesterday, I realized something.

I have to do my shoulder stretches even when my shoulder feels better. Even on my best days with it, I have to stretch and ice it. Every single day. If I skip it, I suffer greatly, sometimes setting myself back for days.

My mental health is exactly the same way.

I must be mindful of the thoughts I am thinking. I must do self-care consistently, not just when I'm struggling. I have to pay attention to what I am putting into my mind, what music am I listening to? What podcasts and books am I consuming? Am I moving my body every day? Am I getting some sunshine, even if that just means opening the blinds today?

The work doesn't stop on the good days. 

The good days are actually because of the work.

Mental health maintenance isn't something you do when you're falling apart. It's what keeps you from falling apart in the first place. Just like my shoulder, if I neglect it, even briefly, I pay for it. And just like my shoulder, healing isn't linear. There are indeed setbacks. There are days that feel hopeless. But showing up consistently, even imperfectly, is what moves the needle.

So today I want to ask you, what is your daily maintenance? What are the non-negotiables that keep you steady? And are you doing them even on the good days?

Because the good days depend on it.

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