This post is an overview of how to construct your own mental health. I believe it’s a process you need to go through that pays dividends in perpetuity. Ideally you go through this early in life (early twenties), which then serves as your mental bedrock. I wrote a bit about this in my other post.
Building your own mental structure roughly follows the path of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. You start at the bottom and build your way to the top. It sounds simple, but a lot of people struggle with it. The process is very similar to building a house. We’ll use this analogy throughout this overview.
- The foundation
It all starts with a solid foundation. These are the basic elements humans need to live:
- Good quality sleep
- Healthy nutrition
- Regular physical exercise
- Social contact
These are very obvious and simple, yet most people fail at having good habits for even half of them. When was the last time you slept 8 hours (no alcohol/other drugs)? How regularly do you work out? What are you eating? When was the last time you saw your friends/family?
These clearly correspond the first 3 levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs: Physiological, Safety, Love & Belonging.
The key insight here is that the foundation is just these 4 areas. It’s an exhaustive list. Cut out everything else and focus on shaping those. Ignore everything else!
I recommend this book to get core habits for these areas in place. Check this book to learn about our brain and sleep.
2. First and second floors
This is the level where most people start. They want to do X, desire Y, want to be part of W, be seen as Z,… It’s the part others can see. It’s where our social brain craves for approval from others. Without building a foundation, this leads to problems. The whole thing will inevitably come crashing down once things get tough.
This corresponds quite well with the ‘Esteem’ level of Maslow’s Pyramid. I believe it’s a direct extension of the foundation:
Sleep => Good mental state => creativity and sharp mind
Excercise, healthy nutrition=> healthy body that looks good => self confidence, self esteem, discipline
Social Contact => Respect of others and by others
Confidence, discipline, creativity, and a social support circle are the outcomes of having solid foundational inputs.
3. The Attic
I like to compare self-actualization to the attic. (~ the brain) Once you get here, your other systems are in good condition and supported by strong healthy habits. This opens up mental space and time to spend on expressing yourself. You build a house not by having the goal of building a house, but by having a system and a plan.
Life is simple, we just like to make it complex. If you have good habits serving your basic physiological needs, you’re 60% there. (3/5 on the Hierarchy of Needs). I enjoyed reading Naval’s tweet on this topic today:
A recipe for life in a tweet.