I've noticed that we don't see a lot of mass media protecting our mental health today. There's plenty of focus on nutrition, staying physically healthy, and trying to prevent ourselves from being sick, but I don't see a whole lot of focus particularly on mental health. There are people out there that are feeling like there is no hope, feeling like they have to commit suicide, or feeling like they'll always be depressed because of outside things that are happening to them. The problem is that we have to protect ourselves from what is happening and being brought into our lives. We can't just let anything or anyone into our lives that comes upon us. We have to be selective with our lives. We have to be protective.

What you focus on is what you feel. I know a lot of people will tell me that hard times still come and remain front and center whether you want them to or not. I get that one hundred percent. Hard times are hard times, and "deciding not to be depressed" isn't exactly an easy solution when you feel like you're drowning. This is why you have to work on your mental health day in and day out.

So, what does that look like? It may mean being diligent about doing the things that bring you peace like reading a book, meditating, praying, or working out more often. Many of us aren't even eating the right foods, and our lack of energy is contributing to our mental health struggles. Too many of us believe everything the media tells us about what we want and who we are on the inside. We have to stop listening to all of these external sources about our own lives and start looking inward to find what's good for us. It's time for you to examine your own life. Find out what you're not doing that's making you feel miserable. Call a friend and talk to them about what makes them happy, or what they've seen in you that hasn't been true to yourself and your own mental health lately.

Talk to others about what you are feeling because expressing yourself is healing. Therapy is healing. Stop saying you're good when you're not good. Don't be afraid to talk to others about what you're going through. If you keep all of your pain and your struggle bottled up, it is going to affect you. I promise you that stuff doesn't just go away if you ignore it. You have to address it. You have to work through it.

I don't want this to get to a point where you feel like depression or even suicide are the best option. You have to put yourself in the position to begin healing. For many people, that means getting outside. I'm writing this from my garage right now because this is my office and my gym, and I feel better when I'm physically in this space. Start putting yourself in the places that are going to be most healing for you.

It all starts with you.