Mental Health Journal – March 14, 2025 – Improving Mental Health Brings Clear Vision

There are many advantages to having strong mental health. Whether one has a diagnosed mental health challenge or not when one’s mental health is strengthened this is a good thing! We all need to put into practice certain foundational elements that will be the building blocks to strong mental health.

Many of these foundational elements should be instilled in us when we are young. However, this is not always the case for everybody and much of our proper mental health practices will come later in life.

I have found that as my mental health strengthens it is like putting on a pair of glasses that brings clearer vision in the area of mental health. Also, as one begins to wear these glasses more consistently, one realizes that their previous sight was blurry and inadequate.

Pros & Cons To This Clearer Vision

Pros

1. One can see areas where they have grown and the areas that still need to be developed more clearly.
2. If one has a diagnosed mental illness like depression or anxiety this clearer vision will be a great stress relief. I have seen how my strengthening mental health has brought me relief in many areas that previously caused me stress.
3. Improving mental health brings a clearer vision that helps one navigate social situations far better than before. Less mistakes will be made and better relationships will be established.
4. One can see bad mental health habits in others more clearly. (This will be a pro and con). For the Pro side of this, the clearer vision helps one spot weaker or bad habits and personalities in others which aids in avoiding certain people and situations that could negatively impact one’s self. This does not necessarily mean they are bad people or weak people. It is about recognizing certain characteristics that promote or reveal a mental health concern. For example, when one is educated on narcissism, one can spot its traits more readily and avoid them in themselves and others.

Cons

1. The benefits of having stronger mental health and the clearer vision that comes with it only produce one real “con” in my view and that is the increased ability to see bad mental health habits and practices around you. Granted, there is a great upside to this which is detailed above. However, there are potentially negative aspects to this clear vision as well.
   1. For example, it can bring elements of depressive feelings when one begins to realize how rampant bad mental health is in people.
   2. While it can highlight certain people and situations to avoid, it can also highlight certain people and situations one is already in that are not promoting strong mental health habits and practices.
   3. A clearer vision creates a need for proper boundaries including distancing from someone you were close to previously.
   4. It can be difficult to navigate certain situations where bad mental health habits are unavoidable. For example, if one works for a narcissist or a horrible micromanager, one might not be able to remove themselves from that environment easily. One will have to find ways to exist in that situation while minimizing any negative impacts on their personal mental health. (They say ignorance can be bliss but this is not always the case either)

Far more could be said as these lists are not exhaustive. I would add that while there can be potentially negative effects from having stronger mental health that increases the clarity of one’s vision it is always the better option.

I would not give up the clarity from the strong “Mental Health Glasses” I have put on. It helps me know where and when to erect boundaries that have proven beneficial. It also led me to see areas that still need work. In many ways, I wish I could have had this clearer vision available to me decades ago. I am eager to navigate the rest of my life with the proper outlook and vision.