Discovering new hobbies is a great technique for developing a positive mental health routine and in my case it’s been sake. Since setting off on my journey into the world of nihonshu, I’ve found it’s been a positive experience during times of poor mental health and I wanted to share four ways in which it’s helped.
Continue reading “4 Ways In Which Sake Has Helped My Mental Health”
In recent years, mental health has become an important debate that people are discussing all over the globe. Men and women are opening up about their experiences with conditions like anxiety, but despite this progress, there is still an ingrained stigma attached to mental health, with many choosing to suffer in silence.
Creative mediums such as TV and comics can drive the discussion about mental health and help to break down the stigma of talking about it in public. By seeing fictional characters go through relatable struggles, fans might feel inspired to share their experiences with others and make positive steps towards managing a disorder.
A franchise that does an excellent job of portraying mental health in pop culture is One-Punch Man. With a mixture of comic and celebrity culture themes, One-Punch Man follows the story of Saitama, the most powerful superhero in the world who is on a mission to find an opponent worth fighting.
But for all of Saitama’s strength, he has constantly battled with depression and it’s proven to be the only opponent he cannot defeat with one punch. Mental health is one of the most important themes of One Punch Man, so let’s explore it in greater depth. Continue reading “Punching Depression In The Face: An Exploration Of Mental Health In One-Punch Man”
In recent years, Japanese philosophy has had a profound effect on the West. Practices such as ikigai and yugen have become popular for developing a positive mental health routine. Yet one of the earliest Japanese practices to take off in the West happened to be an amalgamation of both cultures called kaizen.
A Japanese noun for ‘improvement,’ kaizen is all about making continuous change throughout life. In Kaizen: The Japanese Method Of Transforming Habits One Small Step at a Time, Sarah Harvey explores the practice in great detail. But rather than just being a typical self-help book, Harvey goes deeper by examining the history of kaizen and introducing psychological theory as well. Continue reading “Kaizen: The Japanese Method Of Transforming Habits One Small Step At A Time Review: Insightful And Resonant”
Talking about mental health is important. Whether you’re feeling down or suffer from a mental health disorder like anxiety, talk about it openly with someone you trust. Every culture has their own way of addressing mental health, and Japan has many kinds of wellness concepts. Ikigai, wabi sabi and kintsugi are some of the most well-known examples.
A Japanese concept that I like to apply towards my own mental health is kika sai. Far from being some revolutionary new form of mindfulness, it’s just something I’ve made up. But I think the principles can be applied to all forms of mental health positivity. Continue reading “What is A Kika Sai Mentality?”
When it comes to looking after yourself, mental health is just as important as physical health. Talking about mental health disorders like anxiety and depression has become easier, but there are many people who still choose to suffer in silence. Finding a way to manage mental health can be tricky, but concepts like ikigai are useful for helping to develop coping strategies.
A Japanese mentality, ikigai roughly translates to ‘a reason for being’ and is a concept based around a person following their passion and having a reason to get up in the morning. Continue reading “How To Incorporate Ikigai Into Your Positive Mental Health Routine”
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