I’m writing this before we know the election results, so I hope this finds all humans acting human. I look forward to less drama and more civility in our homes, communities, and country. If you’re reading this, your team either won or lost, the world didn’t end, and the sun came up like it always does. And I still Love Lucy!

Now is an appropriate time to discuss three words: Thankfulness, Hope, and Balance—three topics pertinent to mental wellness.

Thankfulness: Saying “Thank you” to someone who holds the door for me is sincere. “Thanks for all you do” or  “Thanks for lunch” are genuine and honest. But living a life of thankfulness is more profound, broader, and more personal. It is internal. It is often general in nature and automatic. When I look at flowers, sunsets, or stars, a thankfulness flows through me—it is a feeling—a physical and emotional feeling. I call it a free, unencumbered gift.

I just described a thankfulness that embraces me only when caring for myself. If I don’t eat colorfully, sleep well, or say the words, I can still be thankful, but it is more difficult and not as spontaneous.

Hope: Hope is a skill, habit, or belief. Having hope when the world seems hopeless and I feel helpless to make a difference is the lifeline to breathing. There is much pain and suffering in the world, and knowing how to find hope when none seems available is truly a key to survival, thriving, and finding a purpose for living, laughing, and giving. Hope gets me through tough times, harsh words, and loss. Hope lets my feet hit the floor in the morning and helps me say to the mirror, “Today is going to be a great day because I said it will.” Hope is something you never want to lose or throw away.

Balance: Oh, the magic word—balance—in movement, nutrients, thoughts, love, giving, receiving—balance is vital. All or nothing, white or black, always or never, are not included in balanced living. I don’t believe there is a stronger English word for improving mental wellness than balance. If I balance what I think, feel, and do, it is hard to knock me down, and if someone does, which they will, it is easier to bounce back up. When I fall into a dark hole, I know something in me is out of balance.

Those three words, thankfulness, hope, and balance are my contribution for this November 7th, two days after the 2024 General Election.

Are you thankful? Do you have hope? If not, you likely need to tackle your balance. Start with what runs around between your ears.

Until the next time: Live while you live.

Jennifer Goble, Ph.D., LPC, is the author of “My Clients…My Teachers,” and the blogger and writer of Rural Women Stories: www.ruralwomenstories.com.

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