Getting in The Right State (2015)

• Are you enjoying a happy life?
• Are you able to interact with others in a positive manner?
• Are you aware that certain matters are worth ignoring?
• Are you able to discern what’s right from what’s wrong?
• Are you productive enough to take pleasure in a whole day of work?
• Are you currently in the right state?

These are among the questions you need to be asking yourself to realize whether you’re in the right state or not. Before anything else, however, find out more about what this “state” is.

• Definition of State

State is defined as a stage of psychological well-being, or the absence of a mental disorder. Looking from the “holism” or “positive psychology” point of view, your state may take into account an individual's capacity to enjoy his or her life and produce a balance between life efforts and activities to achieve a good psychological spirit.

Also, state can be identified as how you express your emotions as well as how you successfully adapt to a series of demands. It includes your psychological, emotional, and social welfare. It has an effect on how we think, act and feel and helps establish how people relate to others, deal with stress, and make choices. Your state is vital at every stage of life, from childhood to adolescence and all throughout adulthood.

Through the direction of your life, if you experience mental state problems, your mood, thinking, and behavior could be influenced. Various factors play a part in mental state concerns. These factors include:

• Biological aspects e.g. genes or brain chemistry
• Family history of mental health problems
• Life events such as abuse or trauma

Problems regarding your state of mind are quite conventional. Remember that assistance is always available. If you need help, learn to be verbal about it and don’t hold back from reaching out to others. As people with mind problems can get better, a lot are known to improve fully and completely, so you need to act on the matter instantaneously.

• Five Common Types of Mental States

1. Attention

Attention, as a cognitive process, is referred to as your ability to acknowledge your resources. It is the relationship between you and your consciousness. The most determining factors of your outlook in life are the matters you choose to dwell on.

2. Contact

Your availability is a mental state that characterizes how you allow yourself to be affected by random situations. If you’re unreserved, you tend to be more vulnerable to possible distractions; if you’re occupied, on the other hand, you’re able to focus more on the current circumstances.

3. One-Pointedness

One-pointedness, or ekaggata in Buddhism, is among the most important mental states. It is your drive to keep up with your priorities. Despite having multiple matters to deal with, if the trait is in you, you won’t easily be swayed to an unintended direction.

4. Perception

Your ability to organize then interpret is termed as perception. There may be various factors that come into play without your consent but how they affect you depends on your approach.

5. Volition

Volition refers to your willingness to undertake a challenge. Often, you may find yourself assigned to tasks you feel you could be better off without. In such a case, you make decisions whether you’ll be bold enough or be resistant. Either way, it’s up to you. If not in the right state, your choice might not be as beneficial compared to when you have a clear head.

• The Plus Side of Being in the Right State

There’s a plus side in being in the right state. Benefits include being more conscious of your presence along with your surroundings. The number of good things that come with a sharp and conditioned mind is limitless. When you’re at your best, make sure that you embrace it.

By being in the right state, some of the things you can enjoy include:

• A boosted brainpower
• A sense of calmness
• An increased number of happy chemicals
• An improved productivity
• An improved self-confidence
• Better relaxation
• Better sex drive
• More creative juices
• Predictable sleep patterns
• Reduced stress levels

These things that you can enjoy won’t be attainable if you’re not in the proper state. Hungry? You can’t relax. Sleepy? You can’t work… among other things.

• The Perils of Not Being in the Right State

Not being in the right state leaves you in peril. It leaves you with additional problems. You’d mistake it as the other way around but actually, it’s your mind that dictates how you’d feel the entire day. If you don’t think your mental condition plays a vital role in your daily activities, that’s where you’re wrong.

By not being in the right state, you’ll be in danger of:

• Addiction (alcohol, drugs, or sex)
• Anxiety
• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Cyclothymia
• Dementia
• Over-fatigue
• Schizophrenia
• Self-esteem complications