Humphrey Bogart, Claude Rains, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid
Think about one of your favorite movies for a minute. For me, Casablanca comes to mind (as one may expect from someone who is obsessed with old Hollywood!). Casablanca is comprised of an outstanding cast bringing colorful roles to life. Rick, Ilsa, Victor, Captain Louis Renault, Signor Ferrari, Carl, Sam, Major Heinrich Strasser, Ugarte…..
The movie would have been good if you removed one of these roles. It would have been good enough if you removed two of these roles. It would have been okay if you removed three of these roles (I mean, so long as they aren’t Rick, Ilsa, Victor, or the Captain!). BUT… now here’s where the magic hits the stage… when you have all the roles together and in place, what you have is a legend. A masterpiece that has stood the test of time.
It’s the same with many things in life. There are many components that make the hole. If you fall short on one or two… sometimes even three… you’ll probably be okay. But who wants to be okay when you can be a legend?!
When it comes to being physically healthy, there are Rick, Ilsa, Victor, Captain, and Sam roles:
- get plenty of sleep
- stay hydrated
- get plenty of fresh air
- get enough exercise
- eat a healthy diet
- etc..
The same is true with staying mental healthy, in fact, the roles for physical and mental health overlap, don’t they?!
However, when it comes to mental health, there’s an unexpected role (a real scene stealer a la Sam in Casablanca!) but (again, like Sam), it is essential because it sets the whole stage: Your Living Space. We set ourselves up for success or failure by the conditions with which we surround ourselves and the infographic below does an outstanding job of detailing the ways in which we can set ourselves up for better mental health and, in my opinion, better emotional health as well. Both of which will only have positive effects on our physical health.
Enjoy the infographic (click for the larger version) and read more about Optimizing your Living Space for Mental Health by clicking the link.
As for me, I’m going to take a break in my day and watch Casablanca… for probably the 100th time because, what can I say, I have a thing for legends.
Make each moment count double!
~Joi (“Joy”)
Infographic Source
