Imagine walking up to a stranger on the street and asking, “How are you?” More often than not, the response will be a casual “I’m fine” or “I’m okay.” However, beneath these words often lies a tale of stress, exhaustion, and barely coping – a story that has become all too familiar. Rarely do you come across someone exclaiming, “I feel incredible; my mind is sharp, my focus is razor-sharp, and I sleep like a baby each night.” This level of mental vitality should be the standard, yet our society often falls short, leading many to believe that mental fitness is an elusive goal.
Unlocking Mental Wellness
Mental wellness is the encompassing structure that shapes our general physical health, and mental fitness represents the peak state of integrated mental wellness.
Where mental wellness seeks to balance, and mental fitness aims to optimize.
Mental fitness* translates to possessing psychological vigor – the antithesis of burnout. Vigor is a fusion of physical energy, mental sharpness, and emotional well-being bundled into a single state of flourishing. With vigor, you’re not just physically energized and mentally alert, but you’re also motivated, resilient, and a problem solver.
Conversely, languishing, the opposite of flourishing is a state that resides on the lower end of the mental fitness spectrum.
Signs of languishing may manifest as brain fog, difficulty focusing, low energy, disrupted sleep, diminished libido, and irritability.
Mental fitness spans a spectrum, mood states ranging from depression and burnout to a middle ground of functional but unremarkable well-being. Climbing higher up the spectrum, you attain mental fitness –operating at your peak, gaining an advantage in the race of life (Panfil, Panfil, and Talbott (2023)).
Understanding Mood States:
It is critical to distinguish between the mood states of depression, anxiety, lack of focus, and irritability and clinical disorders like depression, anxiety, ADD, and ADHD. Mood states are less intense and less specifically triggered. People typically describe moods as either positive or negative. Our role as mental fitness coaches involves nurturing a positive mood state in clients, enabling them to flourish in their pursuits.
Attributes of Fierce Planet Adventures Mental Fitness
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Physical fitness
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Optimized nutrition
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Confidence
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Abundant energy throughout the day
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Clear mind
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Sharp focus
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Mental toughness
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Emotional resilience
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High self-Esteem
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Fear inoculation
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Deeper connection with others
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The capacity to switch off and experience a rejuvenating night's sleep
Mental Fitness - The Fierce Planet Adventures Approach
Imagine exploring the dimensions of the human experience through an integrated lens known as the 5 mountains** (UNBEATABLE, 2023). This framework comprises five domains: physical, mental, emotional, intuitive awareness, and spiritual: cultivating an indomitable spirit, merging heart and mind in action.
Let’s take a panoramic view of each mountain, shedding light on the Fierce Planet Adventure approach to enhancing mental fitness. Our integrative approach not only creates the environment for psychological vigor but propels us towards self-actualization, harmonizing our physical, mental, emotional, intuitive, and spiritual dimensions. Progress in one mountain ripples across the others.
Climbing the 5 Mountains to Mental Fitness
Physical Mountain:
Ascending the physical mountain involves cultivating a resilient body, fostering mental clarity, and strengthening unwavering confidence. Our bodies serve as a reflection of our inner state and offer avenues to experience life fully. Activities such as movement, nutrition, sleep, and flexibility converge in this domain.
Mental Mountain:
Embarking on the mental mountain involves a holistic approach to enhance cognitive prowess. This journey encompasses sharpening cognitive IQ, cultivating adaptability, forging mental toughness, fostering a positive mindset, honing focus, and refining visualization skills. These skills empower individuals to navigate challenges, explore their inner selves, and excel in critical thinking and problem-solving.
Emotional Mountain:
Scaling the emotional mountain unearths baggage from our past that often obstructs progress. Cultivating emotional awareness allows us to identify the driving forces behind our behavior, both positive and negative. This heightened self-awareness empowers us to transform negative emotions into positive ones, fostering resilience and personal growth. This journey also deepens our connections with others.
Intuitive or Awareness Mountain:
Ascending the Intuitional Mountain unlocks the power of our sixth sense. Delving into our enteric nervous system, we become fluent in the language of intuition. Integrating the wisdom of our heart and gut feelings empowers us to make enlightened decisions, navigate complexities, and embrace intuitive guidance in all aspects of life. Activities such as time in nature, mindfulness, meditation, and somatic movement converge in this domain.
Spiritual Mountain:
The summit of the Spiritual Mountain beckons us to weave the wisdom of the preceding mountains into a tapestry of purposeful thoughts, actions, and service to humanity. It’s a sacred journey of unwavering determination, embracing self-mastery, and merging heart and mind in bold, positive action. This path cultivates spiritual strength and fosters authentic connections, driving positive change in the world.
Integrating the 5 Mountain Framework:
By embracing the 5 Mountain framework, we transition from languishing or feeling stuck to thriving with vigor – a state of physical energy, mental acuity, and emotional resilience. This journey propels us from the depths of mental turmoil to the heights of mental fitness, unlocking our true potential and enabling us to embrace all life offers.
Citations
Fierce Planet Adventures mental fitness coaching is based on the body of work of Dr. Shawn Talbott and includes his groundbreaking book “Mental Fitness: Maximizing Mood, Motivation, & Mental Wellness by Optimizing the Brain-Body-Biome”, our Mental Wellness Coaching Certification created by Dr. Talbott. And our podcast Mental Fitness and the GBX with Dr. Shawn Talbott -. 5 Mountain Adventures. https://fierceplanetadventures.com/5-mountain-adventures-podcast/mental-fitness-and-the-gbx-with-dr-shawn-talbott/)
* *The 5 Mountain model, developed by retired Navy SEAL Commander Mark Divine, forms the core of our coaching philosophy. (UNBEATABLE. (2023, August 1). Unbeatable Mind – Mark Divine Navy SEAL Mental Toughness training. Unbeatable Mind. https://unbeatablemind.com/)