MAINTAINING PSYCHOLOGICAL BALANCE

MAINTAINING PSYCHOLOGICAL BALANCE
INTRODUCTION“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (cowardice, of craven, and cringing and fawning fear), but (He has given us a spirit) of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.” 2Timothy 1:7
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Psychological: of or pertaining to psychology.
Psychology: mental, emotional, and behavioural characteristics pertaining to a specified person, group or activity.
Balance: a state of equilibrium; mental health, calmness, a state of remaining clear-headed and unperturbed.
Maintain: to keep up, to preserve, to uphold (a state, condition)
Psychology is a serious academic and clinical discipline. It is also a term that has become part of the contemporary thought and conversation of our culture. As such, the idea of psychological balance is confusing and often meaningless to people. The effort to understand and create a psychological balance is on-going throughout a lifetime and through the changes that come with the arrival at and the passage through different life stages. This process is an individual one. Each person must create a process that fits their unique background personality characteristics and the particular time in their life. What then is common to applying the concept of psychological balance in the process of health and healing?Perhaps the first concept to consider is that of balance. Extremes of emotion can be wonderful. Peak experiences such as gaining admission into college, graduation from school, new relationships, travelling adventures and experiences, and other accomplishments that denote arrival and or success are an important part of a fulfilled life. On the other hand we will inevitably experience bitter disappointments and the painful loss in our lifetimes.
A balanced life is not disrupted by the extremes but rather enriched by them. One neither seeks the extremes nor avoids them. Our culture is all about having “peak” experiences. We are sold on the idea that seeking these experiences is the key to a good life. There is no end to the advertising of new popular psychologies, new medications, new technologies, and special events that will lead us to the peak experiences and a fulfilling life. The goal is to see through the hype that attempts to develop a craving for the peak experience and thus create a market for the products that will lead to the experience. Peak experiences are certainly an important part of the fabric of life. They create richness to our lives. However, to experience the pleasure and value in the background events that forms the warp and weave of the fabric of our lives, without succumbing to the seduction of peak experience, is a key component of psychological balance. Flexibility and resilience are valuable to any system whether it is a structure such as a bridge or a living system. The issue of balance emphasizes the value of constancy and equanimity.
Flexibility is the ability to adapt to changing demands from within us, (illness, and internal stressors) and demands from outside ourselves, (Academic stress, illness in family members, new social obligations). Some small part of our ability to adapt is inherited, (wired into our genetic material). The larger part of our adaptability is acquired. We learn adaptive behaviours from our family, our community and the society at large. Unfortunately, we also learn maladaptive behaviours. Achieving optimal health and maintaining it requires a willingness to adapt to change. At times this is difficult to achieve.  I see good professional counselling as a valuable way to gain insight into our behaviour: our strengths and weaknesses. From insight we can make constructive change.
Resilience and flexibility allow us to develop a sense of confidence in responding to change. This creates self-esteem, the ability to trust our own instincts and the ability to create trusting and nurturing relationships with others.
These behavioural characteristics are important to psychological health. They are also important to physical health. The field of psychoneuroimmunology describes the relationship between the way we process our experience, (psychological reaction), to immunologic balance and hormonal balance. Simply stated, our attitude towards life Being a teen in the twenty first century could be a lot difficult to actually striking a balance. It is easy to get weighed down with the pressures of academics, social life, relationships and choosing a career. If you have not learned the skill of managing your psychology, you can feel overwhelmed . . . and lose your balance.
CHARACTERISTICS OF YOUTHS WITH BALANCED PSYCHOLOGY
1. sense of contentment: this describes a teen’s life without desperation for success, wealth, sexual abuse etc., which is borne out of concept and culture of survival. 1Tim.6:6.A zest for living and the ability to laugh and have fun: living without the sense of passion and fulfilment makes living a burden. The frustrations experienced by teens as a result of their inability to manage pressures from the ‘constantly changing environment’ has led to loads of them engaging in practices such as alcoholism, prostitution, sexual perversion, drug addiction, armed robbery etc. Ecc.11:9-10
2. The ability to deal with stress and bounce back from adversity: it is so absurd that several teens today think that life is a bed of roses. They live reactively; being situational about life, thereby ending up as failures and victims of circumstances. Ecc.12:1A 3. sense of meaning and purpose, in both their activities and their relationships: “When purpose is not known abuse is inevitable.” Dr. Myles Munroe. A balanced mental and emotional health gives you a sense of meaning in whatsoever you do. Judges 11.
4. The flexibility to learn new things and adapt to change: a balanced psychology keeps you in a state of proactivity, being innovative, inventiveness and creativity. According to a psychiatric consultant that said that, ‘over 90% of Nigerians are mentally impaired’.
5. A balance between work and play, rest and activity: this means ability to understand the dangers of multitasking yourself, time management etc. it means being organized as a teen.
6. The ability to build and maintain fulfilling relationships: only teens with balanced psychologies build such relationships. These are some of the reasons why teens go into intimate relationships, they are: low self-esteem, lack of self-identity, Self-confidence and high self-esteem: this is a product of a good self-image from ‘who God says you are’ as a teen. Gen.1:26-28.These positive characteristics of mental and emotional health allow you to participate in life to the fullest extent possible through productive, meaningful activities and strong relationships. These positive characteristics also help you cope when faced with life's challenges and stresses.
SOURCES OF PRESSURE OR CHALLENGES TO YOUTHS
The youthful years are commonly a very difficult time in a young adult’s life. Internal changes, both physically and mentally, combined with external challenges might result in issues arising. Depression is a common occurrence as there might not always be a person or support structure to turn to. However in the bigger picture, there is often a variety of issues that youths are exposed to or might personally be dealing with. In many cases, youths find themselves trying to make sense of a situation that is often out of their control: Parental divorce, financial pressures, Peer Pressure, Discrimination, Rape, family Issues Loneliness and Isolation, death of a Loved One, Unplanned Pregnancy, Identity Confusion, pressures from Family, medical Problems, recent or Past Sexual or Physical Assault, cultural Oppression, discrimination. In the haze of confusion, looking for comfort or a “comfort zone” has the potential to steer an individual into a spiralling zone of self-damage. Eating Disorders (weight gain and weight loss), substance Abuse, self- Mutilation, social Problems, isolation, suicide, sex, depression, bullying, armed robbery, etc.
CASE STUDIES
1. Joseph: he went through physical abuse, sexual abuse, societal discrimination from family members and the society respectively. Gen.37, 39.
2. Jephthah: his mother was not legally married to his father; he went through discrimination from siblings and kinsmen but was able to manage it. Judges 11.
3. Jesus: there was a controversy about His birth, He had a background of mediocrity, and He was discriminated by His kinsmen and the society at large, including religious and political leaders alike. Mk.6:1-5.
4. Caleb & Joshua: were despised by friends. Num.13:25-33
5. Cosmas Madukka: he was despised by his uncle, discriminated by friends and the society but emerged a success story in business today.
6. Lionel Messy: had a challenge with his growth.
7. Oprah Winfrey: faced financial pressure, sexually assaulted, and discriminated by whites.
8. Pastor E. A. Adeboye: experienced financial hardship hails from a background of mediocrity but ended up becoming a world renowned spiritual leader.
MAINTAINING A PSYCHOLOGICAL BALANCE: HOW?
1. Understand that problems are inevitable; they are part of human existence (of a truth, some are incorporated into your destiny).
2. Understand that you are responsible for the consequences of your choices and behaviours, such as depression, loneliness, substance abuse, aggressive actions, eating disorders etc. Always note that; ‘decisions determines destiny’.
3. Explore and clarify your feelings: Feeling anxious, depressed, or angry at times is understandable, normal, and perhaps even unavoidable given all the pressure of college life. It's a way for your body and mind to tell you there is too much going on, you're juggling too many things, and you're not getting enough support. Becoming more aware of your feelings is the first step to resolving a problem. It gives you the option to express your feelings directly and assertively rather than acting them out in aggressive or self-destructive behaviours. Honestly acknowledging your feelings may help you avoid losing your balance completely by warning you to: get support, analyse your thinking, clarify your needs, prepare yourself, get needed information, set limits
4. Adopt spiritual values and principles as the determinant of your attitude, responses and behaviours.
5. Positive thinking; change your perspective
6. Take it to God in prayer
7. Develop your esteem from God and not from academic, material, financial or human factors respectively.
Conclusively, you are a candidate of destiny! Therefore, maintain your psychology! You will succeed in Jesus name. Amen