By Dr. Gbonjubola Abiri

A popular line from a song by the American vocal girl group ‘En Vogue’ states that you: “Free Your mind, and the rest will follow”. These iconic lyrics speak to a truth we very often overlook: mental freedom serves as the foundation for our emotional, relational and even spiritual wellbeing.

Quite often, we declutter our homes, our cars, our wardrobes, our stores and even our offices, but neglect the most important space of all, our minds. Today’s world is highly fast paced, with information overload, more virtual platforms for interactions, challenges in our personal and family lives as well as challenging happenings world over. We find that we are overwhelmed, disconnected and exhausted.

Mental freedom describes a method of consciously making space, internally and intentionally for the things that genuinely matter- peace, purpose, joy and clarity, amidst the chaos. This will ensure a renewed capacity to think, imagine, create and be mindful. Our minds may feel overwhelmed and chaotic with continuous thoughts, talk, worries, distractions which keep accumulating over time. When we expose ourselves to information overload either through our devices, or through the news, constantly remain on our devices, refusing to schedule break-times, allow for unclear boundaries and take on more than we can handle or suppress our emotions, bottling it all in and refusing to speak up or seek help via therapy, we are setting our minds up for failure.

Some of the signs of mental clutter include: chronic worry and anxiety, difficulty focusing, racing thoughts, inability to make decisions, undue irritability, mental exhaustion despite rest, holding on to unresolved emotional baggage and feeling disconnected in the present. While these signs do not necessarily mean there is something ‘wrong’, they are often an indicator that the mind may be overcrowded and in need of calm, quiet, stillness and rest.

To free our minds and ensure mental freedom, it is recommended that we do the following:

• Do a daily mental download as you write down your worries, fears, emotions and concerns.
• Learn to say ‘no’ to what drains you and ‘yes’ to what empowers you.
• Declutter your digital life as you silence non-essential notifications and have a digital fast from time to time.
• Pay attention to emotional baggage and let go of regret, guilt and resentment through therapy and forgiving others.
• Practice mindfulness as you bring attention to yourself, your breathing, check in with your body and happenings around you, without judgement

Mental freedom is not about a life devoid of problems or challenges, it ensures that we are free within, even when life isn’t perfect.

Remember, there is no health without mental health.