What does it mean to feel good, and how good can you feel?

Many of us are probably asked the question often, sometimes daily, 'How are you?'. The answer often comes automatically without a second thought, 'Fine, thanks'. But what does it really mean to feel good? Does it mean not having pain anywhere, that the body is functioning, being healthy? Or is it about feeling mentally well, feeling harmonious, happy, and content on a mental level? In this article, we explore what it means to feel good, and how you can optimize your well-being on both a physical and mental level.

The unity of body and mind

Our body is a whole, everything is connected, our mental and physical well-being reflect each other. For us to feel really good, both pieces must be in place. If I have pain in my back or a knee, it will affect my mental state and vice versa; if I feel mentally unwell, after a while I will also experience physical pain in my body. I will tense up, my shoulders will pull forward, my breathing will become shallow and forced, my diaphragm will lock up, I will adopt a completely different movement pattern, and my entire posture will collapse. Body and mind must therefore function in balance and harmony for us to feel as good as possible.

Responsibility and self-help

There is an old proverb that says; 'You are the smith of your own happiness'. It emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility, that actively taking care of both body and mind is absolutely crucial for feeling good. You cannot rely on others to fix your well-being. It is your own active work and it demands a great deal from you and can be difficult. Everything from managing and preventing physical pain to actively working for mental balance and satisfaction.

We are all different individuals and have different needs for what makes us happy and satisfied, so only you can determine what you need to feel good. This applies to both physical and mental problems; we have different thresholds for how much pain (physical and mental) we can handle before we start to feel really bad.

Encouragement and support

Even though the main responsibility lies with you, you should of course ask friends and loved ones for help, support, and encouragement. It is incredibly important to have someone to talk to, and you must dare to ask for help. Sometimes you may also need more professional support from an outsider. In the end, it is you who must do the biggest job, and take the step to get help.

Also remember that it is important to give of yourself to others. It often makes you feel more satisfied and content with yourself when you feel that you have helped someone or made someone else happy.

Not always a bed of roses

Even if you feel good and satisfied, you can of course sometimes be both sad and angry. Life happens around us all the time and things will constantly occur that make us both angry and sad. All emotions must be expressed, but if you feel good, physically and mentally, you are better equipped to handle anger and sorrow. One could also say that it is the sum of everything that affects how you feel; everything is not always a bed of roses. If you feel mentally satisfied with life, for example, have a stimulating job or family and friends who make you feel secure, you can handle setbacks better.

'Think positive thoughts' is not just a cliché; you become happier and more satisfied by thinking positively. Smiling and laughing, even artificially so to speak, sends signals to the brain so that you actually feel better.

What can I do to feel good?

There are a few things you can do to feel as good as possible. Make sure to feel as physically good in your body as you can! If you have the opportunity, go for a fascia treatment where you can get help to build up physical body balance, tips on exercises, and perhaps nutritional supplements, to allow for self-healing.

Incorporate breathing exercises with conscious deep breathing and nasal breathing a few times a day. It does more good for the body than you can imagine! You activate the diaphragm's movements, train the lungs, get better oxygen exchange, lower blood pressure, along with several other health-beneficial effects.

Make sure to eat clean ingredients and good food. Avoid processed food with lots of additives and unhealthy fats, as well as white sugar, to reduce inflammation in the body. Supplement with vitamins B, C, and D, as well as the minerals magnesium and zinc. Depending on your eating habits, other things may also need to be supplemented, for example if you are a vegetarian.

Build a social network! Try to keep in touch with friends you enjoy being with. Friends who give you energy and to whom you can give something back. Also make an effort to make new contacts, with neighbors, at meetups in your areas of interest, with colleagues, etc. Sometimes it can feel good to be alone and just be with yourself, but it should be a self-chosen solitude.

Walk in nature! Discover and SEE trees and plants, listen to birds, and smell the scents. Beautiful and calming regardless of the season. See how nature changes its appearance with the seasons! It provides a lot of positive energy.

Move your body, walk or jog in nature, go to a yoga class, or work out on your own. Just try to make it a regular routine. Movement and exercise don't have to be intense training but cause a sense of well-being to spread through the body. Going to the gym or yoga classes also means you meet others with the same 'interest'.

Is there a course or study group in your areas of interest that you can participate in? You deepen your knowledge while also getting the opportunity to make new contacts. It builds self-confidence.

If you try to adopt the tips above and actively work to feel as good as you can, you will also build a robust foundation for long-lasting well-being. Feeling good is a lifelong journey, and definitely a perishable good!