Everyday Better with Leah Smart How to Practice Mental Health Hygiene With Sociologist Corey Keyes
Sep 24, 2024
Corey Keyes, a sociologist and professor emeritus at Emory University, dives deep into the concepts of languishing and flourishing. He argues that true mental health isn’t merely the absence of illness but the presence of well-being. Keyes emphasizes the necessity of mental health hygiene and shares five essential practices for maintaining it. He critiques traditional therapeutic approaches for focusing only on symptoms, promoting instead proactive strategies that nurture personal growth and emotional connections.
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Languishing Defined
- Languishing is a state of mental weariness, like being mentally unhealthy.
- It's characterized by feeling empty, losing motivation, and a sense of disconnection.
Causes of Languishing
- Anything that denies one's sense of being seen, understood, and accepted can cause languishing.
- Examples include racism, discrimination, demoralization, and moral injury.
Acedia: Historical Languishing
- Languishing is not new; historical hints exist, like the eighth deadly sin, acedia.
- Acedia describes the feeling of longing for something lost and a sense of emptiness.