Self-Care & Mental Wellness: Dr Margit Gabriele Muller On The Top Five Selfcare Practices That Improve Mental Wellness
An Interview With Maria Angelova
Making peace with the past is one of the most important parts of self-care. It allows us to move forward in life and unlock our true potential. When we let go of emotional baggage, it can free up energy that can be used for positive pursuits. Additionally, it eliminates mental clutter so that we can better focus on the present moment and make more mindful decisions.
Let’s face it. It seems that everyone is under a great deal of stress these days. This takes a toll on our mental wellness. What are some of the best self-care practices that we can use to help improve our mental wellness and mental well-being? In this interview series, we are talking to medical doctors, mental health professionals, health and wellness professionals, and experts about self-care or mental health who can share insights from their experience about How Each Of Us Can Use Self Care To Improve Our Mental Wellness. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Dr. Margit Gabriele Muller, Coach for Mental Health.
Dr. Margit Gabriele Muller is a award-winning mental health coach who is focused on helping businesswomen who suffer from the traumatic childhood of parental mental illness to heal their pasts with her online “Making Peace With Your Past in 3 Months” course and private one-on-one coaching sessions. In addition, Dr. Margit is a ICF Certified Professional Coach, Certified Master Life Coach, Certified NLP Master, Certified Life Purpose Coach, and Certified Happiness Life Coach.
In her capacity as Certified Mindfulness Practitioner, Dr. Margit has created the new online course “Everyday Mindfulness for Mental Wellness” and hosts a mindfulness and mediation group.
She is also the author of the award-winning book “Your Pet, Your Pill®. 101 Inspirational Stories About How Pets Lead You to a Happy, Healthy and Successful Life.”
Thank you so much for doing this interview with us. It is a great honor. Our readers would love to learn more about you and your personal background. Can you please share your personal story? What has brought you to this point in your life?
Growing up in the idyllic Bavarian village of Weissenhorn was a dream, with long days spent playing outdoors. Everything changed when my mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia at eight years old. During those harsh moments, my cute pet rabbit was there for me. She assisted in conquering my sadness and doubts. It is improbable to understand something as intricate as a parental mental illness at such a young age fully.
For two decades, I suffered from nightmares. Later, I realized the root cause — my subconscious mind. Fortunately, my animals gave me unconditional love and comfort. Through them, I was able to express my worries, fears and anxieties without any judgement or hesitation — something no person could do. Ever since I was a child, I have been driven to overcome any and all hardships. That determination has led me to become known as The “Falcon Whisperer” — the famous falcon doctor in a male-dominated arena of falconry located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
I was often approached by people seeking assistance to address their difficulties, which served as an impetus for me to further my education. As such, I am now a Certified Mental Health Coach, ICF Certified Professional Coach, Certified Master Life Coach, Certified NLP Master Practitioner, Certified Life Purpose Coach, Certified Happiness Life Coach, and Certified Mindfulness Practitioner in addition to possessing an MBA and being a veterinarian.
As a result, I am motivated to share my experiences with other businesswomen who have gone through similar childhood ordeals. As an Mental Health Coach specializing in Inner Dynamics, I’m passionate about assisting these women and developing a new positive and empowered version of themselves via private coaching sessions as part of my innovative online program “Making Peace With Your Past in 3 Months”.
As an avid animal lover, I have been fortunate enough to be a “parent” of various animals over my lifetime such as dogs, horses, parrots budgies, fish and even a tortoise! For this reason alone, I decided to write the award-winning book Your Pet Your Pill®. 101 Inspirational Stories About How Pets Lead You To A Happy, Healthy And Successful Life. Through reading my book you will discover how our beloved furry friends can provide us with healing through their unconditional love and nonverbal communication skills.
What is your “WHY” behind what you do? What fuels you?
As the daughter of a mentally ill mother, I am all too familiar with the stigma and discrimination faced by those suffering from mental illness. For years, it felt like an insurmountable barrier to admitting that my mother had schizophrenia — knowing how people often treated her differently because of her illness as if she were contagious or dangerous. The fear was so great that I worried others would look at me in suspicion, wondering if they should expect similar symptoms to emerge in me one day.
After I overcame my personal trauma, it became clear to me that so many people around the world struggle with similar issues and face injustice in society. That’s when I chose to make a stand for change. Initially, there was opposition as well as warnings not to speak up on such charged topics because it could damage my career prospects.
As I started to speak openly about my own experiences, a number of people emerged from the shadows — individuals whom I never expected would be in similar predicaments. Seeing this gave me strength and inspired me to continue down this path; revealing our true selves can give us incredible freedom! Our individual stories do not make us less worthy or bad — they are merely part of who we are and can even aid in personal healing. That’s why it is so important for me to help others realize that such situations form an integral aspect of life but should not define or dominate them.
Manifesting my dreams and ideas has always been part of me, but it wasn’t until I discovered my talent for mental health coaching and inner dynamics that I ultimately had a lightbulb moment. It quickly became evident that ordinary life coaching did not come close to creating the same amount of change in an individual’s overall well-being as mental health coaching could. With this newfound ability to help others with their emotional well-being, I now offer it as a way to serve both my clients and community alike. The combination with my other coaching specialization and mindfulness and meditation has proved to be a very powerful combination that enhances the client’s mental health and well-being tremendously.
By coupling my wide-ranging coaching expertise with mindfulness and meditation, I have been able to deliver amazing results for my clients. This powerful combination of techniques innovatively promotes clients’ mental health and well-being in a much better way than one of those techniques alone.
I am passionate about supporting people to enhance their lives through comprehensive coaching services. After realizing my potential in this area, I was thrilled to find out that I can use my skills and expertise to improve the emotional well-being of not only my clients but also others around me.
Through sharing my story, I strive to be a beacon of inspiration for those who may feel like their childhood adversities have defined them. My ambition is that all individuals can move away from feeling doomed and instead take hold of the narrative in order to create better lives. By narrating my journey with an emphasis on discussing parental mental illness/childhood trauma, which are often left undiscussed altogether, I hope to assist others as they confront and work through their own experiences.
Sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake or failure which you now appreciate has taught you a valuable lesson?
After completing school, I devoted two years to the study of human medicine. Initially, it felt satisfactory, and I worked diligently; even performing nightshifts in a hospital. Yet soon enough, something was missing that I previously couldn’t identify. Eventually, it became clear what this void consisted of animals! Realizing that my true happiness wouldn’t be achieved as a human doctor, six weeks before my major undergraduate exams — I woke up with lucidity; understanding that this path wasn’t for me anymore.
All doubt evaporated from within, and I felt as I made my way out of a dark murky forest and into a sun-lit meadow, full of vibrant flowers and one grand tree in its center. With no one knowing, I had put aside my studies to pursue veterinary medicine — though at the time this seemed like a wild dream since admission times were seven years long. Despite what others may have thought about such an outlandish decision and regarded it as a major failure, luck was on my side as I gained entry immediately after applying.
It wasn’t until much later that I had a heart-stopping revelation: my decision to pursue human medicine studies was rooted in the emotion of guilt. Whenever my mother experienced episodes of schizophrenia, I felt helpless despite her constant gratitude for all the help I gave her. That’s when it dawned on me — veterinary science was where my personal true healing could occur and provide resolution and make peace for past events.
Selecting this career route has been one of the best decisions in my life, as working with animals enabled me to process and heal from personal pain and childhood trauma over time. Moreover, the time I devoted to learning human medicine was invaluable in aiding my comprehension of mental health coaching. By completing this entire cycle within my professional world, I am now more fulfilled than ever before!
Consequently, following our intuition is essential regardless of whether we comprehend the decision at that particular moment.
You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Character trait Curiosity
One of my main character traits is curiosity, a powerful motivator for learning and knowledge acquisition. It encourages creativity and divergent thinking, aiding problem-solving efforts and fostering relationships. As a leader, it is essential to nurture curiosity in ourselves and others by providing an environment that encourages exploration and inquiry. Additionally, it is important to provide resources that allow people to broaden their knowledge base and discover new things. Encouraging curiosity can inspire innovation and creativity that will have far-reaching effects for generations to come.
After discovering two new diseases in falcon medicine, I felt inspired to create an online course “Making Peace With Your Past in 3 Months” that would help businesswomen with parental mental illness and childhood trauma. Drawing from my own personal experience, I devoted a great deal of time to researching this topic and incorporated relevant elements into the program. My curiosity has provided me with the tools necessary to build a comprehensive program that will help equip women for living enriched lives full of joy and purpose.
Character trait Resilience
Resilience is an important character trait that helps us cope with life’s challenges. It enables us to rebound and adapt in the face of adversity, and to develop an inner strength. Resilience helps us maintain a positive outlook and find meaning in negative experiences, empowering us to face whatever challenges come our way. It should not be overlooked or underestimated, as it is an essential skill for a healthy and productive life.
Growing up in a family atmosphere as my mother battled mental health issues prompted me to develop immense resilience. Despite having been too young to understand the gravity of our situation, I had no other choice but to stay strong and overcome those traumatic experiences and the related inner hurt and pain. This strength has stood by me throughout all of my life’s hardships, allowing me to overcome those potentially devastating circumstances that could have otherwise led me into addiction or even suicide as it happens to many children and adolescents in the same situation.
Character trait Perseverance
Perseverance is a key trait for success, and those who possess it have the ability to reach their goals and achieve greater things. It is an essential character trait for success and achievement in life. It enables one to persist in a course of action, despite challenges, setbacks and failures. People who demonstrate perseverance are more likely to reach their goals and achieve success. It is also important for self-motivation, helping one stay driven and focused even in difficult circumstances. Perseverance is key for success, and those who possess it can reach greater heights.
I am an example of someone who never gives up. I was the first female falcon doctor at Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, in a highly patriarchal world of Arab falconry where women typically were not included at that time. The local falconers did not believe that I could effectively treat their beloved birds and even my own team refused to work with me. With tremendous perseverance and dedication, it took two to three years for them all to accept me as knowledgeable falcon doctor and as part of the community; without fail, my beloved Golden retriever rescue pup — found wandering aimlessly on the streets when I arrived in Abu Dhabi — provided an unwavering source of strength and comfort throughout this difficult journey!
What are some of the most interesting or exciting new projects you are working on now? How do you think that will help people?
Right now, I am working on four thrilling new projects.
Firstly, I am absolutely delighted to have been invited to be a part of the flourishing Well Me Right platform — a US-based wellness platform that is home to some of the world’s leading wellness experts. As a mental health and mindfulness expert, I will share my knowledge and wisdom in coaching for happiness, life purpose and mindfulness courses with members. Additionally, I’ll conduct group sleeping meditation sessions tailored specifically for clients.
Secondly, I’m about to launch my “Everyday Mindfulness for Mental Wellness” course which is a comprehensive 10-week online program designed to help individuals gain the benefits of mindfulness. It covers topics like anxiety management and having uncomfortable conversations, as well as strategies for dealing with difficult times. Scientific research has shown that regular mindfulness practice can reduce depression, anxiety and stress, as well as improve emotional well-being and increase productivity. Mindfulness also helps to cultivate self-awareness, clarity and insight into one’s thoughts and emotions, resulting in better decision-making skills, improved problem solving and enhanced resilience. With this course, people can learn to respond skillfully and gain a fresh perspective on life and their relationships, leading to greater peace of mind and improved mental health. I’m sure that this course will arm people with the tools they need to take action and strengthen their mental health.
In addition, I’m thrilled to soon launch my podcast which focuses on everything around mental health, overcoming trauma, mindfulness, and meditation as well as how pets can help humans. Through this podcast, individuals will gain a better understanding of mental health coaching and mindfulness practices to reduce stress, enhance focus and concentration skills, increase mental clarity and learn how pet therapy can be used to improve mental well-being. The podcast will feature tips, stories, and advice from myself and experts in mind-body wellness. It promises to provide ongoing support, inspiration, and motivation for individuals to boost their mental well-being, foster positive habits and create lasting change. The podcast is designed to be an enjoyable and educational experience for anyone looking to foster mental health, peace, happiness, and purpose. I’m excited to launch this podcast soon and reach out to people to make a change in their lives.
Finally, I am creating an online mini course entitled “Mental Wellness 101 for Veterinarians”. Such professionals are often exposed to extraordinary levels of stress and psychological trauma; this course aims to provide them with the right tools to cope. Veterinarians rank as fourth among those professions with the highest suicide rate. It is essential that they are provided information concerning their mental health risk and practical solutions to help improve it so that improved mental health can be achieved.
OK, thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview, about the interface between self-care and mental health. From where you stand personally or professionally, why are you so passionate about mental well-being?
Due to my personal experiences, I have been passionate about mental well-being for a long time, both personally and professionally. Mental health affects every aspect of life, from our relationships with others. It is important for us to recognize the signs of mental distress in ourselves and those around us and work towards creating positive environments which promote healthy mindsets. When we are mentally balanced, we can better focus on productivity and growth; this leads to increased self-esteem, greater motivation, improved decision making, better communication skills and all-round improved quality of life.
On a personal level, I believe that everyone deserves to have access to the tools and resources necessary for them to live their lives in a healthy and balanced way. Having good mental health is essential for all aspects of our lives — from our relationships to our career choices and work, and our ability to manage stress and even how we view the world around us. It also helps us to better cope with difficult experiences and situations when they arise.
Mental well-being isn’t just a personal issue but also one that has far-reaching implications on society. It is important for us to invest in mental health, both from a personal and professional point of view, so that we can create a healthier future for ourselves and our communities. On a professional level, I have seen first-hand the positive impact that investing in mental health can have for individuals and organizations. Having access to resources such as mental health coaching, therapy, or support groups can help people struggling with mental health issues to cope better, become more productive at work, and contribute positively to their community. Mental health initiatives can also help create a healthier workplace environment that is more supportive of employees with mental health needs.
By helping individuals develop positive coping skills and learn how to manage stress, we can ensure that people have access to the tools they need to not only survive but thrive in their daily lives. I am passionate about mental well-being because I believe it is vital for everyone’s overall health and happiness. Everyone should be supported in achieving their optimal levels of mental well-being.
Mental well-being is the foundation upon which happiness, success, and true fulfilment are built — it’s essential to reach our goals in life. I am committed to doing my part to ensure that individuals have access to the resources they need to live happy and healthy lives. I strive to spread awareness about the importance of mental health and encourage people to seek out support when needed and to take steps towards creating an environment where everyone can be their best selves. It is my hope that by doing so, we can create a world where mental well-being is taken seriously and treated with the same level of respect as physical well-being.
Based on your research or experience, how exactly does self-care impact our mental wellness?
In general, self-care has been proven to have a positive impact on our mental health and wellness in multiple ways. It helps to reduce stress, which is one of the most common psychological issues. By engaging in activities such as mindfulness, meditation, walking or even just simply listening to music or reading a book for pleasure can help to relax and alleviate tension. Additionally, self-care promotes healthy habits like eating well and getting adequate sleep; both have profound positive effects on our overall well-being.
However, based on my own and my clients’ experience, one of the most important aspects of self-care that is often overlooked is addressing any traumatic experiences or mental health concerns. When we ignore these issues, they can become even worse, leading to feelings of depression, anxiety, and fear as well as physical symptoms such as insomnia or chronic pain. It’s important to take the time to reflect on any past traumas and recognize what signs and symptoms may be present in order to make a plan for moving forward. This could include seeking professional help from a mental health coach or finding support within your community.
On a deeper level, it’s also vital to pay attention to our emotional needs when it comes to self-care. Self-care also helps us become more aware of ourselves and understand what we need at any given moment to be content and happy. This awareness can lead us to recognize potentially damaging behaviors such as overworking or undervaluing ourselves that could be detrimental to our mental health. Taking steps such as identifying negative thought patterns that keep us feeling stuck or trying out mindfulness meditation can be helpful in managing stress and anxiety. Through self-care, we can learn to recognize our own needs and take steps to prioritize them.
Lastly, self-care gives us the opportunity to practice gratitude and appreciation for ourselves as well as others. This encourages us to find joy in the small moments of life that often get overlooked or taken for granted. Cultivating these positive feelings has been shown to improve overall psychological health by helping individuals cope with stress, anxiety, and depression more effectively. By investing time in self-care activities regularly, we are able to create an environment where our mental wellness can thrive.
All in all, self-care is an essential part of mental health and well-being. It gives us the opportunity to relax and engage in activities that make us feel good, while also encouraging us to become more aware of our needs. This allows us to recognize any potential damaging behaviors or attitudes we may have towards ourselves before they become a problem. Additionally, practicing appreciation and gratitude helps us find joy in life’s everyday moments, further improving our overall psychological health. Therefore, taking time for self-care is an important step to take for anyone looking to improve their mental wellness.
Ultimately, it’s important to remember that everyone takes part in self-care differently and what works for one person might not work for another. For some individuals, it might be a bubble bath, scented candles, mediation while other might enjoy physical exercise like jogging, yoga or Qi gong. It’s important to find the activities that make you feel good and invest time in these endeavours regularly, as this will help ensure your mental health is well taken care of.
Finally, it’s important to remember that self-care isn’t about perfectionism; it’s about taking steps towards nurturing yourself with love and compassion. Everyone has different needs when it comes to self-care so take the time to explore what works best for you and make sure you are taking the necessary steps towards improving your overall wellbeing. Adopting self-care into your daily routine is essential in order to reap the full benefits it can bring. Incorporating it on occasion won’t do much, so strive for a consistent practice of taking care of yourself each and every day. Taking care of our mental health as part of self-care is essential in order to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.
Here is our primary question. Can you please share your “Top Five Selfcare Practices That Each Of Us Can Use To Improve Our Mental Wellness”?
Selfcare Practice #1 Making peace with the past
Making peace with the past is one of the most important parts of self-care. It allows us to move forward in life and unlock our true potential. When we let go of emotional baggage, it can free up energy that can be used for positive pursuits. Additionally, it eliminates mental clutter so that we can better focus on the present moment and make more mindful decisions.
Having a peaceful relationship with our past can also help us build better relationships in the present. Rather than feeling bogged down, we can become more aware of unhealthy patterns and behaviors that have been holding us back from achieving authentic connection with others. We are then able to move through our past experiences and heal old wounds so that we can be more present and connected in our current relationships.
Finally, making peace with the past can help us become more confident in our decisions and trust ourselves to make better choices in the future. When we forgive our mistakes, it allows us to learn from them and make wiser decisions next time around. It also helps us to cultivate a compassionate attitude towards ourselves so that we can let go of self-criticism and be kinder to ourselves.
Making peace with the past is an important part of taking care of ourselves, and it can lead to a more fulfilled life. By freeing up mental energy and understanding our past experiences, we can become better equipped to handle future situations and foster healthier relationships with ourselves and others.
Once I made peace with my own past experiences, I was much better equipped to move forward without having any resentments, anger, or regrets.
Selfcare Practice #2 Devote a daily time for yourself
I recommend setting aside a moment each day for self-care. Taking time off from all that stress will give your body a break from all the stress it’s dealing with and provide a chance to decompress, relax and recharge, so when challenges arise, you have more energy and resilience to deal with them.
For many people, devoting regular time to self-care means usually setting aside a few hours each week to do something that is restorative and peaceful for you but that often doesn’t work due to work and private commitments. Therefore, to make self-care a regular part of your life, it is best to take five minutes out of every day for yourself. However, if you are able to set aside more time — up to thirty minutes or even longer — then that’s great! No matter when during the day works best with your schedule, taking moments away from the hustle and bustle can bring immense joy and replenishment. Devoting a regularly scheduled routine will allow you look forward something special just for you each day, whether it be morning, day or night. Activities like breathing exercises, Qi gong and meditation can help you relax; listening to tranquil music while sipping tea in silence could be just the solace you need. If your schedule permits more leisurely activities, why not take a stroll outdoors? Spend quality time with friends or pursue stimulating creative endeavors — whatever reinvigorates your soul!
By engaging in regular daily self-care practices, you can help your body and mind to better manage stress, become more resilient and find balance between work and rest. Self-care can also give you a sense of control over your life and empower you to make positive changes for yourself.
To make your daily self-care more effective, set up a private corner for yourself. This could be an armchair, sofa, cushion or meditation pillow in any room of your apartment or house that is entirely devoted to you and the practice of relaxation. Whenever you enter this intimate area and take part in the activity specifically dedicated to it, calming down becomes much easier as your mind will easily identify it with serenity.
I have made it a habit to start my day with my own me-time and it helps me to enjoy my personal peaceful moments.
Selfcare Practice #3 Loving kindness meditation
Loving kindness meditation is a practice of cultivating feelings of unconditional love, care, and compassion for oneself. It offers an array of beneficial effects for physical and mental well-being. The practice can help foster self-acceptance and self-compassion, reduce stress, promote optimism, cultivate positive emotions, develop emotional resilience, increase empathy towards others, and enhance overall physical health.
Research shows that regular loving kindness meditation practice can lead to increased positive emotions such as joy and contentment, improved self-esteem, reduced stress levels, improved emotional stability, reduction of depressive symptoms, and a better sense of connectedness. Practicing loving kindness meditation can also help one become more aware of their thoughts and feelings, allowing for self-reflection on the underlying causes of negative emotions. Additionally, loving kindness meditation helps increase one’s capacity to feel empathy towards others.
In addition to the psychological benefits of loving kindness meditation, there are also physical health benefits associated with its practice. Studies have shown that regular loving kindness meditation can lower blood pressure, reduce pain, and improve the immune system. Regular meditation practice also helps to improve sleep quality and duration.
Overall, practicing loving kindness meditation can help increase feelings of self-love and self-compassion, and is a powerful tool for promoting overall physical and mental well-being. The benefits of this practice are far-reaching and a great way to create a more balanced, healthy lifestyle.
I love doing a loving kindness meditation as it makes me feel so good and at ease with myself.
Selfcare Practice #4 Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a powerful self-care practice that has been scientifically demonstrated to bring numerous mental wellness benefits. It involves being aware and paying attention to the present moment with acceptance, curiosity, and kindness. It helps us learn to be more mindful of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and actions in any given moment.
Mindfulness can be practiced in many ways, including through meditation, and journaling. When practicing mindfulness for self-care, it is important to remember that the goal is not necessarily to “solve” any issues you may be facing. Instead, the purpose of practicing mindfulness is to build awareness around our experience so that we can better understand ourselves and our needs in a compassionate way.
Practicing mindfulness has been shown to help improve attention span and reduce stress, anxiety, and depression by teaching us how to be more present with our emotions and experiences. Mindfulness encourages us to observe our thoughts without judgement or evaluation, allowing us to see them for what they are — just passing mental states that do not define who we are. It also encourages us to take a step back from what’s going on and become the observer of our lives instead of simply reacting to it. By doing this, we can begin to recognize unhealthy patterns and make positive changes in our lives and for our own well-being and build healthier habits of self-care.
Finally, mindfulness helps us become more aware of our bodies and how we interact with the world around us.
It is a valuable self-care practice that can help us feel more connected to ourselves and our environment. With consistent practice, we can learn to create the space for our mind, feelings, emotions and sensations.
For me personally, mindfulness has opened a new way of awareness and mental self-care.
Selfcare Practice #5 Self-massage
Self-massage is a great way to give yourself some much needed and deserved self-care. It starts at the top of your body with your head, and you work your way down up to your toes so that your complete body is included. It can lead to a variety of benefits, both mental/emotional and physical.
Mentally and emotionally, self-massage can help reduce stress levels, improve mood, increase feelings of well-being, and even be used as a form of meditation or mindfulness practice. Self-massage can also help to boost self-confidence and self-esteem, as it allows the individual to take time for themselves and focus on their own well-being. Additionally, self-massage can help provide a sense of control over one’s body, allowing individuals to take care of themselves in an empowering way. Lastly, self-massage is a great tool for developing body awareness, as it allows the individual to become more aware of how their body feels and respond to touch.
Physically, self-massage can help reduce muscle tension, decrease inflammation and soreness in the body, improve circulation, increase blood flow to muscles and help promote relaxation. It can also alleviate pain caused by stiff muscles and help support posture.
It is important to note that self-massage should not replace traditional medical care and it is always recommended to speak with a doctor before starting any massage routine. Additionally, it’s important to use proper technique when doing self-massage, as improper technique can lead to injury. Overall, self-massage can be a great way to give yourself some much-needed TLC and provide both mental/emotional and physical benefits that can support your overall well-being.
I make it a point to practice self-massage on a daily basis right before I go to sleep, and it really helps my body get rid of any pain or stiffness while boosting mental wellness. As an added bonus, I fall asleep right away and sleep soundly through the night; waking up feeling blissfully refreshed in the morning!
Can you please share a few of the main roadblocks that prevent people from making better self-care choices? What would you suggest can be done to overcome those roadblocks?
One of the main roadblocks preventing people from making better self-care choices is lack of time or energy. We’ve all experienced those times when we feel totally swamped, exhausted and even depleted — to the point where it’s difficult for us to make time for self-care in our lives. We are often so busy with our jobs, families, and other obligations that we neglect to take care of ourselves in the way we know we should. All too often, we prioritize the needs of others before our own. However, it is essential to remember that if we do not first take care of ourselves, then it will be impossible for us to effectively take proper care of those around us. Other roadblocks include financial constraints, stress, confusion about how to make healthier decisions, and accessibility of healthy foods and activities as well as the belief that taking care of us is not important.
To overcome these roadblocks, start by setting realistic goals for taking better care of yourself. Small changes can be easily incorporated into your lifestyle and schedule. For instance, if you don’t have time to cook a full meal every day, try prepping meals ahead of time where you can just reheat them when needed. To combat stress and financial constraints, seek out free activities such as nature walks or yoga classes. Finally, seek out resources that can help you make healthier decisions about what foods to eat and how to get active in ways that fit your lifestyle.
By taking small steps towards better self-care, you can overcome those roadblocks and start living a more balanced life. Making the effort to focus on yourself will have numerous positive impacts on both your physical and mental well-being.
In one sentence, what would you say to someone who doesn’t prioritize their mental well-being?
I would tell them that prioritizing their mental well-being is one of the most important things they can do for themselves because it’s essential to take care of your mental health, just like you take care of your physical health as mental health affects every aspect of life — from relationships and work performance to physical health and overall happiness. So it’s important to recognize when things aren’t okay and make an effort to prioritize self-care in order to prevent mental illness from taking over.
Thank you for all that great insight! Let’s start wrapping up. Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Why does this quote resonate with you so much?
There a quite a few quotes that I like. In the context of this article, I like the quote “Let us fill our hearts with our own compassion — towards ourselves and towards all living beings.” by Thich Nhat Hanh. It resonates with my opinion that self-compassion and self-care are not a luxury for our mental well-being but an indispensable necessity of utmost importance.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? They might just see this, especially if we both tag them :-)
I’d love to meet Master Shi Heng Yi from the Shaolin Temple Europe. He is an amazingly charismatic personality full or wisdom and deep-rooted thought-provoking teachings that can make a major positive impact on our lives. The courses he offers at the Shaolin Temple Europe are enabling people from all over the world to get access to the thousands of years’ wisdom of the Shaolin Art.
I truly appreciate your time and valuable contribution. One last question. How can our readers best reach or follow you?
Readers are welcome to visit my website https://www.coachformentalhealth.com and contact me on info@coachformentalhealth.com
They are most welcome to follow me on my social media pages:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmargitgabrielemuller
https://www.facebook.com/ drmargitgabrielemuller
https://www.instagram.com/drmargitgabrielemuller
https://www.youtube.com/@drmargitgabrielemuller
https://www.tiktok.com/@drmargitgabrielemuller
https://www.twitter.com/Dr_MargitGM
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.
About The Interviewer: Maria Angelova, MBA is a disruptor, author, motivational speaker, body-mind expert, Pilates teacher and founder and CEO of Rebellious Intl. As a disruptor, Maria is on a mission to change the face of the wellness industry by shifting the self-care mindset for consumers and providers alike. As a mind-body coach, Maria’s superpower is alignment which helps clients create a strong body and a calm mind so they can live a life of freedom, happiness and fulfillment. Prior to founding Rebellious Intl, Maria was a Finance Director and a professional with 17+ years of progressive corporate experience in the Telecommunications, Finance, and Insurance industries. Born in Bulgaria, Maria moved to the United States in 1992. She graduated summa cum laude from both Georgia State University (MBA, Finance) and the University of Georgia (BBA, Finance). Maria’s favorite job is being a mom. Maria enjoys learning, coaching, creating authentic connections, working out, Latin dancing, traveling, and spending time with her tribe. To contact Maria, email her at angelova@rebellious-intl.com. To schedule a free consultation, click here.
