Finding Balance on World Mental Health Day: Listening to the Body as Well as the Mind
Each year, World Mental Health Day invites us to pause and reflect on our well-being. For many of us, especially those living abroad, life often becomes a balancing act between managing various responsibilities, adapting to change, and holding space for emotions that don’t always have a clear outlet.
When we think about “mental health,” it’s easy to think of as something that happens only in the mind. But what I’ve seen again and again is that our mental well-being is deeply tied to the body. Stress, worry, or sadness are rarely just thoughts. They often show up as tight shoulders, a racing heart, restless sleep, or a sense of heaviness in the chest.
This is where somatic coaching and sensorimotor approaches can play such a valuable role. Instead of treating the body as separate from the mind, they invite us to notice how emotions live inside us physically — and how tuning into those signals can help us regulate, release tension, and reconnect with a sense of calm.
For example, when stress feels overwhelming, a purely cognitive approach might encourage you to “reframe your thoughts.” While this can be helpful, it doesn’t always connect with the deeper agitation in the nervous system. Somatic tools, like grounding and breathwork, or orienting the senses give the body the chance to settle, which in turn creates more space for the mind to find clarity.
Acceptance is also a powerful piece of this puzzle. Often, when we struggle with mental health, we add a second layer of stress by judging ourselves: “Why can’t I just get over this?” or “I should be stronger.” Acceptance doesn’t mean giving up, instead it means softening towards what is here, right now. By noticing our experience with curiosity rather than judgment, we begin to reduce inner conflict and free up energy for change.
World Mental Health Day is a reminder that we don’t have to choose between mind and body, or between acceptance and action. Well-being grows when we bring these elements together. It might look like taking a few quiet minutes to breathe deeply, listening to what your body is telling you before you push through another deadline, or reaching out for support when you notice you’re carrying too much alone.
If you’re navigating stress, transitions, or overwhelm know that you don’t need to do it all in your head. Your body can be an ally in your healing and growth.
On this World Mental Health Day, perhaps the invitation is simple: pause, check in with your body, notice what’s alive for you in this moment. And remember that you don’t have to walk the path of well-being on your own.