+ + What does "taking care of mental health" mean to you, + and how are you taking care of it? + +
++ +It means having the confidence to deal with anything that life can throw at me. +
++To clarify - it is not about appearing "strong and invincible", but about having enough softness and adaptability, inside me, to deal with sudden changes in the outside world. +
++The image is that of a bamboo plant that bends when it encounters a strong gust of wind - and it avoids being broken into two - as contrasted to a more rigid and stiffer plant. +
++And it is about having the discernment to choose between a skillful and unskillful response to life. + +One would lead to my benefit, but the other to my detriment +Am I wise enough to pick one and avoid the other? I have to ask myself that question many times, because a moment of carelessness can bring me disastrous consequences. +
++And it is about living without any dread of the future, anguish about the past, and frustration with the present moment. + +That's not to say I don't feel any of those feelings - I'm human after all - but they should pose no long-term hindrance to my experience of happiness and contentment. +
++ +In more concrete - or actionable - terms, it means surrounding myself with wise people and avoiding foolish people. +
++I frequently check if my choices in life meet + + + the Buddha's eight conditions of prosperity and happiness +. +
+Share your own reflections about Dharma phrases that