By Apostle Dr. Rebecca Michael
Q. What is a hallmark of psychological
mental health in a person of normal
health?
A. There are many aspects of mental
health characteristics we could discuss
such as the ability to delay gratification,
self-control, self-mastery, an accurate
self-image and sense of self-worth,
humility, the ability to forgive, to love
and receive love, patience, acceptance
of self-limitations and others, respect
for others and differences, diligence,
genuine admiration of ability in others,
teachable spirit, adaptability, productiveness
to do with genuine goodness,
to be able receive and give mentoring
and correction to do with authority
etc. If I had to pick a mental health trait
from studies on this I would say the
word “resilience” is the buzzword for
mental health in terms of research on
the hallmark of psychological strength
in the ability to overcome trials and adversities
life will throw at us all.
For this reason we need to pay attention
to biographies of heroes and heroines
from history in order to examine
what characteristics and traits they had
and cultivated. We have included articles
on both heroes and heroines in
this magazine for the purpose of case
studies to do with what motivates and
leads such admirable people. We find
that their gift s and spiritual callings are
evident and vary greatly for their time.
However- what does appear to be universal
and repeatedly shown in the bible
as well is this characteristic of faith,
endurance over time and especially resilience-
the ability to adapt and stretch
ourselves to grow in the diverse ways
we need to, to meet the challenges and
overcome the obstacles that the status
quo may put before us as these are resistant
to change and the movers and
shakers must learn resilience and to0
oft en stand alone if these social changes
are to prevail for the good of all.
It is an elastic kind of strength which
can withstand conflict as needed- and
it is not a rigid hardness which is brittle
and breaks down- but the elastic is
much stronger than steely strength by
far and can stretch and grow. For this
we need to remain supple, teach-able
and able to let go of inaccuracies and
traditions of men that are now institutions
which block progress and true
community. We need to value truth
above all including false sentiments to
be accurate and grow in the right directions.
You can learn much of the
research on “psychological resilience”
academic research studies including
overcoming adversities and trauma
character traits if you google search it
through “scholar” on google as there is
not room enough to publish it all here just
a basic introduction for this brief
article. Much of the published findings
as I have summarized above to do
with characteristics of this trait are in
the bible and inherent in the trained
servant leadership of God. God trains
His leaders expressly through adversities
if He is sending them as His leaders
of-ten through suffering and trials
in order to make them resilient and
strengthened to do effective combat
with the enemy using spiritual and not
weak carnal ways and weapons which
break us down over time and incur
losses.
You can study this by exploring various
biblical leaders and godly Kings-
You can see what make them tick and
how they ascended as such. You can
also see conversely what brings down
the antichrist leadership as well- they
usually implode eventually through
foolhardy choices even if they are not
brought low by God and His leaders through
their own evil and corruption
as this leads to folly and to a fall- evil
self-destructs and hurts others- ultimately
it takes itself out over time.
Th e truth, however, eventually sets us
(Continued on Page 17 - See below)
Mental Health Corner Cont'd ( Columnist Apostle Dr. Rebecca )
(Continued from Page 12)
free of all vice and corruption-inwardly
and outwardly- but we must be willing
to see and respond to truth and not just
what we want to believe. This in turn
enhances and builds true community the
ability to deny self as Jesus instructs
us and to take up our cross and follow
Him. He is headed for glory in Resurrection
but first the ego / self must
be executed through an act of humble
servanthood and submission via trust
to God and the Cross of Christ which
puts self-serving ways to death. God
then exalts us once we have passed
these tests in the end- but He brings
down and debases the proud often just
through their own error and folly over
the long haul. I strongly recommend
you explore the psychological research
findings on this as well as study the
biblical counsel on how God champions
and creates His own leaders which
is the wisdom that prevails and lasts.
These have the hallmark of psychological
health in the end which is this ability
to stretch themselves as God leads
and this is called “psychological resilience”
in the mental health research
literature on psychological strength.
( Excerpt from Power for Today online Magazine )
Apostle Dr. Rebecca
Michael is Apostle in Office for
Phoenix Alive Christian
Ministries, Inc. in
Maple Ridge, BC. She
has over two decades
in education, mental
health, and many
years experience in Christian Ministry.
She is also an independent songwriter/producer,
publishing blues, rock, and Gospel. To
contact Apostle Dr. Rebecca, visit her
website at http://PhoenixHorizons.webs.com
