3. Relaxation
Body and mind affect each other. Mental well-being needs healthy mind, body and soul. Good health needs to have enough rest and relaxation to maintain the sense of balance. Psychology of Human Adjustment helps the person understand that relaxation is necessity for demanding life. People need to cope with daily stress, life demand and life responsibility. Relaxation can reduce stress and create the sense of balance in life.
Buddhism presents the conscious living with awareness. Consciousness implies to mental awareness (Bernstein and Nash, 1999). To live fully, the person needs to have the sense of balance and meaning in each moment in life. Praying and meditation not only create relaxation and concentration, but also enhance the sense of physical, psychological and spiritual well-being.
In conclusion, Psychology tries to understand human's behaviors. Psychotherapy introduces various concepts to help the person live healthier and happier life. Both cognition and action are important parts that affect each other and contribute to the feelings. Challenging the negative thoughts and enhancing the positive ones can help one pursue mental well-being. Buddhism also focuses on both thoughts and actions. Buddhism encourages self-
responsibility, self-control and self-discipline to pursue and maintain mental well-being.
Cognition, action and feeling, as well as mind, body and soul, interact with and influence one another. It is the holistic approach. Both Psychology and Buddhism give concepts, explanation and practices to pursue and maintain mental well-being. Psychological techniques are already included in and congruent with Buddhist practices. Buddhism gives deep faith, foundation and peace of mind which ensure mental well-being for the people who live according to Buddhist teaching.