The Importance of Mental

Fitness
By: Sonseeharay Tunis-Roberson
HW420
Purdue Global University
Introduction
Part One:
What is mental fitness?
Research studies that
demonstrates the healing qualities
of mental and spiritual focus.
Part Two:
Step-by-step instructions for two
practices that will improve mental
fitness.
Summary
References
What is Mental Fitness?
Mental Fitness is the state of mental well-
being. Like any other muscle, it is necessary
for the mind to engage in workouts to
maintain its wellness. We benefit from
working out, or “training”, the mind by
having an increase in positive emotions. We
will also experience an increase in focus and
gain the ability to control a powerful aspect
of our being.
Research Studies That Have
Demonstrated the Healing Qualities
of Mental and Spiritual Focus:

1. Antoine Lutz compared a group of thoughtful

scholars with a control group to study the
gamma brain wave. When the scholars were
requested to create a mental state of
compassion, their gamma waves increased
“which suggests a higher order of mental
integration” (Dacher, 2006, p. 63).
2. Theodore X. Barber performed studies on
hypnosis and published Changing
“Unchangeable” Bodily Processes by (Hypnotic)
Suggestions: A New Look at Hypnosis,
Cognitions, Imagining and the Mind-Body
Problem in 1984. This study discusses the
remarkable impact that one’s mind has on one’s
health.
3. Randolph Byrd performed a prayer study. It is
noted as the most famous prayer study. Byrd, a
physician, split 393 coronary care patients into
two groups. One group received intercessory
prayer while the other was a control group and
did not receive prayer. The results of the study
showed that there were fewer deaths in the group
that received prayer. This was affective in proving
that prayer is real and it works. Byrd’s study is
so important because “…it helped break a taboo
against prayer as a subject of medical research”
(Dossey, 2005, p.319).
Two Practices to Improve Mental Fitness:

1. Concentration Meditation:
This meditation will require you to repeat a mantra, so the
first step would be to choose a mantra (ex: “I celebrate
me”, “My life is special”, “I am the way He created me”).
• Find a comfortable seat.
• State your mantra (you may also softly play a relaxing
audio such as ocean waves in the background).
• Continue to repeat your chosen mantra.
• If you find that your mind begins to wander, gently
bring it back to your mantra.
Begin doing this for a few minutes and slowly increase to
longer periods of time.
2. The Subtle Mind Exercise:
(allow 10-15 minutes for this exercise)
• Begin this exercise by finding a quiet and comfortable
place to relax (you may sit or lay down).
• Take 10 deep breaths in and out. Focus on your
breathing as you inhale and exhale.
• Next allow your deep breathing to relax into your natural
and comfortable breathing. Continue to allow your
breathing to be your point of focus.
• When thoughts or feelings attempt to distract you,
acknowledge them and then gently push them aside and
return your focus back onto your breathing.
• Continue doing this for the remainder of the time that
you have allotted for this exercise.
Practicing this exercise will help you to gain focus as well as
help you to control the busyness of your mind.
 As you can see, there are many positive
benefits of mental fitness. It is an essential tool
that will assist in obtaining optimal health and
well-being. It is important that we remember to
set time aside to not only workout the physical
body, but to also workout the mind.
 References:

Dacher, E. (2006). Integral Health: The Path to

Human Flourishing. Laguna Beach
California: Basic Health Publications, Inc.
Dossey, L. (2005). Consciousness and Healing:
Integral Approaches to Mind-Body Medicine.
St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Inc.