{"id":5973,"date":"2025-06-19T04:24:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T11:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/?p=5973"},"modified":"2025-06-11T15:26:26","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T22:26:26","slug":"defining-mental-health-a-resource","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/2025\/06\/19\/defining-mental-health-a-resource\/","title":{"rendered":"Defining Mental Health &#8211; a resource"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A resource that offers a grounded, thoughtful look at how we can better understand and care for our inner lives.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I have another awesome resource to share with you today. \ud83d\ude01<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I first encountered Ruth in a writing class. We were put into small break-out zoom rooms and told to answer a few questions on our writing lives. I immediately knew she was someone I wanted to get know better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She exuded calm strength. I invited her to join an online writing group hosted by my Aunt Stacie. She was the perfect addition to our group and encouraged others in her kind way. When my aunt unexpectedly passed away from an aggressive form of cancer a few years ago, Ruth responded with a warm message of sympathy. She stepped up and filled some of the gaping hole in my writing life where I felt full of grief and loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her background in counseling and ministry shows in her thoughtful presence and compassionate writing. Over the years we have collaborated and shared work in our writing lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She was an early Beta Reader for my book content when it was in its very messy beginnings. I wanted her expertise to guide me in the right direction. Her feedback was what I needed to help my readers without exhausting them or causing them more stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ruth\u2019s blurb quote is on the front page of my book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a class=\"image-link image2 is-viewable-img\" href=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffaa21a8c-d324-4741-84a8-3fe9e4b27f04_2736x3648.jpeg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffaa21a8c-d324-4741-84a8-3fe9e4b27f04_2736x3648.jpeg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I write often about avoiding overwhelm and maintaining calm in the midst of a chaotic world. Ruth\u2019s work complements this beautifully, offering deeper insight into how we define and sustain mental health, especially when life feels unsteady.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve ever wondered what <em>mental health<\/em> really means, not just the buzzword, but the foundation underneath it, Ruth Stitt\u2019s recent piece in <em>Psychology Today<\/em> is a great place to start. In <strong>&#8220;<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/walking-in-wisdom\/202503\/how-mental-health-is-defined-and-maintained\"><strong>How Mental Health Is Defined and Maintained,<\/strong><\/a><strong>&#8220;<\/strong> she offers a grounded, thoughtful look at how we can better understand and care for our inner lives. I found it both clarifying and encouraging, and I think you will too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/walking-in-wisdom\/202503\/how-mental-health-is-defined-and-maintained\"><strong>How Mental Health Is Defined and Maintained<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Learning to tune the psyche when it is out of tune.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/contributors\/ruth-e-stitt-ms-mdiv-lpcs\">Ruth E. Stitt M.S., M.Div., LPCS<\/a> &#8211; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/walking-in-wisdom\">Walking in Wisdom<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>I have also enjoyed reading <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/scripturecomesto.life\/books\/\">both of her books<\/a> and I am looking forward to her historical fiction book she is working on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ruth Stitt is someone I deeply admire for the thoughtful, grounded way she shares her work. She\u2019s been a licensed counselor since 1992 and an ordained minister since 2017. These days, she spends her time writing, playing music, leading worship, walking dogs, and soaking up the beauty of the Texas Hill Country. Ruth recently started publishing on Substack to connect with others who share her values and curiosity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Check out her Substack where she shares a variety of posts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/ruthestitt.substack.com\/\"><strong>Ruth\u2019s Substack<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>I am thankful for Ruth\u2019s helpful and encouraging presence in my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I hope that you check out her writing and find something there that sparks simple change in your complicated and busy life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a class=\"image-link image2\" href=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F696369ef-fcdf-4d30-a102-566628cd57e9_1344x256.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F696369ef-fcdf-4d30-a102-566628cd57e9_1344x256.png\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a class=\"image-link image2 is-viewable-img\" href=\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1534695372029-851603947dd5?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw4MXx8Zmxvd2Vyc3xlbnwwfHx8fDE3NDk2NzkzOTh8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1618\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/photo-1534695372029-851603947dd5.jpg\" alt=\"white petaled flowers in field\" class=\"wp-image-5974\" title=\"white petaled flowers in field\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/photo-1534695372029-851603947dd5.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/photo-1534695372029-851603947dd5-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/photo-1534695372029-851603947dd5-684x1024.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/photo-1534695372029-851603947dd5-768x1151.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/photo-1534695372029-851603947dd5-1025x1536.jpg 1025w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"true\">Clay Banks<\/a> on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\">Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A resource that offers a grounded, thoughtful look at how we can better understand and care for our inner lives. . I have another awesome resource to share with you today. \ud83d\ude01 I first encountered Ruth in a writing class. We were put into small break-out zoom rooms and told to answer a few questions&hellip; <\/p>\n<div class=\"readmore-wrapper\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/2025\/06\/19\/defining-mental-health-a-resource\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read <\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_stc_notifier_status":"sent","_stc_notifier_sent_time":"2025-06-19 04:40:04","_stc_notifier_request":false,"_stc_notifier_prevent":false,"_stc_subscriber_keywords":"","_stc_subscriber_search_areas":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[278],"tags":[47,44],"class_list":["post-5973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-productivity","tag-mom-life","tag-self-care"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5973","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5973"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5973\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5975,"href":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5973\/revisions\/5975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5973"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5973"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embracinghome.blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5973"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}