Why do certain patterns seem to repeat in our lives? An argument at home that’s reflected at work, or a small worry that can cloud a whole day.
“The world is not separate from us: it is a mirror that reflects what we carry within.”
In this article, we’re going to explore how mental well-being can transform your life.
Mental well-being and its reflection in everyday life
Gnostic teachings say that the outer world is not independent of us, but a mirror that reflects our inner world. What we experience daily is a reflection of what is happening in our emotions, thoughts, and deepest psychological states.
This becomes clear when we pay attention to what happens in our daily lives. An inner state of serenity leads us to make wise decisions, which in turn generate harmonious situations or events. On the other hand, when anxiety or anger are predominant, we tend to act impulsively, and often the decisions we make put us in complicated situations.
Thus, our inner state of mind influences our decisions, and these decisions shape the events we face. It’s not magic or chance: it’s a natural chain that starts from our inner world and radiates outwards.For this reason, mental well-being is essential if we want to live in harmony. By cultivating balance within ourselves, we start to experience more harmonious situations, because our decisions are born from a calm mind and not from emotional imbalance.
Inner states and outer events
Gnosis teaches that what we experience externally is not separate from us: it is a reflection of what we carry within. Every experience that we live in our lives is related to our thoughts, emotions, and inner states.
In everyday life, this becomes clear. If we wake up in a bad mood, we are likely to interpret any gesture as an offence; a simple word from a colleague can seem like an attack. On the other hand, when we are in a good mood, we take the same situation lightly, even with a smile. The external event is the same, but what is different is our inner state.
Similarly, someone who lives in a constant state of fear and worry tends to make defensive decisions, avoiding risks or closing themselves off from new opportunities. In contrast, someone who cultivates confidence and calmness makes different choices, and these choices lead them to different experiences. We can therefore understand that our perceptions are not neutral and our choices are not impartial but are influenced by our emotional state at a given moment.
When we reflect deeply, we realise that nothing in our lives is random. The external events we experience are reflections of our own inner states. To accept this truth is to take responsibility; instead of blaming the world for our suffering, we recognise that by transforming what we carry within, we also transform what surrounds us.
Mental well-being as the key to transformation
In Gnostic teachings, mental well-being is understood not just as the absence of problems, but as the ability to maintain a balance between thoughts and emotions. It is the art of cultivating a serene inner state that allows us to see reality with clarity and act with greater awareness.
When we achieve this balance, our decisions are no longer dominated by egoic impulses. Instead of reacting automatically, we can respond consciously. This opens up the possibility of making wiser and more constructive decisions.
In practice, this is reflected in everyday situations:
- If we cultivate inner peace, we are more patient with others and, as a result, our relationships become more harmonious.
- When we are anxious, we make hasty decisions, which can lead to mistakes and needless conflicts.
- If we maintain mental clarity, we choose with greater precision which projects, people, or activities add value to our lives.
- When we let anger dominate us, we end up creating arguments or making the people we love feel bad, and all this, deep down, only reflects our lack of serenity.
Mental well-being, then, is not something abstract nor does it depend on our personality: it is achieved through practice and it offers us a tool for transformation. Every time we seek to harmonise our inner state, we are shaping a more balanced external life that aligns with what we truly want to experience.
Decisions and destiny: the inner-outer chain
Our inner states are not inconsequentially hidden away inside us: they are the cause of the decisions we make at every moment. And every decision, big or small, connects with an external event that ends up defining our destiny.
Imagine someone stuck in a state of constant worry. That anxiety leads them to reject a job opportunity because they worry that they are not up to it. The decision is born from fear and, as a result, they remain in a situation that causes them dissatisfaction. Their external life reflects their inner state exactly: insecurity and stagnation.
On the other hand, think about a person who feels confident and relaxed. When faced with the same job opportunity, they decide to take the leap, even if they have some doubts. That decision, born of calmness, leads them to grow professionally and open a new chapter in their life. Their external life reflects their inner state: openness and security. Here, mental well-being becomes the starting point that allows them to choose with clarity and courage.
The same thing happens in our relationships. If someone feels angry, they are likely to decide to respond harshly in an argument. That reaction creates a bigger conflict, pushing the other person away. In contrast, when a patient and serene inner state exists, one can decide to listen before speaking, and that choice opens up the possibility of reconciliation.For this reason, Gnosis teaches us that it is not about changing the surface—the external events—but the root: our inner world. When we transform the states that give rise to our decisions and cultivate authentic mental well-being, we also transform the destiny we build day by day.
Practices for cultivating mental well-being
Mental well-being doesn’t just appear out of nowhere: it is cultivated every day with small actions that strengthen our consciousness. In Gnostic teachings, there are simple practices that anyone can apply:
- Self-observation This involves watching our thoughts and emotions throughout the day. It’s not about repressing them, but about carefully observing how we react to situations. This exercise helps us discover which inner states are guiding our decisions.
(You can find out more about this topic in a dedicated article on self-observation here.)
- Brief, conscious meditation Meditation offers us a space to quieten the mind and balance our inner state. You don’t need a lot of time: even a few minutes a day can make a difference. Practising it outdoors enhances its effects, as nature brings serenity and connects us to a more harmonious flow.
(If you want to know more about meditation in contact with nature, visit our article here.)
- Daily reflection on our decisions and their emotional origin Before you go to sleep, take a few moments to review your decisions of the day. Ask yourself:
what emotion did I act from? and
what inner state motivated my choices? This simple practice allows us to identify patterns and learn to make decisions from a place of calmness rather than impulse.
These tools are simple yet effective. The important thing is to put them into practice and observe the changes they generate. Every small effort to care for your inner world translates into greater balance, clarity, and consequently, true mental well-being.
Your Mental Well-being Is the Key to Change
Gnostic teachings remind us that the outer world is a reflection of our inner world. As long as we don’t transform what we carry within, situations we experience will continue to repeat with the same patterns.
Mental well-being is not an abstract idea, it is achieved through practice and it offers us a tool for transformation. Developing serenity and balance within ourselves is the key to transforming our external lives.
True change doesn’t come from the outside: it is born from the deepest part of us and is reflected in everything we experience.
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