There was a time when chaos felt normal to me.

I’d wake up tired, run on coffee and adrenaline, crash late, and call it “being productive.” I wore my exhaustion like a badge of honour. Stress? I just called it life. But looking back, I wasn’t coping—I was barely hanging on.

It wasn’t a single, major breakdown that changed things. It was a slow, quiet shift. I started asking: What if feeling good isn’t a luxury, but a signal that something’s working?

That’s when I realised: good mental health doesn’t mean life is stress-free. It means you’re able to meet life as it comes—without losing yourself in the process.

So how do you know if your mental health is in a good place?

It’s not always obvious. It’s not always a lightbulb moment. Sometimes, it shows up in the smallest ways—until you pause and realise just how far you’ve come.

Here are six signs I began to notice when my mind was truly thriving.

1. You Sleep Like a (Well-Rested) Queen

I used to scroll until midnight, pass out with the TV humming, then wake up at 3 a.m. in a panic about everything I forgot to do. Rinse and repeat.

But when I finally started protecting my sleep—same bedtime, screens off, dim lights, chamomile tea, the lot—something shifted. I wasn’t just less tired. I was calmer. More clear-headed. I had patience again.

Now, when I sleep well, I take it as a sign that my nervous system is at rest. No anxious overthinking. No “what if” spirals. Just rest.

Try this: Switch to a no-screen zone 30 minutes before bed. Even five pages of a book or a slow podcast can help your brain downshift. It’s small, but powerful.

2. You Bounce Back After Bad Days

Not every day is sunshine and playlists. Sometimes, the day just sucks. But here’s what changed: I stopped letting one bad day become a bad week.

Now, when I’m low, I let myself feel it—cry if I need to, hide under a blanket, journal, cancel plans. But then I do one small thing that reconnects me to myself. And slowly, I come back.

That’s emotional resilience. Not being unbothered—but knowing you’ll find your way through.

3. You Feel Genuinely Connected (Not Just “Busy”)

There was a season where my calendar was full, but my heart felt utterly alone. I was surrounded by people, yet no one really knew me.

These days, I measure connection in a different way. It’s the friend I can voice note mid-tears. The deep belly laugh I didn’t see coming. The way someone holds space without trying to fix me.

If you’ve got even one relationship that feels like that—nurture it. It’s gold.

Quick win: Send a message that says, “Hey, I appreciate you.” No reason needed. It means more than you think.

4. You Have a Clear Why

Purpose used to feel like a big, intimidating word. Like I had to have some grand plan or legacy.

But I’ve learnt it can be simple. Your ‘why’ might be what makes your home feel safe. Or showing up for your kids, or creating something just because it lights you up.

When I have a clear why, even the mundane feels meaningful. My days feel less like a checklist and more like a path I’ve chosen.

5. You’re Kind to Yourself (Even on the Meh Days)

There was a version of me who was constantly performing. We chase approval. Perfection. The illusion of ‘having it together.’

Now? I’m softer with myself. I still have insecurities, of course. But I don’t let them drive the car.

When the inner critic pipes up, I pause and ask, Is this voice helping me—or harming me? Most of the time, I realise I need to rewrite the script.

Gentle nudge: Talk to yourself like someone you love. You deserve that kind of care, too.

6. You Handle Stress—Instead of Letting It Handle You

I used to think stress was something to avoid or suppress. If I couldn’t control it, I’d numb it—overwork, overcommit, overthink.

But now, when I feel it rising, I pause. I breathe. I name it. And I ask, What do I need right now?

Sometimes it’s movement. Other times, it’s stillness. And then there are days when I just let myself cry in the shower. Whatever it is, I meet the stress head-on instead of pretending I’m fine.

And that has changed everything.

The Quiet Power of Thriving

Good mental health doesn’t always feel dramatic or euphoric. Sometimes, it’s just a gentle “I’m okay” that anchors your day. A deeper exhale. A softer tone with yourself. A moment of real connection.

If you’re sleeping better, handling stress without spiralling, feeling more grounded in your relationships—or even just noticing the noise in your head has quietened—that’s progress. Real, beautiful progress.

So celebrate the subtle shifts. Honour what’s working. And keep showing up for yourself—even on the messy days.

That, more than anything, is the sign of a mind that’s healing, growing, and thriving.