#3 for better mental health is little to no buffering. Buffering is the process of using something external to try and solve for an internal problem, such as emotional discomfort. But buffering, although it may feel good in the moment, has some unintended consequences such as keeping us from truly experiencing life and keeping us from truly knowing who we really are. Discovering how and why we buffer and how to stop is a huge component in getting to greater mental health.
