Our awareness is a like the sky and our thoughts and emotions are the clouds that come and go. The sky is always there, and so is awareness.

Given that our brains are constantly being shaped, willingly or unwillingly, by thoughts; emotions; feelings; experiences; events, both internal and external. If we were to take up responsibility for intentionally shaping our brains and fostering a healthy mind, what would it take?

This would engage four key elements:
1. Resilience, which is actually the time course that an individual takes to recover from adversity and one can achieve this through practice.

2. Outlook, which is actually the ability to see the positive in others. It is the ability to save a positive experience through the practice of loving-kindness and compassion. Having a positive outlook is key to developing prosocial behaviour.

3. Attention- It is said that ‘a wandering mind is an unhappy mind’. So, being present and listening deeply, is very important to develop judgment, character, and will, as important attributes.

4. Generosity- When an individual behaves with generosity and altruistic behaviour, the brain circuits contributing to brain health fire up and remain activated for a longer period than other positive activities.

We can train our brains, shape our minds, and take responsibility to create a healthier mind by practising these four key elements of well-being- Resilience, Outlook, Attention and Generosity. Thus, well-being becomes an important skill for all.