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Positive Practices That Prevent Psychopathology

Self-emptying/restoring/transcending

Have at least one person with whom you share everything regarding your personal and professional life.
Develop a daily spiritual practice, including meditation, that is grounded rather than idiosyncratic and merely personal. To begin, find an experienced spiritual director and explore a practice tradition such as Buddhist, contemplative Christian, Sufi, Hindu, or other. Take retreats.
Identify and relate to a mature, experienced spiritual community.
Hone your sense of humor. Buddhist joke: 99%of our problems have to do with our self--- and there isn't one!
Everyone has problems. Relinquish the idea that you have special reason to be depressed, anxious, or otherwise debilitated, and that you have no time to practice healthy living.

Self-expressing

Develop non-professional commitments, passions, fun things, and service to others that generate joy and freedom.
Participate in 12-step programs, men’s and women’s groups, and other groups that include practices of complaining/confessing/forgiving.
Learn to be a skilled advocate for yourself in asking for fair remuneration from your sources of income.
Re-define and declare regularly to your "significant others" your deepest commitments and specific life goals.

Self-loving/healing/inquiry/development

Use psychotherapy prophylactically:
    1) To get over self-judgment and demandingness.
    2) As treatment for depression, anxiety and other common symptoms of stress - (including using anti-depressants and other medications when needed.)
    3) To work on your loving relationships.
    4) To develop a positive outlook. Investigate cognitive therapy, especially "learned optimism," and other modalities.
Engage in regular, appropriate physical activity, including yoga and other health programs.
Consider the Hoffman Institute Quadrinity Process (www.hoffmaninstitute.org) as one way to clear up past attachments and free yourself. Look up www.hoffmaninstitute.org.
Explore self-work programs, such as those of Gurdjieff (www.gurdjieff.org), A.H. Almaas (Diamond Heart Work) (www.ridhwan.org), The Forum (www.landmark-education.com), Byron Katie’s "The Work" (www.thework.org), and other programs.
Do spiritual study and reading for devotion and practice.

Accountability

Use consultants regularly (financial, organizational, etc) to support your personal and professional life.
Stay in relationship with your friends and colleagues.
Learn to delegate and enjoy others doing the work.

Five Books that might have a large impact on well-being: