In the fun-filled era of the 1950s, humanistic psychologists arrived on the scene with a fresh perspective. They were like the cool aunts and uncles who wanted to focus on the positive, bright side of human experiences - stuff like health, happiness, self-realization, and so on. They believed that the then obsession with the dark and gloomy side (aka mental illness) wasn't capturing the whole picture. They yearned to understand the "bigger issues" lurking in the shadows of the problems. So, they shifted the spotlight onto mental health, rather than just mental disorders.

Let's imagine our minds as a garden. These psychologists wanted to focus on planting beautiful flowers (positive experiences) rather than just getting rid of the weeds (negative experiences).

Our friend Marie Jahoda (1958) then came up with a list of six characteristics that would make up this so-called ideal mental health:

• Efficient self-perception - Like a mirror that reflects without distortion, this means understanding ourselves accurately and effectively.

• Realistic self-esteem - This is like being a kind but honest friend to ourselves, appreciating our strengths and acknowledging our flaws without self-deprecating.

• Voluntary control of behaviour - Think of it as the superpower to make conscious decisions about our actions, rather than being a puppet to our impulses.

• Accurate perception of the world - Like wearing glasses that give us a clear and true view of the world around us, instead of being clouded by bias or misconceptions.

• Positive relationships - Imagine being surrounded by a close-knit team of friendly, supportive, and caring individuals who enrich our lives.

• Self-direction and productivity - This is like being the captain of our own ship, guiding our lives towards our goals and making meaningful contributions to our world.