Mental Health vs. Mindset: Why Knowing the Difference Matters More Than You Think

Spring is officially here — at least according to the calendar. But here in Wisconsin, we’re still digging out from a fresh snowstorm.
And while the snow can bring a cozy sense of calm, it also reminds me how much the seasons affect my mental health.

Today I want to talk about something deeply important, something I wish I had understood earlier in my own journey — especially when I was competing:
The difference between mental health and mindset.
Because understanding the difference can change how you prepare, how you heal, and how you grow — on and off the stage.

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What Mindset Really Is

Mindset work often gets thrown around as a catch-all solution:
“Just be more positive.”
“Focus on your goals.”
“Overcome your fears.”

But mindset work is actually about so much more. It’s about:

• Overcoming comparison
  
• Letting go of the fear of what others think
  
• Reframing “failure” and setbacks
  
• Building resilience when you hit obstacles
  
• Managing perfectionism and performance anxiety
  

Mindset is how you show up when you’re chasing a dream.
It’s your internal dialogue when things get tough.

It’s important.
It’s powerful.
But it’s not a substitute for mental health care.

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What Mental Health Really Is

Mental health is your long-term foundation.
It’s your climate — the bigger backdrop behind your day-to-day moods (which are more like weather patterns).

Mental health includes:

• Clinical depression or anxiety
  
• Mood disorders like bipolar or borderline personality disorder
  
• Eating disorders
  
• Emotional regulation challenges
  
• The impact of trauma and stress over time
  

Mental health affects every part of your daily life: your sleep, your eating, your relationships, your ability to function.

Mental health requires care — therapy, sometimes medication, consistent self-care, and support.

And if your mental health baseline is low, it makes mindset work exponentially harder.

You can’t “positive think” your way out of a mental health struggle.
You can’t “out-hustle” depression, anxiety, trauma, or deep emotional dysregulation.

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Mindset Work Sustains Mental Health — It Doesn’t Replace It

If your mental health is the foundation of a house, your mindset is like the maintenance.
It helps sustain the structure.
It helps you adjust to life’s weather.
It’s the painting, the organizing, the day-to-day habits that make life better.

But if the foundation is cracked or flooded, all the paint and decor in the world won’t fix the real issue.

If you’re questioning whether you need therapy or just mindset work — that’s a clue.
And I will always, always recommend this:
Start with therapy.

I still see a therapist.
I still work closely with a psychiatrist.
I still prioritize my mental health, even as I coach mindset and communication skills every single day.
And that’s what makes me a better coach: because I practice what I teach.

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Why This Matters So Much in Pageantry — and Beyond

When I was competing for Miss Wisconsin and then Miss America, I didn’t fully understand this difference.
I thought I could mindset my way through everything.
Push harder. Be more positive. Just “try harder.”

But underneath the surface, I was struggling with real mental health challenges that mindset work alone couldn’t fix.

After Miss America, I felt regret, loss, insecurity — and eventually depression.
It was confusing, because outwardly I had “achieved the dream.”
But inside, I felt like I was drowning.

It took me years — and a lot of internal work — to realize that my struggles weren’t a failure of mindset.
They were a call to take care of my mental health.

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What Happens After the Crown?

One thing that’s rarely talked about:
What happens when your year of service ends.

When the title is no longer attached to your name.
When the stages are quieter.
When the appearances are fewer.

There’s a lot of grief and identity loss that comes with the transition out of titleholder life.
Even if you’re excited about what’s next, it can feel confusing, lonely, even paralyzing.

And if your mental health foundation isn’t strong, that transition can hit even harder.

You’re not broken for struggling with this.
You’re not failing because you don’t have it all figured out.
It’s human. It’s normal. It’s okay.

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If You’re In a Hard Season Right Now…

I want you to know:

• It’s okay if you feel stuck.
  
• It’s okay if you feel lost.
  
• It’s okay if you feel anxious about what’s next.
  

You don’t have to figure it all out today.
You don’t have to have the “perfect” next step.

But you do deserve to take care of yourself, at your baseline, right now.

And maybe that care looks like:

• Reaching out to a therapist
  
• Talking honestly with someone safe
  
• Taking one small action step toward support
  
• Giving yourself grace for where you are
  

You are not alone.
And it’s not too late to choose yourself.

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Final Thoughts

Mindset work is powerful.
Mental health care is essential.

Choosing to take care of yourself — both your mindset and your mental health — is not weak.
It’s the strongest, most Fearlessly Authentic thing you can do.

There’s no shame in asking for help.
There’s no shame in admitting you’re human.
There’s no shame in needing support.

You are worthy of joy, of healing, of progress — exactly as you are right now.

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Looking for support in building your mindset and communication skills while staying rooted in real mental health awareness?
I’d love to work with you.
Schedule your free Fearlessly Authentic consult here. ✨

You deserve to thrive — in competition, in life, and beyond the crown.