How to nurture your mental fitness as an optical practitioner

The concept of ‘mental fitness’ was discussed by Dr Pretty Basra during her presentation at 100% Optical 2026 (28 February–2 March, Excel London).

In her presentation, entitled Why the future of optics depends on mental fitness, Basra explained mental fitness as having roots defined by beliefs, with identify formed by a trunk or stem, and leaves representing eventual results.

The concept is important in optics because practitioners’ minds “never switch off” when interacting with the public, Basra said.

She also noted that those within the optical profession are always undertaking some level of training, whether this is in new technology or integration with new practice teams or colleagues.

However, despite a high level of training, optometrists are rarely taught how to train their own minds, Basra noted.

The SEE model: spotting the seed

Practitioners can benefit from developing “a disciplined practice of strengthening their neural pathways,” Basra believes.

She explained that this can involve nurturing a mental seed within the correct environment.

This is something that Basra experienced herself as a teenager, when she failed her A-levels and was told by her chemistry teacher that she would never become an optometrist, she shared.

Basra told attendees that she later met another teacher, who encouraged her to believe that she could turn her U grade in chemistry into an A.

The two scenarios demonstrated “two completely different seeds, in two completely different environments,” she said.

Basra explained the SEE method, which begins with metaphorically spotting the seed and planting it, before eventually growing a better one.

Catching negative thoughts and questioning them before they take hold is an important part of this process, Basra believes.

Basra also revealed that she finds it useful to name her brain, in order to question why it might be sending her negative thoughts – literally asking it, “why are you saying this to me, Susan?”

The second part of the SEE model involves environmental change, Basra said.

In practical terms, she explained that she changed her environment as a teenager by moving to a more supportive school.

The final part of the SEE model involves extracting and replanting the seed, Basra told attendees, emphasising that this is not about pretending that the old roots do not exist.

Instead, she explained, it is about challenging the old narrative, reinforcing the new neural route, and repeating through action.

“I always say that the brain is like a motorway situation,” Basra said: “When you first get on the motorway, when you have first passed your test, you’re like, ‘this is scary.’ Then, you drive on the motorway for years, and you don’t think about it.”

She continued: “Each time you create that new thought, a new pattern, it’s like getting on that motorway again. It feels scary. Your brain wants to default to what it has always known, because it knows that path.

“It’s similar to treading in the snow. It’s difficult: you make the path with your foot, and then over time, it creates a track. That’s what you have to do to your brain.”

Basra added: “That’s how you can start to identify the seed, look at the environment, and then extract it and move it across.”

The importance of boundaries

Basra also acknowledged the importance of boundaries during her presentation, reminding practitioners: “You’re not just a professional – you're a person as well.”

“Everything that you’re taking in isn’t just physical – it’s that mental stuff that you’re exposed to that can start to build overwhelm,” she said.

“Having clear boundaries does comes with age, in my opinion,” Basra added.

She also shared a personal reflection, on how she chose to do a PhD, bought a practice whilst pregnant, and made a decision to incorporate medical aesthetics into her business.

“The people are what make this [career] amazing for me,” she told attendees, before leaving them with a mantra that has been helpful to her in the context of mental fitness: “Tend to the seeds. Water the habits. Strengthen the roots.”

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