When something bad happens, how do you make yourself feel better? Maybe youve lost your job. Maybe youve been crushed in a relationship. What can you do to lift your spirits?
Remind yourself, It could be worse. Making a downward comparison by comparing your situation to people with worse troubles puts your problems into perspective. I know a lot of people who have lost their jobs recently. When talking about it, they often say things like, We have two healthy children, and thats whats important or We almost moved a few months ago, were so glad we didnt, and so were here near our family and friends now. Theyre reminding themselves that, in many ways, theyre fortunate.
Remember your body. Take a twenty-minute walk outside to boost your energy and dissolve stress. Dont let yourself get too hungry. Get enough sleep. When youre anxious, its easy to stay up late cruising the internet and eating ice cream -- and thats going to make you feel a lot worse in the long run. It's very tempting to run yourself ragged trying to deal with a crisis, but in the long run, you just wear yourself out.
Do something fun. Distract yourself from the stress, and re-charge your battery, with an enjoyable activity. Watching a funny movie is a reliable way to give yourself a pleasant break, and listening to your favorite music is one of the quickest ways to change your mood. Be careful, however, not to treat yourself by doing something thats eventually going to make you feel worse (taking up smoking again, drinking too much, indulging in retail therapy). My comfort food activity is researching historical costumes.
Take action. If youre in a bad situation, take steps to bring about change. If youre having trouble with your new boss, you could decide to try to transfer. Or you could change your behavior. Or you could find ways to pay less attention to your boss. Ask yourself, "What exactly is the problem?" It's astounding to me that often, when I take time to identify a problem exactly, a possible solution presents itself.
Look for meaning. Re-frame an event to see the positive along with the negative. Maybe getting fired will give you the push you need to move to the city where youve always wanted to live. Maybe getting cancer has strengthened your relationships with your family. You dont need to be thankful that something bad has happened, but you can see that even a catastrophic event can have (to use a clich) a silver lining.
Spend time with friends and family. Strong social relationships are a KEY to happiness, so fight the impulse to isolate your self. Ask for help, offer your help to others. Or just have some fun (see #4) and forget your troubles for a while.
Make something better. If something in your life has gotten worse, try to make something else better and it doesnt have to be something important. Clean a closet. Organize your photographs. Work in the yard.
Act toward other people the way you wish theyd act toward you. If you wish your friends would help you find someone to date, see if you can fix up a friend. If you wish people would help you find a job, see if you can help someone else find a job. Donate things you dont need anymore to charity. (This is also a way to keep #8). When youre feeling very low, it can be hard to muster the energy to help someone else, but youll be amazed at how much better you feel.
Life's not about waiting for the storms to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.
Remind yourself, It could be worse. Making a downward comparison by comparing your situation to people with worse troubles puts your problems into perspective. I know a lot of people who have lost their jobs recently. When talking about it, they often say things like, We have two healthy children, and thats whats important or We almost moved a few months ago, were so glad we didnt, and so were here near our family and friends now. Theyre reminding themselves that, in many ways, theyre fortunate.
Remember your body. Take a twenty-minute walk outside to boost your energy and dissolve stress. Dont let yourself get too hungry. Get enough sleep. When youre anxious, its easy to stay up late cruising the internet and eating ice cream -- and thats going to make you feel a lot worse in the long run. It's very tempting to run yourself ragged trying to deal with a crisis, but in the long run, you just wear yourself out.
Do something fun. Distract yourself from the stress, and re-charge your battery, with an enjoyable activity. Watching a funny movie is a reliable way to give yourself a pleasant break, and listening to your favorite music is one of the quickest ways to change your mood. Be careful, however, not to treat yourself by doing something thats eventually going to make you feel worse (taking up smoking again, drinking too much, indulging in retail therapy). My comfort food activity is researching historical costumes.
Take action. If youre in a bad situation, take steps to bring about change. If youre having trouble with your new boss, you could decide to try to transfer. Or you could change your behavior. Or you could find ways to pay less attention to your boss. Ask yourself, "What exactly is the problem?" It's astounding to me that often, when I take time to identify a problem exactly, a possible solution presents itself.
Look for meaning. Re-frame an event to see the positive along with the negative. Maybe getting fired will give you the push you need to move to the city where youve always wanted to live. Maybe getting cancer has strengthened your relationships with your family. You dont need to be thankful that something bad has happened, but you can see that even a catastrophic event can have (to use a clich) a silver lining.
Spend time with friends and family. Strong social relationships are a KEY to happiness, so fight the impulse to isolate your self. Ask for help, offer your help to others. Or just have some fun (see #4) and forget your troubles for a while.
Make something better. If something in your life has gotten worse, try to make something else better and it doesnt have to be something important. Clean a closet. Organize your photographs. Work in the yard.
Act toward other people the way you wish theyd act toward you. If you wish your friends would help you find someone to date, see if you can fix up a friend. If you wish people would help you find a job, see if you can help someone else find a job. Donate things you dont need anymore to charity. (This is also a way to keep #8). When youre feeling very low, it can be hard to muster the energy to help someone else, but youll be amazed at how much better you feel.
Life's not about waiting for the storms to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.
VIEW 12 of 12 COMMENTS
junnie:
I am heading out for that walk and you know what? I am gonna do something for me today!!! XOXOOXOX You go do the same!
trixxx:
you are full of good ideas ! <3