Last week was ROUGH around here! Part of our basement flooded, a child took a tumble down the stairs (She's fine, thank God.), and other life circumstances had me really feeling stressed and depressed. I let myself have a cry, a mini-pity party, a slow-moving weekend, and I'm feeling a lot better. Just allowing ourselves to feel those emotions and then let them go can go a long way toward feeling better.
If you've noticed you're in a funk lately, here are some ideas to try. 1. Mute and/or Unplug - social media, the news, and even negative people can have a hugely draining effect on you. Don't be afraid to "snooze" someone on Facebook, stop reading a particularly negative news source, or even reduce contact with people who bring you down. There is no shame in protecting yourself and your mindset! Tune out that negative "noise".
2. Hold fast to the good - Sometimes we get in a rut and are particularly attuned to the negative things that are happening around us. Don't feel bad; that's the nature of our brains. To combat this tendency, keep a journal or a list of the good things that happen each day. As you purposely look for the things that are going right in your life, you'll see more and more. "It takes frequent small positive experiences to tip the scales toward happiness," says psychologist Hara Marano.*
3. Vent to a safe person - Sometimes we need to get things off our chests and be "heard". What do I mean by a "safe person"?
Someone who will keep what you say confidential.
Someone who will support you and not judge.
Someone who will listen, but will not let you stay "stuck" in a negative swirl of emotions.
Someone who will speak the truth in love** to you.
If you have this person in your life, shoot them a text and let them know that you love them! They are pure gold. If you're interested in having a safe person in your life, consider talking with me about how coaching can break you out of negative patterns and bring relief from chronic stress.
4. Affirmations - Don't let that negative self talk take over your life. When you notice negative thoughts, take them captive!*** You can turn a thought around by telling yourself the truth and by reciting a positive affirmation.
If you're thinking, "Ugh. My house is a mess. It will never be clean. I'm a terrible home keeper." Tell yourself, " I use my time wisely. I help create a clean, healthy home."
If you are thinking, "I don't know why I bother on this dream/business/goal." Tell yourself, "My efforts matter. I am moving step by step toward a better future."
If you're thinking, "I will never get control over my stress eating," tell yourself, "I have the spirit of self control. I use resources at my disposal to bust out of this cycle."
5. Have Silly Fun - If you're going through a really tough time, this last one may sound trite, but I promise, a great song and a silly dance party can help lift your mood in a matter of minutes. If you have younger kids, they'll love to join you in doing goofy dance moves. If your kids are older, enjoy the eye-rolling that they direct at you. You're making fun memories despite tough circumstances. What a wonderful lesson to pass on.
Here are some of our favorite dance party songs:
1. "Dancing in the Dark" by Bruce Springsteen
2. "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepson
3. "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift
4. "Can't Stop the Feeling" by Justin Timberlake
5. "I'm Still Standing" by Elton John
6. "Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard" by Paul Simon
7. "High Hopes" by Panic at the Disco
8. "I'm Still Here" by Mandisa
9. "Off the Ground" by Bit Funk
10. "Pompeii" by Bastille
** Ephesians 4:14-15 -"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ."
*** 2 Corinthians 10:5 - "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."