Taking death, major house moves, financial debt and life changing health situations out of the equation, it’s normally the daily grind that gets us down, isn’t it? The niggles of life or worries about getting older which lead to a downward spiral where we can wallow in our own little vale of misery.
Often it’s because we feel we’re failing somehow. Failing in our career or in our job, not hitting the mark as a wife, as a mother, or failing at life in general as society dictates. Perhaps it’s realising we’re not as fit or as agile as we used to be and we feel our bodies are failing us.
If you give your work everything you’ve got, you might ‘get ahead’, or earn a bigger salary, and there again you might not, but there are no reasonable yard arms to measure getting ahead in ‘life’. Anyway, what is getting ahead in life? Having a big house and a big car, having a million friends on Facebook, or being a Saint?
But if we love life, and if we love ourselves and those around us, there can be no failure. There is no win and lose at life.
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7 Simple things to do when you’re feeling down
So if you’re in a funk today be kind to yourself. Just enjoy who you are; the one and only unique you.
- Go for a walk in the sunshine (if you’re in Australia or living somewhere hot don’t forget a hat and suncream) and let the energy of the sun lift you up.
- Or put on a coat, breathe in the cooler air in the Northern Hemisphere and notice the leaves that have fallen from the trees. Remind yourself that new leaves will grow next year, and you too will survive this low and bloom again.
- Touch your toes and look at the world from upside down – believe me, it will make you laugh and this helps!
- Call a friend who makes you laugh and shout her a coffee. Be energised by laughter.
- Indulge in a little pampering.
- Go and get sand, sea or grass between your toes.
- Buy a bunch of flowers and give them to someone who’s having a harder time than you. Just Because. And you’ll be reminded that compassion has a funny way of making you feel much better too.
Sometimes we take life so so seriously, when really as always we should just be enjoying the moment. Changing the way we look at the small things will have an impact on the bigger issues. Just like Pat Flynn says above.
Enjoy this moment, and enjoy being you.
Do tell – what tips do you have for picking yourself up when you’re feeling down?
Until next time,
5 Fresh Spring Looks for Older Spring Chicken
When I’m feeling a bit down I like to walk bare foot along the beach and enjoy the waves lapping on the sand. There is something about this that clears my head and makes me appreciate the beauty around me. Great tips Jo! I like the grabbing a friend and going for coffee one as well.
Thanks Kathy, and I agree walking along a beach bare foot is calming and invigorating, and can be like a meditation if I’m on my own.
As women we are so often harder on ourselves than anyone else is towards us – you rarely find a man stressing that he hasn’t done the dusting or questioning his value as a parent, child or friend! It seems we find it hard to accept being cared for and receiving, rather than giving. Be kind to yourself and others and try not to sweat the small stuff too much. And when that friend stops by to bring you a bunch of flowers just say thank you, and pour the wine/boil the kettle.
Thanks for the reminder Jo.
That is so true Kim 🙂 Men just don’t sweat that kind of small stuff 😉 Yes we have to learn to accept being cared for and to receive well. Thanks for your lovely thoughts today 🙂
thank you so much Jo for the wonderful thoughts. I have a friend who is struggling at the moment and I have written myself a note to buy her some flowers. We get so tied up with o9ur own problems I don’t think we love our friends as much as we should sometimes. This is a timely reminder. My tips – eat chocolate? hmmm a momentary feel good till we think of the kilos. Play music. Sing. Dance. Play with your grandchildren. Sit in the sun and read a book. Walk on the beach. Endulge your passion. Put a plan in place for moving forward.
I hope your friend feels better soon, Jill. It’s natural to get caught up in our own problems but like you say we have to keep looking outwards as well. Yep, music, song and dance (even around the living room) are all great mood lifters! Loved your other suggestions too. Thank you 🙂