We have all had the mind-numbing days when everything goes wrong and we begin to think it might be safer to go home and hide under the covers until the day is over. We often cannot control the events in our lives but there are some strategies that can help ensure that you never have a bad day again. All it takes is a little strategy and you can control what your day is like.
1. You have to have an attitude.
Your attitude can change anything. We have all heard the statement that the important thing is not what happens to you but how you react to the situation. You have the power to choose how you will react to anything. You can appear defeated and have a pity party for yourself or you can find a way to change what happens into a positive. I once woke up to find that my dog had destroyed the upstairs of our house. My husband was traveling and I only had a short period of time to help a four-year-old and two teenagers get ready for school and I had to dress for work. There was no question of time to clean up the mess and I was going to be in class and meetings all day so I was not sure when I could clean up. When I first saw the mess, my children were all ready for an explosion from me, but I merely said calmly “I’m not sure when I can clean this.” I took my four-year-old to daycare and when I returned, the two older children had skipped breakfast to clean up for me. It left me with a positive feeling the rest of the day and it showed me once again that a negative can lead to a positive. When something bad happens, take a deep breath before you react and think about the possibilities. Is there something that you can do to turn the negative around into something good?
2. Don’t make it all about you.
The second way to vanquish a bad day is to turn your focus away from yourself and to be someone else’s strength. There is always someone else that has bigger problems than you. When you start to realize this, you will become more grateful for the good things in your life. Put your problems aside and see if you can help another person. This help does not have to cost you anything or take a huge amount of time. Sometimes a few kind words or a simple smile can do amazing things to brighten someone’s day. Put your problems into perspective and realize that your blessings probably outweigh your problems.
3. Throw out the trash
In case your problems do outweigh your blessings, it’s time to fix what’s broken. Sit down and make a list of what you want from life. Do not put any restrictions on it. Do not say, “Well, I would like this, but that is not possible.” Write down everything you want. Now devise a plan for how you are going to make it happen. Anything is possible, but we are often the ones holding ourselves back because of fear. You’ll never know what the answer to what if is if you do not try. Take some risks and reconfigure your life the way you want it. Reread that sentence again and emphasize the way you want it. Do not change it for your husband or your friends or your children, change it for your happiness. The chances are you will be a better mother, friend, lover, wife when your happiness becomes a priority.
4. Be kind to yourself
Another way to banish bad days is to practice positive self-talk. Listen to the way your internal voice sounds. Most women have many more negative thoughts than positive ones. We tend to beat ourselves up pretty badly. Sentences like “I can’t believe I did that, I am such an idiot.” “I hope I don’t mess this up.” are common sentences for a woman. Take note first of how you talk to yourself and then change every negative to a positive.
5. Find the humor
A sense of humor can save almost every situation. If you can laugh at something it seems to diminish the severity of the moment. Stay calm in a bad situation and if other people are involved lighten the situation for them with some humor. Laugh often.
6. Get some sleep.
Everything seems better when you are rested and lack of sleep can cause all sorts of problems including an inability to concentrate and an increase in your stress.
7. Get moving
Exercise is a great way to leave your problems behind. Do something you enjoy and let anything that is bothering you fall off your shoulders.
8. Call a friend
A friend can lighten our mood in a second. Our friends tend to put things in perspective and make us laugh and laughter can turn any mood around.
9. Treat yourself
On those days when nothing seems to be going our way, pick something you love to do and go do it. It doesn’t have to be anything that costs money just something that will raise your mood.
10. Don’t whine
Talking too much about the negative makes it worse. Put it behind you and hope for a better day tomorrow.
When my children were little we started putting spare change in a mason jar that we called the money jar. I wanted to teach my children that small amounts of money would add up to big savings if they continually put money aside. Even as adults now, they love to go put the coins in the coin sorter at the grocery store and guess how much is in the money jar.
The money jar has paid for some extras for vacation, it has helped with an extra bill, and it has been given as birthday or Christmas money from time to time. We have always used the money for our needs until my cousin told me about the author, Jason F. Wright and his book, The Christmas Jar.
Mr. Wright takes a jar like ours, fills it with spare money throughout the year and on Christmas he gives it to a family who could use some extra money. I think this is an amazing idea, and I am going to start our own Christmas jar, but what if you took it a step further and donated money from the jar several times a year. On birthdays, you could ask for donations for the jar instead of presents, if you do any fundraisers for your church you could have the jar out for donations.
Christmas is a time when we tend to notice need more, and people are more willing to open their hearts and their wallets, but what if we can find more ways like the money jar to help people all throughout the year?
I remember a soccer coach telling me that I had an easy job as the cross-country coach because all I had to do was to tell them to run. He had no idea it’s more complicated than that. There are ways to start safely, to improve consistently, and tools and exercises to prevent injuries. It is a very easy sport to start, but many people become frustrated and quit because they do not start correctly. Let me help you start a running program.
Why you should run
Running has truly saved my life both physically and mentally numerous times. It has helped me through the rough spots and kept me healthy. The people who know me best will always describe me as a runner before anything else. Here are ten reasons to run.
1. Runners have the best-looking legs. Muscles are sexy and runners’ legs are rippling in muscle. Those muscles might be sore, torn, or strained, but they look good no matter what.
2. Running strengthens your mind as well as your body. Runners set goals, reflect on their progress, but most importantly they develop mental techniques to help them run faster or longer and this mental strength can help in other aspects of life as well.
3. Running teaches us a lot about our bodies. We learn where the iliotibial band is and how to stretch it. We learn about ways to strengthen body parts to protect ourselves from injury and we know how to avoid chafing, aching, and blistering. We know how to treat our body like a fine machine; give it the right fuel and maintain the parts and everything will be fine.
4. You will never need to buy another t–shirt. Even if you have a dresser full of shirts a runner cannot help but be excited to see what the t-shirt will look like for the next race.
5. You have an excuse to eat carbs. Runners need energy so it’s ok to eat those carbohydrates and although we still have to eat in moderation, we can eat a little extra than a non-runner.
6. The demands of running will make you stronger. Running allows you to discover where your limits are and to try to push beyond those barriers. Trying to go to the next level will help you improve.
7. Running allows you to meet new people. I have never been to a race where I have not met at least one new interesting person. Runners tend to be nice people and as you are standing around before or after a race people will strike up conversations with you.
8. Running gives you time to think. Some of my best ideas and problem-solving are done while I’m running when no one is speaking to me or demanding my time.
9. You can connect to the community. Running gives you a chance to get out and about, to see what is going on in the neighborhood. It is difficult to go out for a run and not interact with at least one person. On Sundays, I run in my neighborhood and one after another my neighbors wander out to talk to me while I run around them or shuffle in place. I find out more information on that run than I do at any other time. You can explore roads and paths and really get to know your community.
10. Your mood will be better. Ask any runner what he or she is like after not running for a few days and words like moody and grumpy are used. Running is a healthy drug that can make you feel better in general.
How to start
Running can seem like an insurmountable task to some people. They see slender people who are scantily clad with colorful shoes racing past them and they say “Oh, no, I could never do that.” Well, why not? Running is a great way to strengthen your body, lose weight, control stress, improve your mood, and with some simple steps anyone can get started. Here are some basics to get you on your way.
1. Keep your head up and run tall with arms at a 90-degree angle. This allows you to breathe at maximum capacity. This is also about being relaxed as well as not wasting movement by having your arms flailing about.
2. Keep your shoulders relaxed and focus on breathing. It is very common for beginning runners to tense up their shoulders. This will result in painful cramping in their shoulders. Try to run with the body completely relaxed. This will also help to avoid some injuries since a loose body reacts to certain situations better than a tense, rigid one. New runners will sometimes hold their breath because they are so focused on running. Focus on regular breathing in and out until it becomes second nature.
3. Never run through an injury. A small problem can become a larger one if it is ignored. It is often difficult for a runner to take time off, but a little rest can prevent the need to be sidelined for longer periods.
4. Feet should follow a straight line. This will help to keep your body aligned. Runners who point their feet to their sides often end up with hip and knee problems.
5. Lean into hills with short strides and control running downhill. Shortening your stride and leaning into the hill will make it easier to get up it faster. Hill running also requires some mental training. Remember that it is only a hill. Have some mental boosters ready to repeat as you ascend. An example would be “I will not stop, you cannot defeat me, I will conquer this” It is surprising how well this works. When going downhill, control the way your feet impact the ground. Many runners slam their feet down with each step and end up with shin splints. Lean forward into the hill and run through it.
6. Do a variety of different types of runs. Do some long slow runs because you have to build a base of miles in order to run well. A long slow run also is a great way to ease out the kinks and unwind. We say that we are doing LSD (long slow distance) the runner’s drug. Run some hills.Hills not only make you faster and stronger, but hill work also helps you with technique. It also prepares you mentally for a hilly course. Do some speed work because the only way to get faster is to run faster. Speedwork is also a great way to learn how to pace yourself.
7. Run softly. Pay attention to how hard your feet hit the ground. If you can lessen the impact when you run, you have less chance of injury.
8. Buy good shoes and Take care of your feet. . Everything starts with the shoes. They can protect you from injury so find a good pair. Pay attention to what is happening to your feet. Apply lotion after running to make sure they do not crack. Check for blisters and black toes.
9. Drink plenty of fluids and eat a variety of food. Most of us do not drink enough fluid even when we are not exercising and a deficiency of fluids can make us sluggish. When we are running, we lose fluids and need to replace them. The best way to avoid dehydration is to drink a little all day. You know you are drinking enough if when you go to the bathroom your urine is clear. Do not follow the fad of the day whether it is a high protein or low carbohydrates. Eat a variety of healthy foods.
10. Understand the mental aspect of running. There are several things that will benefit you mentally. You have to be confident that you will do your best. You have to work on a positive attitude and practice positive self-talk. Play games when you run like counting how many runners you pass. Never go out with a defeatist attitude, it will slow you down much faster than shin splints. Set goals and decide how you will meet them.
Goals
What would you like to achieve in the future and what can you shoot for in the short term? An example would be that you want to complete a marathon by the end of the year and to do that you are going to gradually do longer races until you feel that you are ready for the marathon.
Investing time in training
Spend some time planning your training. Make it enjoyable and vary your routines. You have to put in the time to see the results.
Trail running
Go off-road and try some trail running. You will see beautiful views and have a different set of challenges from road running.
Attitude
Be your number one fan and celebrate the successes. Believe that you can achieve anything that you attempt.
Never giving up
Try not to give in to frustration. Everyone has days when they want to run farther than their body wants to, there will be days when it is better to take a day off.
Extra miles
If you want to be a distance runner, you have to run distance. Set aside some time to fit in some extra runs.
Running gear
· Good shoes
I know we are going through a minimalist phase right now and barefoot running is still popular, but I know that I personally need a good shoe. When I coached running, I found that most injuries stemmed from a problem with the shoes. Go to a running store and have someone evaluate your running style. Ask their advice about the shoe you need to match your style and mileage. If you can afford two pairs, it is a good idea to switch them out and wear them on alternate days. I learned that I had to buy a half a size bigger than I needed for a street shoe. Spending money on a good pair of shoes could eliminate the aggravation of an injury later.
· A foam roller
This is a round piece of foam that is used to roll out aches and pains. They can be found at most stores including Wal-Mart and Target. Position the roller under the aching muscle and roll back and forth on top of it. It is fairly painful but a great way to help your muscles recover.
The stick
This is used for the same thing as the roller, but it is easier to use. It looks like a long baton, and you just run it over the muscles.
A tennis ball
This can be used for the same things as the stick and the roller, but it is more portable. It works great on sore shoulders too.
Elastic bands/resistance bands
You can buy pieces of elastic and use them to strengthen your legs. Put them around your feet and do leg lifts. You can also use them for arm exercises. You can also use resistance bands to stretch.
Compression socks/sleeves
Compression socks and sleeves can aid in recovery, and they are also helpful during running. You can also find sleeves for things like sore it bands.
Balance board
Balance is an important health component and balance boards can be fun. Once you think that you can keep the board steady, add something to it like bouncing a tennis ball off the wall and catching it while keeping your balance. You can buy them at almost all departments or running stores.
Epsom salts
These are placed in the bath to help soothe sore muscles.
A hat for rainy runs
Rainy runs can be beautiful, but you need something to keep the water out of your eyes, so a baseball cap is a necessity in the toolbox.
Fuel
If you are doing a high intensity or a long run it’s a good idea to carry something to eat with you. You can choose from a variety of bars, energy waffles or gels. Find what you enjoy.
Pepto Bismol tablets for long runs
Runners occasionally have gastrointestinal distress especially on long rungs and Pepto Bismol tablets can avoid a painful situation.
Comfy running clothes
Running clothes do not have to be expensive. I have found my favorite running clothes at the local thrift store. Wear what you are comfortable in. Experiment with different fabrics and different layers during colder weather. Do not experiment with anything the day of a race though. It’s best to go with tried and true on those days.
Vaseline
Running stores sell body glide that helps avoid chafing but Vaseline works just as well and it’s less expensive.
Bio freeze
You will eventually experience sore muscles. Bio freeze can help keep you comfortable.
Weights
Weights can help strengthen your muscles to prevent injuries.
Inspiration
Inspiration can be found in readings that motivate you, a friend who supports you, or a fellow runner who runs despite a disability or hardship. All you have to do to find this type of inspiration is go to a race and be an observer.
A running log
Track your progress by writing down your workouts and how you felt. Record races and times and plan your goals.
A little dash of crazy
This comes in handy when your friend convinces you to run a race that requires training that you have not done or when the weather is horrific or you are asked to run in a race that involves zombies chasing you, obstacles, or great quantities of mud.
If you can have at least some of these items in your possession, your adventure with running will probably go smoother.
The ABCs of Running
Most of the time reducing wisdom to its most basic form gives us the greatest benefit. An example of this would be to look at running advice in the form of the ABCs.
Add more mileage gradually. 10% more per week is the recommended amount.
Be a cheerleader for yourself. Celebrate the triumphs and don’t worry too much about the rest.
Continue to try to improve.
Decide what your challenge is going to be and get ready to meet it.
Energize with nutritious food.
Forget all your problems and enjoy a great run.
Get a good playlist on your iPod.
Hydrate.
Invest in a good pair of shoes. Many injuries stem from poor shoes. Protect yourself.
Just run and have fun.
Keep track of your time and your mileage.
Love your feet. They are carrying you and they need tender care.
Mentally prepare yourself to run.
Never run through an injury.
Openly recruit friends to run with you.
Prepare for a race.
Question veteran runners to find what works for them.
Rest.
Set goals.
Try new routes and routines.
Understand that there will be days your body does not want to run.
Value a good long run.
Weather is not always an excuse not to run. Dress accordingly.
X out injuries with common sense.
Yell for and encourage others in your races.
Zeal will keep you going when your body does not want to.
The beginning of a new year is always a great time to make new goals. Making new goals gives you a chance to reflect on your life, what is working, and what you can improve. Divide your goals into categories, make them achievable, and revisit them regularly to see what progress you made, and what changes you would like to make to your goals. Here are some ideas for categories.
Physical
This can include goals about health including a fitness routine, more sleep, rest, and nutrition. It can also include going for regular check-ups.
Mental
Goals for this category can include stress reduction, mental stimulation, increasing your self-confidence, and simplifying your life.
Spiritual
If you are a believer, your spiritual goals can be strengthening your relationship with God. If you are a non-believer your spiritual goals can include being more present in the moment and being more in touch with nature.
Relationships
Goals can include how to treat others as well as how you want to be treated.
Goals must be action statements because you are going to take action to improve your life. There must be a verb in each one. An example would be I will walk a mile at least three times a week, I will learn a new instrument, or I will take cooking lessons.
One of the best ideas I have heard was to keep a goal journal. You write down all your goals in the journal and then pick a period of time to reread the goals. Let’s say you decide to look at them every month. You will mark each goal with a green highlighter if you have completed it and a yellow one if you are still working on it.
Document your goal journey. What helped you to accomplish a goal, what challenges did you have? What do you need to do to accomplish certain goals? Write down your progress so you can look back at them when all of them have been completed.
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t meet all your goals. Keep trying and believe you will eventually find success.
A vision board is a visual representation of your goals. Many believe that by expressing your goals and being able to visualize them on a regular basis, you will achieve those goals quicker. Even if you don’t believe that it is a great way to reflect on your goals and to have a visual reminder of them. To make a vision board, follow these steps.
· Make a list of your goals either for the coming year, longer-term life goals, or both. You can also include what you hope to have. An example would be this year I want to buy my dream house or a dog.
· For each goal, find a visual representation. You can use a photo, a drawing, something out of a magazine, or anything else you want.
· Decide what you want to use as your board. You can use a poster board, a bulletin board, a canvas, or any other material you prefer.
· Are there any quotations, or words of inspiration that are important to you? You can include those too.
· Now it’s time to put it all together. This is your board so there are no rules on what goes where. You could place your pictures in order of importance or in the order you would like them to happen, or you can put them all over the place. Have fun with it and make it visually pleasing to you.
· I write below my pictures what my goal is, but you don’t have to do that.
· Find a spot where you will easily see the board, and occasionally reflect on what goals you have and whether you would like to change them.
A gym is a fascinating place. There is such a variety of people of all professions and ages and different levels of fitness. Everyone is there because in some way the gym is going to make them healthier. Some people are there because it provides an opportunity to socialize, some are recovering from an accident or surgery and they can find the support they need and get back in shape at their own speed. Some are there religiously
every day for at least an hour, pounding their body into shape. All of these people have their reasons for being at the gym, but there is another group that I think we need to help. I am talking about those people who are new to an exercise routine. Many of us take our regimen for granted and believe that everyone knows what you should do to have a quality workout. The truth is that there is a fair amount of people who have no idea what, how much, or how often they should exercise. I offer to them my tips for a quality
workout.
Pick a form of exercise that you enjoy and that you will do consistently.
Set some goals for what you hope your exercise will do for you and how you hope to achieve these goals.
Be consistent. Exercise at least 3 days a week for at least half an hour.
Start slow and do not overdo. Listen to your body and try to do a little bit more over time.
A good rule for what level of intensity you use for cardio is that you should be a little winded but able to carry on a conversation.
Combine cardio with strength training. Do weights or another strength workout 3 times a week.
Ask for help learning how to do strength training properly.
Leave your cell phone in the car or at home.
Don’t cheat yourself by doing a workout that is too easy.
Do not be afraid to ask questions of people who have been exercising for a while.
Keep a log or journal of what you do each day and monitor your progress.
Do not think that exercise gives you an excuse to eat everything in your refrigerator.
Movement is a key element to a great quality of life, so make a commitment that you can keep and take that first step towards a healthier you.
My parents had huge gardens. My dad oversaw the vegetables, and my mom tended the many flower beds around our house. Gardening for my family was about survival. There wasn’t a lot of extra money so the produce from the garden helped cut our grocery bill, and the fresh food from the garden fed us all year thanks to the canning that my mom did. There was a large space in the cellar with shelves full of canned vegetables.
My dad wanted to increase our ability to save money by growing our own food beyond the summer growing months, so he began an indoor garden. I remember loving watching the vegetables grow, but I didn’t feel like I had the green thumb that my dad did.
Several years ago, I started to experiment with gardening on my own. I had a few raised beds, and my attitude was to have fun and see what happened. I quickly realized that I loved the time I spent in the garden. I was out there singing and talking to the plants. My husband built me an enclosed garden and increased the number of beds. I can’t say I always follow the rules of gardening because I have more of a why not try it and see what happens attitude while my husband wants to do everything by the book. This caused some problems when I told him I was going to do a second planting in late August. He gave me a look that said he did not approve of my crazy ideas, and I persuaded him to give it a try. This was the beginning of my foray into winter gardening.
We live in Georgia so the weather can sometimes stay warm through December with some occasional dips in temperatures. This year, I still have peas, cherry tomatoes, carrots, and lettuce growing. Because we do not have a lot of snow, I can grow lettuce and carrots through the winter. There are many ways to have a winter garden even if you live in a colder climate than we do. Here are a few ideas.
A cold frame is a box with a clear top without a bottom that can be made with an old window on a wooden or metal base.
A hotbed is a cold frame with an extra heating device.
A cloche is a transparent covering for a single plant. An example would be a cutout milk jug.
An unheated greenhouse is a glass or translucent building that absorbs heat from the sun and protects the plants.
A row cover is a lightweight, semi-transparent fabric that allows water, air, and sun in but protects the plants from the wind and harsh weather.
Research some more ways to have a winter garden and don’t be afraid to break the rules and have some fun!
The definition of an empath is someone who can detect the thoughts and feelings of other people. Some empaths not only sense the feelings of others but also absorb them. Some believe that empaths can feel the energy of others. It is difficult to prove with scientific data that being an empath is a real thing, but I know it is because I am one.
All my life, I have been able to feel someone’s emotions. As a teacher, it was a wonderful gift because I could read the room and diffuse any negative emotions that might have disrupted the lesson by acknowledging the emotions.
My children are still surprised when they are trying to show a brave front and I see through it. My daughter had come home from seeing her boyfriend. She popped her head into my bedroom where I was reading. She said, “Hi mom, I’m back.” She was trying to sound happy but all I could feel was sadness. I asked her what was wrong, and she said, “nothing.” and started to leave. I asked her again what was wrong, and she burst into tears and told me she and her boyfriend had argued. Later, she told me she couldn’t figure out how I always know when something is wrong. I see a similar reaction when I ask someone if they are o.k. I am used to seeing the surprise in their eyes as they ask, “How did you know?”
I don’t tell many people that I can feel emotions because I have always thought it sounded a little crazy. I still remember the day I was in a bookstore and saw a book about empaths. I almost started crying when I realized that what I experienced was common and well documented.
Although I feel the emotions around me, I do not absorb the emotions of others. I cannot imagine what that would be like. My greatest frustration as an empath is when I feel the emotions of a stranger and I want to reach out and talk with the person, but the situation does not allow me to do it. I don’t want to intrude on anyone’s privacy.
Empaths are vulnerable to depression because they experience sensory overload. Crowds, excessive talking, and noise can be difficult for an empath. They are often described as being hyper-sensitive and they have an overwhelming desire to please people. Empaths often have a connection to nature and need to be in nature to recharge.
There is a test that says if you say yes to more than three of the following, you are an empath.
Do people say I am too sensitive or emotional?
If a friend is sad, do I feel sad as well?
Do my feelings get hurt easily?
Do crowds drain me, requiring me to escape for time alone?
Does noise, excessive talk, or odors fray my nerves?
Do I overeat, drink excessively, or overindulge in other activities to cope with emotional stress?
Am I afraid of being emotionally suffocated in a relationship?
I answer yes to 6 out of 7. How about you? Are you an empath?
At a recent family gathering, my son said something outlandish and my daughter stared at him open-mouthed with a look of confusion and said, “What is going on in your head?”
During the past two years, I have had a similar look on my face and the same thought as I have listened to the outlandish things people have said and done.
In my opinion, the pandemic has brought forth some issues and some emotional responses to them that have stayed tucked in a dark corner until we were again faced with the fragility of life, and the short time we have to live. It has fueled a quest for what people perceive as justice, but the problem is people’s perceptions can be very different.
I would describe myself as being open-minded, and I believe everyone is entitled to an opinion just as I have the right to disagree with that opinion. There are certain times though when someone refuses to accept the truth even though it is there for all to see in complete clarity. This is when my mouth drops open and I say, “what is going on in your head?”
I am going to stay away from the political situation in this essay because my blood pressure will rise and I will not understand it any better. Instead, I will give you some examples in my own family. Let me ask you first, how do you respond when someone says something outlandish? Do you let your emotions take over, do you walk away, do you ignore the comment, or do you try to help someone see the truth? It depends on the situation and the person for me. Let me give you some examples.
I taught French for 40 years, lived in France for a year, and took 18 student trips there, so when my husband asked me what the time difference was between there and Atlanta, I said it was six. He thought it would be a good idea to argue with me about it. Even with my French background and the answer on the internet, he thinks he is right. Recently, he told me that he didn’t understand the fear about COVID-19. He was also one of the people at the beginning of the pandemic who believed more people had died of the flu. I actually handled the COVID statements better than I did the French question even though it was more emotionally charged. When he made the most recent statement, I reminded him of the facts and said that when people lose loved ones, (I lost my sister and my aunt), it makes it real. What is the answer to dealing with someone who believes he is right even when reality says he is not? I think you have to stay calm and continue to present the facts.
As a runner, I hear some lapses in reality. I often hear people say they wished they could be a runner, and then the crazy excuses begin about why they cannot. One excuse left me open-mouthed when a woman said, “I can’t run because my joints hurt.” I wanted to tell her if she ran her joints would stop hurting, but I knew she would replace that excuse with another one.
It is difficult for us to understand the way someone else thinks, and if you are like me, you often question whether it is your logic that is flawed. Day after day, I hear stories that defy any logic, and try as I might, I cannot wrap my head around the way some people filter truth. I guess I will continue to ask the question, “What is going on in your head?”. I’ll spread the truth as I know it, do my best to stay open-minded and understand different perceptions, and above all, I will keep a sense of humor.
Do you have days when you feel alone even though you have loving friends and family? Can you be hard on yourself because you have let your self-talk become negative? Do you sometimes feel as if you cannot do anything right? Do people in general occasionally disappoint you? If your answer is yes, you are not alone. I know my life is richly blessed and most days content is the way I would describe myself, but occasionally, I have a rough day where I need to recharge and take care of my mental state. What can someone do to make it through days like this? Here are a few ideas.
Inspiration
When I’m feeling low, I am looking for some words to lift me back up. I want to hear about someone who is brave, resilient, loving, and kind. I want my faith restored that there are good people out there. This inspiration can be found watching a program, reading, or observing people. I enjoy finding the right words when I am reading. Two authors I love are Bob Goth and John Maxwell. I enjoy Bob Goth’s podcasts too.
Quiet
I need some quiet time to recharge. I am very sensitive and emotional, so a little silence is necessary for me. Decide what helps you recharge and do it often.
Sleep
The amount of sleep we have affects everything especially our moods, and sleep is a wonderful escape.
Going outside
Nature is restorative for me. I am in awe of the beauty around me, and there is peace in that beauty, so it doesn’t take long for me to feel better if I can be outside.
Listening to music
Music is calming and motivating depending on what you need. I always feel better after listening to the music I love.
Laughter
It is impossible to be sad when you are laughing. If your friends are too busy, find some funny videos or a funny movie. Hearing other people laugh has the same effect.
Share
It is usually not a good idea to push down or ignore your emotions. Find a friend who understands you and share when you are feeling down. Creative expressions are also a good way to release your feelings. I share with my writing.
Put things in perspective
Whatever your negative voice says, refute it with evidence to the contrary. When you start to write down facts, the negatives will dwindle.
When you have a rough day, realize you are not alone and find a healthy way to recharge and turn your outlook around.
Jennifer’s writing 