How
To Cheer Yourself Up When You're Down by Colleen Moulding
Got
the colder weather, sour relationships, no money, poor health, plain
ol' down 'n dirty blues? Try some of these strategies to blow away
those dark clouds and let the sunshine into
your life again.
1)
Dance! Put on your favourite music, turn it up loud and dance! This
is guaranteed to make you feel good. If you are unable to dance,
don't let that stop you having fun - sing at the
top of your voice instead.
2)
Smile! Force yourself to smile even if you don't feel like it. This
tricks your brain into thinking that you are happy. You do want
to be happy don't you? Okay then - a great big cheesy grin. After
three, one, two, three, - smile :0)
3)
Spend time with children. Their natural zest for life is infectious.
As well as the pleasures of a spontaneous hug or a chubby little
hand in yours, try to take away with you some of their joy in simple
things, licking an ice cream, playing with water, tramping through
fallen leaves or following a butterfly.
4)
Reward yourself. If there is a job that you hate to do, household
accounts, home repairs etc. don't keep putting it off so that it
is constantly nagging at you. Just get it done. Then reward yourself
with whatever you love, a shiny new magazine, a bunch of flowers,
a long soak in an aromatic bath, two bars of chocolate or an evening
in front of the tv doing absoutely nothing. Or even all of the above
if you can afford it. The peace of mind that comes from having got
the job done will be the
greatest reward of all.
5)
Clear out your clutter. The ancient art of Feng Shui believes that
getting rid of clutter rids your home or work space of negative
stuck energy and allows space for positive energy to surge into
all aspects of your life. Whether ornot this is correct, it is an
undeniable fact that clearing out what you no longer want or need
makes life easier. Your home is neater, looks more spacious and
is easier to clean. There can also be a tremendous feeling of freedom
as you let go of the past and trust in the future to bring you what
you will need. Emotional clutter can be even more damaging. We've
all said or done things we regret, the trick is to do anything you
can to repair the damage and if that is not possible, forgive yourself
and toss it out of your life.
6)
Take action. If something is worrying you, be it a health problem,
or debt or divorce, make that doctor's appointment, get some debt
counselling, find out your rights. The reality is often less stressful
than sitting alone worrying about it. Try to talk over your problems
with a friend, or if that is impossible find a support group on
the Internet by typing debt,
divorce or whatever into a search engine.
7)
Positive thoughts. When you leave the house each morning, say and
mean, I'm going to have a great day, it's going to be lots of fun,
rather than thinking Oh no, another dreary day at the office to
get through. The first attitude will attract good vibrations and
positive fun people to
you, the second will ensure a depressing day.
8)
Have more fun. Apparently children laugh approximately 400 times
a day yet adults laugh only about 20 times a day. When do we lose
our sense of fun? Claim it back. Play games, watch comedies, have
daily jokes delivered to your mailbox or throw a fancy dress party.
9)
Make something. Being creative gives you such a buzz you won't stay
down in the dumps for long. Stencil a room, make a cake, plan a
garden, sketch or paint a picture. Express yourself with a modern
collage, change your, rooms around, display your collections or
start a patchwork quilt.
10)
Keep a gratitude journal. Write down half a dozen things every day
that you are grateful for, from waking up and seeing your children's
beautiful little faces to the smell of the roses in the local park.
This cannot fail to cheer you up if you do it regularly as it gives
you a
whole new way of experiencing your life.
11)
Start a new project. Learn a language, trace your family history,
redecorate your home, learn to ride a horse, gain a new qualification,
take music lessons, learn to make your own soft furnishings or do
your own auto repairs. Visualize yourself successfully completing
the project and the benefits it will bring to your life. Then make
a start and follow it through to the end. An added bonus will be
the increased self esteem that comes from having planned, problem
solved and perfected the whole project yourself.
12)
See your old friends. It's easy to get into a work, family, housework,
shopping, sleep and back to
work again routine that leaves you no time at
all
to be the person you once were. The funny, up for a laugh, outgoing
young woman you used to be.Spending time with friends who knew the
old you seems to reseurrect that side of your character. You will
come away feeling younger, more positive and excited by life than
you were before you met up. Go on, invite them over to share a pizza
and catch up on each other's lives.
13)
Paint or accessorize a room that you spend a lot of time in a lovely
bright yellow. The colour of sunshine will lift your spirit and
bring positive vibrations. We subconciously know about the effects
of colour on our emotions which is why we talk about the future
looking rosy or having
the blues.
14)
Take the happiness option. You have the choice whether to spend
this day, which you will never live
through again, in a state of happiness or
unhappiness.
Choose to spend it as happily as you possibly can.
About
the author: Colleen Moulding is a freelance writer from England
where she has had many features on parenting, childcare, travel,
the Internet and lots more published in national magazines and newspapers.
She has also published a variety of women's and children's fiction.
Her
work frequently appears at many sites on the Internet and at her
own site for women and children http://www.allthatwomenwant.co.uk
a magazine, web guide and resource for women everywhere. Why not
drop by? It was made for you!
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