Five Ways to Restore Your Mood
1) “Check yo self before you wreck yo self,” as my good friend Robin says (borrowing from the rapper Ice Cube!) What a great thought? Self-awareness is the key to any and all meaningful change. How many times have we said or done things and then wished we had not? Ask yourself, what is it that is stealing your joy? Acknowledge how you are feeling and make a choice to change your outlook! Is your way of thinking making you a better person or empowering you? If not, change it! Negative thoughts weaken you. The ONLY thing we can really change is our thoughts, so choose them wisely!
2) Gratitude! When I am feeling blue, the first thing I do is to ask myself, what am I grateful for right now in my life? Then I write in my gratitude journal. If I am on the road (which is most of the time), I use the free “Gratitude” app on my phone. Counting your blessings is the best way to snap out of a “blue” time. When you focus on all the good you have in your life, there is no room for negative thoughts!
3) Focus. Our focus determines our mood! What we focus on becomes amplified when we give our thought and energy to it. We often focus on what is missing from our lives or what we DON’T want. The power of focus is like a laser beam concentrating on what works for you. Remember, your thoughts determine the world you see. If you don’t like what you see, focus on what you can do. For example:
A) Only think about what you want to have in your life.
B) Visualize and imagine yourself in the situation you desire. Your thoughts have the power to make things happen.
C) Become mindful of your thoughts and treat them with respect. Only choose positive and life-affirming thoughts.
4) Change your self-talk. Speak to yourself like someone you love! We all have an inner critic. If yours is like mine, this can be challenging. When my negative self-talk gets too strong, I pause, tell my mind to stop sending me those negative thoughts and acknowledge that the thoughts are not real but merely coming from my mental chatter. Most people have an average of 60,000-70,000 thoughts per day, most of which are negative. It takes a strong mental muscle to change your way of thinking but it can be done! Start a “mental diet” by monitoring your thoughts for 30 consecutive days and try to keep them positive. It’s not an easy task but it will transform your life. Jim Rohn says, “Happiness is not by chance, but by choice.”
5) Self-care is the answer to so many problems. Depression, anxiety and moodiness are just a few. So many of us are great at caring for others, however we refuse to care for ourselves. We can’t give to others from an empty cup, so it is critical that we take steps to restore ourselves on a daily or weekly basis. Reflexology, massage, a hot bath with candles, soft relaxing music or a walk in nature are all things we can do to restore ourselves. Sometimes, just having 15-20 minutes of quiet reflective time each day can make a big difference. When you feel sad, remind yourself that there are billions of cells in your body and all they care about is you!