Do you ever have those days when everything just seems wrong? Or those times when your day seems to be going great and then BAM! something bad happens and it wrecks your entire mood and, consequently, everything that happens to, for, and around you? I’ve had plenty of those days. But, I’ve learned a secret about not letting them defeat you. Honestly, when I really plug into this mindset, most of my bad days turn a lot better. And yes, it’s difficult at first. But I promise it’s worth it.
The Mindset
The key is something between letting it roll off your back and “faking it until you make it”. I’m all about authenticity. I’m not at all implying you should ignore your emotions. But, I realized that it’s okay to set emotions aside for healthier times to process them.
I used to be a person who would crumple emotionally when one bad thing happened. If something unfortunate occurred, it was like the rug was torn out from underneath me. I could get back up, but not without a lot of pain and time and energy wasted. I then realized it didn’t have to be that way.
All I had to do was accept what was happening, breathe, tell myself it was okay, and then (temporarily) move on.
Saving it for Later vs Ignoring Emotions
Saving emotional processing for a more convenient time is healthy. It allows you to fully plug into everything in your day. Once you’ve tended to all the tasks at hand, you’ll still have time to digest everything that’s troubling you. Sometimes, I’ve even found that by the time I get to the point of my day where I can process, I don’t feel as strongly about what I was going to meditate on later.
The main thing to remember is to set aside that downtime. Otherwise, you basically are pushing your feelings down. Even if it’s a really busy week and all you have is ten minutes before bed, it’s still worth it to take that time to breathe, meditate, cry (if you need to), and think of action steps to move forward. As always, remember you’re resting enough and taking care of yourself the best you can. Sometimes our emotions go into overdrive when our body is trying to tell us it’s not getting what it needs.
Sometimes Things Aren’t Personal
We’ve all been tired, anxious, felt sad, and just felt “off”. I know when I’m in a negative mindset, sometimes I don’t perceive things in the most accurate way. Sometimes I’ve even not been as nice to others because I’m so stuck in my own negativity bubble.
All this is to say that sometimes the reactions we receive from others is just a reflection of how they’re feeling. Not of us. So if someone else is what seems to be causing your bad moods, let this help you to shrug it off a little easier. And if you’re still worried you’ve done something wrong, let yourself reflect on it later when you’ve set to process everything emotionally.
Why It Works
Positivity is a cycle. Typically, if someone in a room is really upbeat, then that mood spreads to everyone around them.
If you’re in a bad mood or something just happened to set you off, taking a step back and choosing to act positive (even when you don’t want to) will help those around you be more positive. Then, that might cycle back to you where you’ll ACTUALLY get to feeling better. Knowing you’re not leaving the issue alone entirely is also comforting.
Bonus Note
If you know you’re continuously going through a rough time, seeking professional help is always an option. Looking at the bigger picture and noticing trends in feeling more anxious or depressed than feeling content might be a sign that something bigger is going on. In that case, go to someone you trust. You don’t have to live through constant mental health struggles.
For more mental health related articles, visit Dictionary Guide to My Mental Health
