3 Quick Steps To Lift Yourself Up When You Are Feeling Down

Being a human means we all ride the emotional rollercoaster. Some day we show up as our "best selves," while other days we just don't want to show up! Even if we try harder, it seems quite impossible to avoid those meltdown moments. Are you feeling down, lonely, lost, or confused today? I hope this article will help you to lift yourself up, and you start to see your life looking good and beautiful again! 

Our moods rise and fall according to our thinking pattern. I know most of the times our thoughts and emotions are triggered by others around us, or in our lives. But let me remind you about that superpower we all have within us, that will save our day. It's called the "choice of thoughts." 

Imagine a day in your life when you were completely low with your energy, feeling betrayed, lonely, confused, exhausted, and overwhelmed [as it happened to me a few days back].  You were completely going down that rollercoaster feeling terribly scared, and with a fear in your heart that, "you might not make it to the end!" Then all of a sudden you changed the way you looked around and thought, "Oh! I've so many more people sitting in this ride, and phew; I'm not alone. I can do this! We are almost there." You immediately started feeling calm and convinced with your thoughts. Everything started looking different and you knew you'd be fine.

So what do you think, what changed in that situation? Nothing, but just your thought. You shifted your focus and put all your energy into thinking - you can do this. You can!

We can control how we want to feel at that moment; but we often fall into the victim trap of other's thoughts and behavior. We can control ourselves-how we want to react in certain situations, but we can never shut others (especially if their intention is to hurt you, in any possible way)! "I guess I knew the reasons behind feeling this way, but it was difficult for me to feel better; and to not feel down.  I'm sure you can relate!

But I reminded myself that I can make a better choice just by changing my focus around to different types of thoughts that can make me feel a little lighter and in a better place than I was at that moment.

"Every day brings a choice: to practice stress or to practice peace."

                                                                                                          - Joan Borysenko

"I tried to gather all my emotions and said this to myself; "I just want to come out of this, right now!" 

Whenever you feel yourself in such unwanted, unhappy situations; just remind yourself, "nothing and nobody can block your path to 'true' happiness." The closer you get to your painful thoughts and feelings, the sooner you will feel free. Sit with those surprise visitors as an when they show up.

I've completely stopped sharing my pain and worries with anyone these days. I feel only I can control how I want to feel. Therefore talking to myself, going for a walk outdoors, writing in my journal, or involving myself in doing some art  brings me that positive energy to quickly lift myself up, when I'm feeling very down.  

I tried doing a video and talking all about how I was feeling, and what can I do to stop feeling that way. I'm so deeply happy that I pushed myself through it. It is so important to release those emotions. 

I always believe that the best way to connect with yourself and with others is to be authentic, raw, and to be honest. Show up just the way you're feeling that day, and you'll be surprised to know that you actually inspire others, and give them the voice to share their stories, just by being honest, and by being you . And when there a flow of those low feeling emotions, we create space for better feeling thoughts. Do anything you can like; crying, laughing out loud, talking, walking, or singing, or writing, or dancing; anything. Just let your mind normalize releasing those not-so-happy emotions as part of your self-love and self care.

Next time when you feel like spiraling downward feeling stuck and unmotivated, try reminding yourself that you always have two choices in these situations: either to stay exactly where you are in the moment and suffer, or to try to pick yourself up and bring a change in that moment.  Try following these 3 easy steps to quickly lift yourself up when you're feeling down and or suffering from lack of motivation, stress, or sadness. 

1. Face your feelings.

We all like to run away from unhappy thoughts, rather than facing them! Most of the times we know the reason that caused us feeling so down, but still we never try to accept it. 

Instead of sharing them with anyone, be honest with yourself. Learn about the kind of thoughts you're having right now. Spend time understanding what value you can offer to yourself by being here, feeling stuck in these negative thoughts? What value you will offer to others by being in the situation? 

When we are lonely, hurt, neglected or misunderstood; the level of stress and anger rises within us. We all crave this feeling of belonging- to be loved and to be accepted for who we are! But many people don't care for you! Accept the fact that, people will not change. So stop listening to those negative voices in your head, or outside of you. 

Be your own friend and be there for yourself, especially when you're feeling down. Stop being so hard on yourself, and reflect on all the good things you've right now in the moment.  

2. Change Your Focus, Choose your present act.

"I stood right up, and engaged myself in the physical activity. I started playing with my kids. I took control of myself and decided to think 'happy'." Engaging yourself in happy acts (anything that can bring a smile on your face) can reduce your stress and will create a little space of peace and positivism. Forget who said what; and how they behaved with you. Just remember their 'good acts'; the help they have provided you. This will allow you to 'feel good' about the person at least for that moment!

3. Just get up and move

One of the best I-must-do ways, I've discovered to pick myself up when I'm feeling down is by moving. Moving out of my comfort zone to outdoors, and to just keep walking.

As I kept walking over my worries and frustrations, I kept creating a new space in my head and in my heart  for some renewed energy. This energy was so different, so beautiful, and so fresh, that it did not just help me to drain out all of my negative emotions, but also helped me to get over those disturbing thoughts once and for all. I accepted the situation, and did what I could to get over feeling down.

These are some of the easy ways to take your mind off the disturbing thoughts, when you're having a bad day, and feeling down. I hope you take cues from this post, or find your ways to lift yourself up when you're feeling down. Do whatever you can, but do not remain stuck there. Get up and change your focus. Get moving and turn your focus around to decide what you can do in that moment?