You know what it’s like: You wake up one morning and the moment you’re able to think clearly, it hits you. A wave of anxiety, discouragement or depression. You don’t want it to ruin your day, but it’s already manifested itself in your mind and every thought you have further takes you into a downward spiral.
As you go through the day, everything that happens, the things you notice and every word you hear further reminds you of all the reasons you have to feel this way. (Our brains always look for proof that reinforces our thoughts and feelings.)
Does that every happen to you? There used to be days in my life where I would feel chronically hopeless and it was debilitating on my life. When your energy is this low, it’s difficult to make good decisions or create a new path for yourself. Until I realized that I had complete control over my emotions, I was a captive of my own mind. If you can relate, then you’re probably experiencing its effects on your health and in other areas of your life.
It’s an illusion that we don’t have control over the way we feel, but many of us struggle to grasp this concept or use it to our benefit because we miss one key aspect. Your emotions are influenced by your thoughts. As Joyce Meyer says, “You feel the way you feel because you think the way you think!”
In order to feel good each morning, you must intentionally create thoughts that support this emotional state. Wishing and hoping that you’ll somehow wake up on the “right side of the bed” is not the way to create the life you want. And even on the days you wake up happy, something could happen during your day to contradict this feeling.
You will rise up each morning in a positive, excited state when you decide to. It’s the difference of allowing the circumstances of your life to dictate your feelings or proactively choosing the way you want to feel…despite what life throws at you.
Feeling lousy for an entire day or even a whole week is draining and is not conducive to supporting your healthy lifestyle. Instead, decide to take control over your thoughts with
7 different ways to get out of your funk:
1. Write down 3 – 5 powerful statements about you that begin with “I AM” and post them next to your bed. Read them out loud every morning before beginning your day and until your mood shifts for the better.
2. Eat breakfast and hydrate throughout the day. An empty stomach along with dehydration can cause moodiness.
3. Smile even when you don’t feel like it, and speak kind words to others and yourself for an hour straight.
4. Get outdoors and send a thankful thought to every natural thing you see.
5. Close your eyes and imagine you’re sitting in an open room across from yourself. Walk up to yourself and thank you for all you do. Forgive yourself for anything you’re holding on to that’s no longer serving you.
6. Volunteer at an organization you love. No one can be in a state of love and gratitude and discouragement at the same time.
7. Make a list of the 10 people you love the most in this world. You don’t even have to know some of them. Write next to each of their names why you’re so grateful for them.
Your emotions are either controlling you, or you’re taking charge of your thoughts to determine the state you want to be in each day. Do not let outside circumstances influence your thoughts; create a shield around your mind and only focus on the good things in your life.
Action Step: Print out this article and post your 7 ways to get you out of a funk somewhere you can see it each day. That way, as you’re working on improving your mind, any little funk that comes your way will not have power over you.
-Katie Humphrey
As a keynote speaker, empowerment coach, author and spokesperson, Katie Humphrey inspires women to feel fit, confident and motivated. Her dynamic Revolution of YOU brand helps overwhelmed and stressed out women confidently reach their goals.
