AngelSong's Gems

Top Ten: Things To Do When You're Blue

1. Socialize And Think Positively!
When a person is feeling blue or depressed, often the last thing they
want to do is be around others or socialize. The fact is, however,
when we are feeling blue or down, if we choose to isolate ourselves
and hold up in our room or home, we will tend to focus on the same
mental tapes that are causing us to feel down in the first place! If
you will force yourself to call a friend and meet for coffee, a movie,
a walk, a talk - anything to get out and change your atmosphere, the
chances are good that will have a good effect on changing your mood
for the better. For all but those who have a severe depression problem
requiring a doctor's help, try and remember, we are what we think. Our
thoughts can propel us into ecstasy or into the depths of the blues.
And most of us have control over our thoughts. It takes being
conscious of them, and it takes practice. Remember: We are always at
choice as to thought, actions, etc.

2. Do Something Just For Yourself!
Be totally selfish here. Think of something you want to do for
yourself... a short trip, a manicure, a haircut, buying yourself the
coat or scarf you have been wanting. It does not have to be
extravagant or costly. The point is you are being good to yourself,
and that will sink in, and a part of yourself will say, "Gee, I
deserve this, and things aren't so bad after all." This is not going
to necessarily get to the root of what caused you to feel down or
blue, but it will make you feel better long enough that maybe you can
put the cause in a different perspective, or simply not take it as
seriously.
3. Give Something To Another Person
One of the best ways we can get beyond our own physical and emotional
self is to find something bigger than our own familiar problems upon
which to concentrate! Think about your friends, relatives, the poor
people in your church, or the local charities. Pick a person or cause
that appeals to you and decide to give to that person or that cause.
It can be your time or money, a toy, or whatever. Giving to others
makes most people feel good in their heart. Feeling good in our heart
can have a great impact on how we feel in our mind and body. It is the
thought and the symbolism. The gift may be small, but the thought is
all. You will feel better!

4. Rent Or Go See A Happy/Funny Movie
Laughter has long been a quick and effective panacea for ills of all
kinds. Medical studies show that it creates endorphins (body hormones
that act as natural pain killers as well as mood elevators) as well as
red blood cells and t-cells (the good cells which make up a part of
the body's auto-immune system and help us fight disease). When we
laugh we also force our mind (although there is not any real struggle)
to change modes and to be up and to feel up, not down or blue or
depressed. We substitute our own thoughts and feelings for those of
the people on the movie or television screen. Watching an hour long
comedy where we laugh and take our mind off our daily problems can
last for hours or days as far as reducing chronic pain, a blue mood
feeling, etc. It is cheap, easy, and if we allow it to be it is fun!

5. Volunteer Your Time
One of the best ways we can help pull ourselves out of feeling sorry
for ourselves, or feeling blue, or concentrating on our own aches and
pains, is by helping other people who have problems of their own..
often much more severe. It is very humbling to take walk through a
rehabilitation unit in a hospital at a time when we are complaining or
feeling low due to an ache in our back or almost any other physical
problem we might have. Most of the people we see are far worse off
than we are, yet they are working, smiling, laughing, and talking...
trying to do what they can to make the best of their situation. Giving
time to others is a very good way to get outside of our own situation.
Every city has volunteer bureaus and other places that need help, even
if it is for an hour a day or a week! Giving to others will come back
to us many times over in positive ways if we allow ourselves to try it.

6. Get Out Of the Past And Into The Present!
Most bad moods and mental attitudes are a result of what has happened
to us in the past. This can be the recent past, or long ago. It is
vital to your body and energy and life as a whole that you stay in the
present with your thought and feelings. The past is over! Hanging onto
old hurts, pains, anger, etc. will do you much harm emotionally and
physically over time. We can choose to focus on creating a positive
and healthy present for ourselves, or dwell in the past, creating
anxiety, depressed moods, anger, guilt, etc. Do you want to live your
life in the present or live it based on the past onto which you are
still hanging? Let old hurts and pains and anger go! Doing so will
free up all kinds of positive energy and your body and mind will have
a chance to be much healthier as a result.

7. Walk Or Mall Walk To Cheer Up
Walking is prescribed by many doctors to help depression. Maybe your
finances are what have you down in the dumps. If that is the case,
drive to the closest mall and walk and just look in the windows. Buy
an orange freeze or soda, sit on a bench and watch the people and the
children. Realize that every person you see has their own problems,
and has days when they are blue or down. Some may feel much worse, and
even be clinically depressed. Taking action fights the blues and the
funk one feels by sitting or lying down at home brooding indulging in
self-blame or pity. Remember misery loves company? Well, at a mall you
can be assured you have hundreds if not thousand of men and women who
have felt or are feeling just as bad or worse than you at the very
time you are there! You are not alone. Life will go one.. things can
get better. You must make the choice to help make them better.

8. Call Someone You Like Who Is A Positive Person And Chat
The idea here is to get out of yourself, and have some interaction,
and hear about someone else's life and take your mind off your own
stuff for a while. It's okay to let them know you are feeling a bit
low or down, and if they ask, you can briefly tell them what is going
on. But, ask them about their life and job and family, etc. Get
involved with someone else, and your mind will take a turn as well.
Let them talk about their life and current situation. The more you
listen to them and talk about things other than your own current
situation, the better the chances are your mood will lift and you'll
feel better after the call.

9. Meditate Or Listen To Relaxation Or Ministry Tapes
Meditation can be a very good way to change your mood. It works
whether you are depressed/down, or anxious/hyper. We suggest taking a
course or getting good quality tapes which teach meditation and
prayer. It is amazing what it can do to quiet down the mind and
release the stress caused by both anxiety and depressed feelings.
Tapes on relaxation as well as self-affirmation by many well known
expert authors are readily available through Christian bookstores and
some music stores. Louise Hay and Wayne Dyer are two of the most well
known authors of books and tapes on health issues, specializing in
"positive thinking" and how they affect our physical and emotional
health. They can be found in most book stores, or on the Internet. The
investment in these tapes is quite small compared to the benefits they
can give the user.

10. Be Creative!
Creating things alters our mood. It shifts us from the right side of
our brain to the left side, etc. Creating can be through cooking
foods, painting (walls or on canvas or paper) making something using
needle and thread, yarn, or Legos! It is also "creating" to play music
if you are musical. Play what you wish as loud or as soft as you wish.
Make up a song. Music (hearing it or playing it) has long been used by
people of all cultures to create or alter a mood. Whatever type of
music makes you feel good... play it or create it. It will change your
mood for the better if you allow it to and if you concentrate on the
music and creating and forget how you have been "feeling".
- Author Unknown

posted by Angelsong @ 7:15 AM