Yesterday I woke up feeling uncharacteristically down. The weather was part of it—rainy, gray and chilly. A typical day for October in Chicago, but we’ve been having such a glorious sunny run lately. Everything felt heavy, and weight hit me in my sinuses and deflated my energy. Emotionally, I felt it too. Wobbly, insecure, and resentful. A cup of coffee and writing in my journal always perks me up, but not yesterday. I filled the lines with small complaints, sinking into petty insecurities and old patterns. I call this “my small self doing small thinking” and I needed to get out of it.
I’m an optimistic person, but not because I’m a naturally happy-go-lucky, rose-colored-glasses Pollyanna. It takes discipline to maintain a positive outlook, and I believe it’s my responsibility to do so. I’ve done a lot of growing over the years and I want to operate from my higher self going forward. Life keeps reminding me how short and precious it is. Here are some of the practices that work for me.
Get Outside and Get Moving Introspection is important, but when I’m in a funk, the first thing I do is move, ideally outside. It shifts the bad vibes and clears the head. Even though it was drizzling, I bundled up and took Phoebe on our regular loop around the pond. I was rewarded with an exceptional, up-close beaver encounter. Being out in the world keeps you focused on the present, which is a sure way to dispel worries and regrets. How bad is a day with a chunky, chomping beaver in it?
What’s the Problem? Walking is a good time to take a fresh look at what’s actually bugging you. On my walk, I realized my funk wasn’t caused by the weather or little gripes and annoying mishaps. I was anxious about moving from Chicago to Florida this weekend. Even though I love being a “snowbird”, the transition from one location to the other is always a bit rough. Once I recognized I was feeling sad about leaving my home, routines and relationships in Chicago, and stressed by the packing and travel, I had a lot more compassion for myself.
Feel all the Feelings Sometimes you have to simply honor where you are and fully experience your emotions. I’m not a big cryer, but I allow myself a good wallow. I love Chicago, I have a very full life here that I will miss, including my daughter, my dear friends, and the excitement and vibrancy of the city. Giving myself time to feel that sadness allowed me to acknowledge it, move past it and begin to look forward to Bonita Springs!
Tapping (EFT) Another tool I use to make myself feel better is a “tapping” technique I learned years ago from my friend and role model Carol Moss. Carol is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). It’s kind of DIY acupuncture. You tap on key points of your body, called meridians, assuming that by covering them all, you’re getting to the one that influences your specific physical pain or anxiety. It sounds woo-woo, but it’s a proven therapy used to for things like enhancing sports performance, reducing cravings, managing stage fright and more.
I used tapping last week to cure myself of a headache. I was waiting in the dermatologist exam room and felt a throbbing pressure in my forehead. As I sat in my paper gown, I went through three rounds of tapping. I tapped on my hands, face, collar bone, underarms and top of my head, while saying to myself “even though I have a headache, I’m going to be fine.” Within minutes, the headache was gone. It has really worked for me over the years.
Wear an “Up“ fit. I love expressing myself through style, and wearing clothes that I like can really elevate my mood. Dressing up is a hopeful act! It’s a physical, visual way to communicate to myself and others that I’m showing up and putting out energy. It could be something as simple as a fun graphic tee and sneakers or it could mean going full dazzle.The impact of clothes isn’t just my opinion, studies show that what you wear can help lift your spirits and improve your performance.
Busy Hands. When you’re feeling off, accomplishing even a small task feels like a win. I find organizing to be super uplifting, like cleaning out a drawer. You could Iron your sheets, write a letter or make banana bread. The result is a feel-good jolt of “I did that!” competency that’s very satisfying.
What-ifs? Completing my recent life coaching course has given me some new perspectives that have been helpful. We often get stuck in patterns of negative thinking—worrying about stuff that 1) isn’t true and 2) will never happen. I’ve been trying out a practice I call “what-iffing”, where I imagine that everything that’s happening is exactly what I need and is working out perfectly.
For my transition wobbles, this looks like, “What if this is the perfect time to head to Florida? What if this change is exactly what I need right now? What if there are all kinds of delights waiting for me? What if I’m going to accomplish something super important there? What if my friends and fam there need me? What if I’ve completed all I’m meant to do in Chicago for now?”
What if people think this sounds crazy, but it’s all true? All I know is imagining the positive possibilities make me feel great, and now I’m excited for a new season.
Tell me, how do you shake off a bad day?
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