beat the blues

The blues stink! How do you make yourself feel better when you, body and mind, are absolutely dragging? Try this 3-pronged approach to get you out of the blues and back to being you.

1. re-think
Our mind is powerful. Think about a happy time--recent or distant, it doesn't matter. Engage all the senses. Where were you? What were you doing? Can you smell or taste anything? What do you hear? Can you feel the breeze or the water or the temperature in your memory? Feel as much as you possibly can. The more senses you activate, the more you will be able to spark that happy feeling (the goal!) you had when the memory was actually happening.

2. re-live
There's nothing wrong with re-runs. If going to the movies with your mom gave you all sorts of warm fuzzies, then then do it again. Whatever that memory was in step 1, do your best to live it again. Even if the memory was fishing with your dad when you were 10, and now you're 40 and your dad is no where near, grab a rod and head to water. There are parts that you can re-create, and these will lift your spirits. Make space in your life for the tried-and-true activities that make you happy.

3. hold on
Is there a memento you can carry with you throughout the day connected to the memory from step 1? It could be a lucky coin you won at the fair, a necklace from your sister, a picture of your kids, or a key chain you bought while on vacation. When you feel the blues creeping in, pull out your charm, hold it in your hand and take a few minutes of quiet time to conjure up those happy feelings once again. Just knowing that trinket is in your hand reminds you that you have the power to pull yourself out of this funk and into the positive feelings.