Even though my last post was incredibly upbeat, I have spent the past 36 in a funk. All I really want to do is sleep, isolate, and be grumpy. We all know being around people who are in a bad mood is an immediate downer, so why is it so difficult to pull ourselves out of these bad moods sometimes?
Putting on a happy face (even if it's a fake happy face) isn't something I have ever had trouble doing, until now. A huge part of recovery for me has been learning to be real rather than pretending like everything in my life is fabulous. So I guess in a way these past 36 hours are a sign of progress because I definitely have not put on a happy face mask, but I'm sick of feeling like a monster.
As a way to pull myself out of this nasty funk, I came up a list of ways to help brighten my mood:
Call my best friend
Watch a good movie
Remind myself of how much has changed in 1 year
Have lunch with a friend
Go for a walk
Bake some cookies
Buy myself some flowers
Clean or do some much needed laundry
Lay out and get some sun
Listen to a favorite playlist
Use creative outlets
Jimmy Fallon
Curl up with a favorite book
Watch this video
And if none of those work, here are a few benefits of smiling:
Makes you seem trustworthy: We generally interpret a genuine smile to mean that this is someone who is honest and trustworthy. Those who smile are rated higher in generosity and friendliness.
It eases embarrassment: People will laugh with (not at) you if you laugh or smile.
If you smile with others when they share good news, you’re less likely to feel jealous or annoyed at them: Interestingly, even if we smile politely but we feel slightly annoyed, our emotion quickly changes and we feel happy ourselves. Somehow we feel much better for having chosen to be “nice”.
It can ease any feelings of distress or pain: Smiling stops us from spiraling into negativity and eases our feelings of shock and distress.
It can help with problem-solving: When we’re stressed or nervous our focus seems to narrow and it makes it harder to find answers or solutions. But when we smile, the tension eases and we think of more ideas.
Smiles are contagious: My favorite reason of all.
If I'm being honest, a younger version of myself would have put very little effort into pulling myself out of a funk. Finding reasons to smile when I would much rather curl up in bed is not easy, but I'm quickly learning life is way too short not to.
Progress.
I've been in the same funk. I don't get it. It's beautiful outside, my life is going above averagely and yah. It sucks. A lot. Thanks for this though.
ReplyDeleteI don't get it either. It's just a part of being human I suppose. Hope your day gets better!
DeleteI feel the same way. It is just like I can't find the good in life anymore. Recovery is tough. Especially when you have the thoughts constantly. :(
ReplyDeleteIt is tough, I agree. But I have found that remembering all of the positives that come along with recovery really does help. Keep fighting - these dark days will pass. <3
DeleteI am in the same boat... and what I can see is an emptiness inside me. Anything happening externally is a symptom. My resentment, irritation, sadness, loneliness and etc... Sometimes, I even don't know what I am feeling. Then, I see an emptiness, a hole inside me. Recovery helps us to fill it up, but it happens slowly. The hole sometimes gets expand depending on how recovery goes for a day or a moment. What helps me is to get busy to love and be kind to the others. Listening to the others helps me. <3
ReplyDeleteAnd, I also remember what my recovery friend told me... "You are in serenity, and you are not comfortable because you are not used to be in. You feel like something wrong, and you start to feel wanting to mess it up. Just sit and enjoy it." That might be for you right now. <3
DeleteYour comments always make my day. :)
DeleteI think the emptiness thing is a part of what is going on with me right now. I'm kind of stuck in my current situation in life and it's making me angry. I LOVE that quote you shared! That is exactly what I needed to hear today. xx <3
I know that "funky" feeling too. I can even recognize it well enough to tell my husband and other loved ones that it's a cloudy day--meaning that it just feels like there is a cloud over my mind. I have all the joy possible because of my faith in God and knowing that the glory of eternity far surpasses any trouble now...yet there are days when I just feel down, in a slump, irritated at almost everything, ready to cry at the drop of a hat.
ReplyDeleteAll the things you listed, and that others suggested in their comments, are great! Exercise that is just strenuous enough to get endorphins flowing helps a lot for me...writing...going to bed earlier...giving thanks...
It is so important to be honest about how we are feeling. When I have a "cloudy" day, I even tell those around me that I don't know why it is that way, but it is! All clouds will pass! Hang in there!
I like the dark cloud analogy. That's exactly how it feels sometimes. Good thinking on giving your family a heads up when you are having those days, I will remember that in the future. Ups and downs are a part of life and like you said, they will pass! xx
DeleteI loved this post. It really resonates with me and with my own funk that I have been in as of late. Thanks for posting about it. <3
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome! Thanks for commenting and letting me know I'm not alone in this funk. :)
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