by Kurt Walker, Guest Contributor
Everyone has that point in their lives when things aren’t going right. When you’re feeling down, the worst thing you can do is to retreat into your cocoon. The first step is placing yourself in the right mental state.
You can do this by looking in the mirror and encouraging yourself with the right kind of talk. Self-talk can boost your mood or help you get a change of perspective.
Here are ten things you can tell yourself to help improve your mood.
- I love what I love
People will always have different interests. One of the most common things that will derail you from your mental health is trying to base your interests in what the people around you like.
If anything, the best time to indulge in things that you love is when you’re feeling down. The great thing about doing activities you love is that they define you, and nobody has the right to judge you for it. There is no shame in doing what you love.
What you love doesn’t have to be anything particularly spectacular. For instance, some people like playing video games while others would prefer to watch a steamy episode of Desperate Housewives. It’s one of the few times of your life where you can throw everything else out of the window and say, “I don’t care.”
I love writing. When I’m feeling down, I usually have an assignment service to do my assignment for me to give me time to make time for myself. If you’re a student in the same boat, check out the edubirdie review or the grademiners review to see if they fit your fancy.
- My past does not define me
It’s easy to get lost in all the things you’ve done in your past and concentrate on what a horrible person you were once upon a time. You may experience this if you’ve been incarcerated for a serious crime or recovering from drug addiction.
As long as you’ve dedicated your life to being a different person, that’s all that matters.
The other side of the coin is the people who have undergone physical or emotional abuse at some point in their lives. It’s easy to attribute the abuse to yourself – that all the bad things that happened to you were your fault, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The only person that can determine what defines you is yourself. Whatever happened in your past does not define your present and shouldn’t have any bearing on your future. Most importantly, you should understand that you didn’t have any influence on other people’s actions. If someone treated you badly, they are at fault. Not you.
- I am doing my best
In everything that you do, it’s important to be excellent. There’s a huge difference between perfection and excellence. Excellence involves doing your best and knowing you’ve done your best.
If you’re feeling down, one of the best ways to get back on your feet is to tell yourself you’re doing your best and mean it.
- People can change
Remember the point about not letting the past define you? It’s also true that people can change, given the opportunity. Don’t beat yourself up for things that you’ve done in the past or things that have happened to you.
As long as you’re actively working to improve yourself, give it some time. Change never happens immediately.
- Nobody can have all the information
It’s a common occurrence for people to jump to conclusions based on a subset of information they receive from others. This can either lead others to reach biased conclusions about you, which may end up ruining your mood or can get you down if you reach the wrong conclusion about yourself.
- I am loved
This can be a hard one to believe if you are down in the gutter. The truth of the matter is that even at the worst of times, there are people who genuinely care for you. For example, if you had a falling out with your significant other, chances are they don’t hate you after it. Feelings like that dissipate.
- This too shall pass
Time cures even the deepest of wounds. While you’re in the rut, it’s important to make sure it doesn’t consume you. As cliché as it may sound, this doesn’t stop being true at any point in your life. While it may seem like your world is ending, trust in the power of time and hope that your predicament will follow the same path, for better or for worse.
- I am the best version of yourself
When it comes to being yourself, nobody can do it better than you can. Every single person is blessed with unique attributes that no other person in the world possesses. Sure, people can have some attributes that are similar to yours, but it’s the combination of these traits that makes you the unique person that you are.
- Progress is progress
Progress is progress, no matter how small. If you’re like me and like writing, there’s nothing wrong with relying on resume services or writing service to do some custom writing when I’m unable to find my perfect words.
Nobody is inspired all the time, and getting help from someone competent can be a huge weight off your shoulder. Celebrate progress and don’t beat yourself up when you fail. It’s part of life.
- This only makes me stronger
One way to approach life is to think of things is to assume everything was designed to make you stronger. When terrible things happen, it can be very difficult to see the bigger picture. In every negative thing that happens is an opportunity to grow.
Conclusion
One of the very first things you should do when you’re feeling down is to give yourself a pep talk. You may not feel better right away, but it’s a crucial first step towards feeling better.