by Mark Dykeman

Created on: June 30, 2007

Virtually everyone gets sad, depressed or discouraged at some point in their life. A student may become upset because they aren't getting the grades that they want at school or maybe they're having problems making friends. Your work project could be behind schedule, over budget, and not meeting the requirements of your customer. You may have loved ones who are sick or dying. There are a number of causes for emotional deflation. It helps to have some ways to "beat the blues" and make yourself feel better. Here are some suggestions:

1) Count your blessings: it sounds trite, but it can really work! Think about friends, family, activities, accomplishments that help show your talents. Try to find something that you are better at than most people. You might be surprised at how many good things you discover. This can help you feel better.

2) Find someone to talk to: friend, relative, lover, professional therapist, whoever. Sometimes the act of expressing your feelings makes their power diminish a bit.

3) Spend time with or around young children, especially toddlers or pre-school children. Their excitement and zest for life can be inspiring.

4) Find someone else who has problems and offer to assist them. Sometimes a bit of service can do wonders.

5) Go for a walk and spend some time with nature. Greenhouses, arboretums, parks... great places to "take five" from your worries and focus on life. Plant life. And the exercise is extremely beneficial as well.

6) Exercise anywhere you can. Nature isn't required. Endorphins generated through exercise are widely believed to help lift your moods.

7) Keep inspirational books, movies, or music nearby. Or go rent or borrow a favorite. I know someone who loves to watch Pretty Woman when she's feeling sick. Find your "Pretty Woman" and keep it ready just in case.

8) My final suggestion is something a wise young lady once told me: just remember, everything is temporary. In other words, bad moods or bad situations don't last forever. Something will happen, either by your instigation or by chance, to help restore your mood.

Having written all this, I do realize that none of these are sure-fire methods to making you feel good again. Some people have deeper problems that don't respond to an easy cure. My heartfelt suggestion to you is to seek professional help if your low moods are chronic or deeper than the simple blahs. Otherwise, if the doom and gloom is just a temporary set back, try one or more of these suggestions. I sincerely hope that they can help you.

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