In consideration of the ebbs and flows of the everyday blues, first things first. Resist the urge to clump all blues into one lousy destructive slump. Let's allow ourselves the room to make an initial distinction: there are every day blues and their blues every day.

In the case of "every day blues," what's the problem? Blues give flavor to a day. When we are in the mood, albeit melancholy, we are grounded in what's real. As many artists will attest, the blues are rich ground for creative insights, music, and dance. In the everyday blues, we experience our soul soothing itself.

"Blues every day" is a different matter all together. This kind of blues can feel like lead running through your veins. This and many other forms of physical unhappiness happen when your soul is trying to get your attention. It is a good idea to check in and what better way than to get you off your feet and make you feel so heavy that you are sure the box springs are sagged to the floor. The every day blues is your soul demanding attention.

Depressing blues really do demand that we check in deeply. Change is trying to happen but it is being held up by an incongruity between the way we are living and our beliefs. Looking in our worldview, that library of beliefs that pre-program our projective realities: what we believe we should see is what we, in fact, do see. If at some level we think that we deserve darkness, for instance, and the every day blues might just be fulfillment of that habituated request. The blues in all its forms are often conditioned responses set in place well before we came of age.

Inescapable developmental forces molding us for the Great Maturity that precedes death have a tendency to help us (force may be more accurate) flush out beliefs that get in our way. We all house an inherent resistance to these kinds of metamorphic changes and the longer we subconsciously hold on, the tireder we get and, eventually, the more pronounced the pain.

Certainly, there are biochemical aspects that can be treated medicinally, but they won't let us escape the need to do the deep inner work that wants to be attended. Allowing ourselves to draw a therapist or some other practiced confidante into our lives and taking advantage of their ability to listen can help liberate the heavy issue-demon(s) that weigh us down; help us get in touch with those parts of ourselves that can move us beyond the grip of victimhood and self-pity. If we have enough will to motivate ourselves outdoors, then a walk however long, however brisk, will alter both the inner and outer landscapes, get the blood changing positions so that a fresher breath of life can find its way into our shadows and ligthen the load.

When feelin' the every day blues, get with the groove; dance to the music. If however, you are faced with the blues every day, look inside. Therein lies a conflict with self and a decision that needs to be made. Ask for guidance and trust what you get. Therein lies the value of faith.

Learn more about this author, Michael Burgwin.
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