No, I mean how are you REALLY feeling lately? Happy, Sad, Relaxed, Stressed, Peaceful, Tense, Angry, Agitated, Content, Unfulfilled, Restless, Blissful, Searching, Abandoned, Lost, Found, Enlightened, Innocent, Naughty, Nice?
So often we convince ourselves that we are feeling one way, when we are actually feeling something completely different. Why do we do this to ourselves? Most of the time it is because it simply would be too much for us to face how we are truly feeling in the moment. Who wants to really face the fact that they are feeling completely unfulfilled in the life that they are living? How do you even fix that?
Have you ever been in a room full of people that just feels heavy, and one person in a great mood walks in and the feeling of the whole room lifts? Have you ever marveled at how someone you know seems to always be truly content?
What are you feeling?
Often we have layers built upon layers of repressed feelings going on internally. Because of this it can take a little bit of time to really explore what is going on. For example, we might think that we are mad at our boss because they have given us a task that we hate to do, when the deeper feeling might be that we simply are not feeling inspired and fulfilled by our job.
When you find your mind wandering during the day, what are you thinking about? This can be one of the best tools for us to find answers about ourselves. If you find yourself feeling angry, stressed or depressed on a regular basis, really focus on what you are thinking about. Each time your mind wanders, listen to it. Are you thinking about the past? The future? All the ways that people have wronged you? All the ways that your life is lacking? Are you putting yourself down in some way?
When we get stuck in a spiral of negative thoughts, we are never going to be able to bring ourselves to a lighter plane of being. The following quote is a beautiful metaphor for this.
If you look in a mirror and see your reflection is frowning, you don’t go over to the mirror and try to make the reflection smile- you know that the only way to get the reflection to smile is to decide to smile first. Then the reflection has no choice but to smile back. Same, Physical Reality is not outer, it is inner, it’s just a reflection of you at every given moment, individually and collectively. So if you wish to change your outer physical reality, all you really need to do is to change something about yourself and you will see that change take place unerringly and effortlessly. ~Bashar
Feeling Great!
So what exactly can you do to start feeling better? The journey will be slightly different for each person, here I offer a few ideas that help me when I am feeling down.
Make a Gratitude Journal. When you focus on all the wonderful things that happen in your life each day, you will see them multiply before your eyes. Just take a few moments before you go to bed writing down 5 to 10 things that you appreciated during your day. It might be as simple as a beautiful flower you walked by, or the kindness of a loved one.
Take a walk in nature. There is nothing like getting some fresh air and a little exercise to help get the endorphins moving and your mood rising. Take time to stop and smell the flowers, to watch the birds collecting food for their nest of youngsters, and marvel at the grace of a tree swaying in the breeze. Each time you go for a walk, make note of what touches you most deeply about your experience in nature. What did you witness that you had never experienced or even thought about before?
Get together with a friend. Sometimes life has a way of flying by us, and before we know it is has been far too long since we had a chance to catch up with someone that is special to us. But make this get together special, make a point to talk about all the good things going on in your lives, and your dreams for the future. Don’t spend any time dwelling on what has been crummy lately, or how things haven’t been going quite right. Talk about all those great and unexpected things that have popped up in your life. And talk about what you want to see in your future. What are your dreams?
Give someone you Love a massage. There is something so very magical about human touch. It is a soothing and nurturing way to connect with each other. Take 15 minutes out of your day to give a loved one a massage, and then trade places. This not only will relax any tension you are holding in your body, it is a great way to spend time together. This is a great practice for a family or a group of friends, form a circle and all massage each other’s backs as you talk about your day, and what made you happy.
And above all else, Smile! A simple smile can not only lift your mood, but the moods of those around you. Have you ever just smiled at a stranger at random? What is usually the reaction you get? A Smile! We can’t help but be uplifted by a smile.
So enjoy the journey of exploring your feelings, and see how you can shift yourself into the life you want to be leading. Simply remember the times that you were really feeling great and ask yourself what you were doing. What was the setting, who were you with, and what were you doing? Bring more of those moments into your life!
