Most of us have been walking around like zombies for the past year or so. We just feel empty and listless. Some of us might have depression but for others, it’s a few too many bad days of feeling caged up. Our emotions are there for a reason and they’re telling us something. So, what can you do with the information to get positive again?
What is Feeling ‘Blah”?
Could your body be telling you that you’re feeling insecure or hopeless about something? Our minds are adept at shutting out those nasty feelings but if you do that, you’ll never shake that blah feeling to get positive again.
You could also be ignoring parts of yourself and your identity by trying to be someone you’re not. We’ve all done it because of various pressures from society and family. At some point, this will take its toll on you.
There’s actually a psychological word for ‘blah’: languish. That feeling of being unsettled or restless like a caged tiger isn’t exactly depression but it isn’t fun either. It could just be that you need to get out of the house, so to speak, or that you need to go crazy at a party. Either way, doing something out of the ordinary can help.
Emotions are Signals
We actually live in a vey clever system where body and mind are connected such that emotions actually signal to our minds. These signals can be positive or a cry of warning. So, the best way to get positive again when feeling blah is to actually listen to those messages.
How to Get Positive Again
Of course, boosting your mood isn’t easy and it can actually feel insurmountable. That’s why it’s best to start with small steps. Either way, you have a choice. You can either stay in the victim loop where the world is against you or you can get up and do something about it. There are many ways to do this, including being mindful and following a self-care schedule but here are some other ideas:
1- Gratitude
This simple exercise is so powerful because it helps us forget our worries for a while. We essentially force ourselves to stop highlighting the negatives in our lives. This might sound odd but we can fall in love with our own victim stories such that we don’t want to let them go.
On the flip side, listing 10 things you’re grateful for means that you slowly let go of those negative stories. The world doesn’t revolve around us contrary to what our minds keep telling us. So, step out of your story for a minute and realise that perhaps you do have some good things in your life, even if everything isn’t perfect.
2- Nature and Friends
Most people now know the healing effect of nature. Researchers have actually proven that spending time in nature improves our mental wellbeing. Add to that the experience of sharing feelings and thoughts with friends and you’ll naturally feel more positive about life. At a neuroscience level, you’ll also be releasing oxytocin feel-good hormones. There is something to be said about a problem shared is a problem halved.
3- Self-compassion
There’s still some taboo about being kind to ourselves because many societies believe it to be a weakness. This isn’t about being self-indulgent though but about recognising our humanity and understanding what we need to keep moving forwards. Ultimately, self-compassion is a transformative tool that can help us get positive again.
Being self-compassionate often starts with reframing our inner critic into a more motivational voice. Of course, this takes some practice and sometimes it’s easier to think about what a friend would tell us in a similar situation.
How are You Going to Get Positive Again?
So, what’s your next step? Yes, you can relax into your languishing state. Alternatively, you could grab life and work out what’s going to get you positive again. It will take effort and perhaps you’ll lose your way sometimes but always come back to how you can be content again with life. If you’re truly stuck then a therapist or a coach can help. Either way, never give up on wellbeing and experiencing contentment in life.
