ups and downs
I've been trying to buck a bad mood all week. It's so frustrating to me when I don't feel the joy that I know should be there. I've been tired and sluggish, headachy and negative for no good reason that I can discern. And, as silly as it might sound, on top of that, I feel bad about feeling bad. Embarrassed. Guilty. I should be feeling good. What's wrong with me? Even though I strive to find beauty and joy in each day, I think that sometimes a bad mood is unavoidable. I need to listen to what my body and spirit are telling me. Maybe I just need a rest. Or a change of pace. Ignoring or denying what I'm feeling isn't going to make me feel any better.
At one point this week as I was working on taking some photographs I removed the camera strap from my neck (while thinking, "Get over yourself") and I somehow smacked myself in the forehead with my camera. Hard. I drew blood and gave myself a bump. Yes, get over yourself already!
I do feel better today. Nothing has changed, just as nothing had changed to cause the bad mood. Ups and downs are natural, even if they're frustrating.
What do you do to combat a bad mood, or do you just let it run its course?
Hi Anne. Sorry to hear that you have been in a bad mood this week. When I am in a bad mood it is usually for a reason even if I can't pinpoint the reason at the time. If I am in a bad mood, I make sure that I get enough sleep and try to do things earlier in the day before my enthusiams wanes!
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm feeling a out of sorts I purposely make something different and new. I try a new recipe, I paint crappy abstract paintings on canvas paper and then cut them up to use the best parts in collage, I go to the thrift store and buy a few 50 cent figurines, then spray paint them my favorite color of the week (today its minty green). Somehow making something very different lowers my expectations so I can have fun making a mess rather than worry about how it will turn out. If all that fails, I play with my cat :) Good luck with shifting your focus to the positive.
ReplyDeleteHi Anne, sorry you have been feeling under the weather this week. I usually feel sorry for myself for a day or 2, then try to snap myself out of it with some cleaning or artwork. Right now my husband is gone on a 3 week business trip, so I've been grumpy, but today I sat on my porch in the sunshine and made collages. You can see them on my blog. Using beautiful papers and colors cheered me right up! Take care.
ReplyDeleteDear Anne, I hope you feel better. Cloudy days and moods are unavoidable sometimes, the whole thing is just to flow with it and accept. You are also right that very often our bodies give us a message to rest, to slow down and etc. Big hugs to you and much, much love
ReplyDeleteOh Anne :( How about taking yourself out on a day trip? Somewhere that could ignite your creativity or just distract you - window shopping, a lovely garden, a pretty village, a cake shop!
ReplyDeleteI wish I was there to give you hugs, paint your toes, and bring you cookies. I like all the suggestions to try something new. Every once in a while I like to wallow in my bad mood. I'll eat ice cream or cupcakes and watch silly sad movies. I'll even literally moan in my sadness. Usually that then tickles my funny bone and I laugh. I'll start feeling ridiculous and get up and move on. I think bad moods teach us things. Allowing yourself to wallow a little bit might reveal those things. Have one of the boys give you a hug from me.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for all the ideas and suggestions. I'm feeling completely better (even though today is cooler and rainy, again) and I am armed with lots of great ideas for the next bout of downs.
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit late getting to this post & you've already had good advice & thankfully feel better. But yes, I get your feelings of frustration, guilt etc because I can be the same. I often find being with other people helps or getting lost in a good fantasy book. I have to convince myself not to feel guilty about taking this time out & lately I'm starting to believe that some days I just need a rest or company & should just go with it. Sometimes it doesn't pay to force yourself through but instead to take the self-kindness approach. We are often kinder to other people than ourselves. But being kind to ourselves is sometimes all we need. Of course some days I just need to stop procrastinating and get on already, lol :-) Hugs, Kat xx
ReplyDeleteI meant to tell you that this photo of the fuschia is breath taking. xo
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