By Lauren Golen

Feeling good is one of THE most important things.  It drives everything we do throughout the day from how we speak to others, how we do our work, how we treat others, how we eat, how we drive on the road, how we sleep or can’t sleep and so on. So you can see, how we feel about ourselves, is only the #1 important thing in our lives.  Some days it may feel like we have no choice about how we feel, but here are some things you can do to facilitate fuzzy feelings once again.

1. Breathe

As it turns out, deep breathing is not only relaxing, it’s been scientifically proven to affect the heart, the brain, digestion, the immune system — and more.  It automatically can give us more energy AND facilitate relaxation.  In any moment, whether you are on the road, sitting having lunch with a friend or in a business meeting, you can focus on your breath and take a few deep inhales and exhales.  Do this throughout the day, remind yourself by writing on a post it note and putting it in places you will see often. 

2. Get Off the Internet, Turn Off the TV

People can become very disillusioned when they spend too much time on the internet or watching tv. Consciously and sometimes unconsciously, we even compare it with our real life. The messages within television or internet imply on a regular basis that we’re not pretty – smart – funny enough. Our lives can feel quite empty when compared to the perfection of the TV world.  Turn off the tv and instead, journal, read a poem, listen to a song you like.

3. Practice Smiling

Once the smiling muscles in our face contract, there is a positive feedback loop that now goes back to the brain and reinforces our feeling of joy. Smiling reduces stress that your body and mind feel, almost similar to sleep.  Even if it starts out as a forced smile that feels unnatural, usually, just in the forced action, it will soon become real on its own.

4. Put on Some Music and Dance

You appear to get a much bigger release of endorphins when you dance than during other forms of exercise; it also connects with the emotional centers in the brain. For many people, dancing prompts an emotional release – often that uncomplicated happiness, while for some it can make them cry.

5. Take a Day Off

You’re so stressed that even your stress is stressed out. You’re overworked and aching for a day off to chill and recharge, but you keep putting it off. Some of us even have being overworked as a way of being that we make who we are and wear it like a badge.  Don’t! 

6. Prepare a Meal That Nourishes Your Body and Soul

Ok, if you don’t like to cook, don’t worry.  This doesn’t have to be complicated.  Make an omelet, pour yourself a bowl of healthy cereal with almond milk and top with fresh berries and honey, pour some soup in a pan and heat it up. Sitting down with a meal prepared by you can be very healing for the mind and the body.  When we take care of our needs, we FEEL taken care of.  If we feel taken care of with our basic needs, it’s much easier to go out into the world and handle taking care of others and all of our responsibilities. 

Take it easy on yourself, remember that when you are having a day that seems “bad” and you just don’t feel like you can turn it around, the contrast is also telling you what you don’t really want.  We have contrast at times in order to know what we want.  In other words, what if the contrast just gives us the next logical step.  So, it’s a good sign when things are “off”.  It just means that it’s going to turn around.  Practice one small thing and get your fuzzy feelings going once again.

Recommended for You…