When you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.
— Dr. Seuss
As much as I try to keep up my gratefulness, my mindfulness and appreciate that I am still alive and well sometimes it seems like an uphill battle. There are dark days; those are the days when I say to myself, it could have been all over. It would have been so easy, if only the kids hadn’t been there. But they were. I gave them life and they gave me mine back. In fact, I was given the gift of life, not once, not twice but actually three times. How can I not be more appreciative?
But, sometimes it doesn’t work and when that happens, I feel ungrateful and I start to feel my ‘go to’ feeling; guilt. I was raised 90% on guilt, it is natural for me. My Irish Catholic mother made sure of that. Guilt about not appreciating the gift I have been given and not doing enough to prove that I am grateful.
I have had one of those really crappy, feeling down kind of weeks. It’s not that anything has really happened. Well, my washing machine broke and my car broke and some other stuff broke but nothing that was too dramatic and nothing worth giving up my mental health and happiness for.
The weather has been good; my breathing hasn’t been too bad this week, I had no doctors’ or wellness appointments, so what is happening? I resent everyone and everything. I want to quit my job, my family, my exercise…just about everything that makes me the person I am. I begin to question if life has been wasted on me and again question why I am here.
I have made an effort to wake up earlier every day because I feel ripped off that there are not enough hours in a day. I created a schedule and stuck to it so I could click the accomplished column on that. I find that I rather enjoy my early hours in peace and quiet. But that made no difference to my state of mind.
I have been making an effort to be writing in my journal every day. Sometimes I find that it is hard to find something to write about but it makes me reflect on my day. I stuck to it and I am getting it done. But that made no difference to my state of mind.
I go to work every day and come home every night; I couldn’t work last year so I have checked that off in the accomplished column. But that made no difference to my state of mind.
I still feel crappy. I need to get un-stuck; I need to un-slump me. But how do I do that?
Well I started reading “The Subtle art….” Great book but I was so mad and trying to figure it all out that I found it hard to concentrate.
So, when all else fails, I go to the internet and asked the question. This time I got some great advice.
First of all….it is normal to have Slump times. Apparently, we all have them. Who knew?
Second it is OK to be in a slump. That’s news to me. I got myself a chocolate bar and with that information, I gave myself permission to feel it, to dissect it, to check it, to blame others and to blame myself. Blame, I discovered, is unimportant because it solves no one’s problems.
Then I found this article on Google.ca because Google knows everything. I typed in “How to get out of this Funk” and The 15 minute effort works for me so I figured I would have a look-see. According to an article in inc.com (https://www.inc.com/the-muse/10-ways-to-get-out-of-a-funk-in-15-minutes.html)
Step 1: Create your own Talisman. I decided to use my COPD Crystal for my Talisman. I enjoy rubbing the stone and feeling the cool, smooth surface. Have a look at my menu under Bits and Pieces, the large blue one is mine.
Step 2 Connect with someone. My niece reached out to me so I vented to her. I vented to her more than I should have because she is dealing with her own slump right now but it was therapeutic for me.
Step 3: Perform a random act of kindness. I did with a colleague at work. I was happy to do it and I felt really ungrateful because I really do have so much more than him.
Step 4: Be grateful, mindful and just literally get back to doing what you should be doing, like meditating and practicing Self Care.
Step 5: Daydream about your future, a day at the beach, a shopping spree anything that will brighten your mood. Close your eyes and let yourself go. I have a “cottage’ that I am building. Build your cottage. Enjoy.
Step 6: Breathe….Breathe deep and breathe some more. The deeper the breathing the better you will be able to clear stress. Deep breathing exercise is cleansing and refreshing. Inhale through the nose for the count for 2 seconds, exhale through the mouth for the count of 4 seconds.
Step 7: avoid these 4 C’s; comparing to others, competing with others, criticizing others, and complaining about others. Avoid these at all costs and take it from me that this is excellent advice. Worrying about these will only rob you of your soul.
Step 8: Find a quiet place. Make a quiet place for you. Close a door and be alone. Meditate and listen to music or watch a video. Be Ok with being alone
Step 9: Listen to music. Adele will do. This is actually the first time I have ever used earphones. Ha ha, I think the kids might be on to something here. Tune all the background out…..
Step 10: Last but not least, go for a walk. If you can walk, do it and do it mindfully so that on the days that you are not able to go for a walk you can day-dream of the days you did it. Reread #5.
You’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So… get on your way!
— Dr. Seuss