Bad mood suck but we all get them — some more than others.
But sometimes it can feel impossible to get out of a funk because of the busyness
Work, family obligations, trying to find time to exercise, save money … life gets chaotic.
It’s easy to get stressed, anxious, and frustrated by trying to do too much. These feelings can lead to a bad mood which can turn into a bad day if you keep focusing on it.
Bad days, over time, lead to depression, change in personality, and loss of quality relationships.
But, have you ever realized the only reason you’re suffering is because of your thoughts?
What you focus on is what you feel.
If you focus on all the negative things in your life your mood will match your thoughts.
On the contrary, if you focus on positive things in your life, your mood will ALSO match.
The problem is that our minds are wired for negativity. Of the 40–70,000 thoughts per day 70% are negative according to Psychology Today.
You have to actively WORK to get out that feeling of suffering.
If you’re suffering and in a bad mood, most likely it’s because you are simply focusing on the same negative thoughts repeatedly.
As Tony Robbins said, “Human beings are the only species that can think and a thought and change your mood entirely.”
Here’s how you can end the suffering:
Change Your Physiology
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” — Mark Twain
If you change the way your body moves, your physiology, you can instantly change your mood.
If you’ve ever been to a Tony Robbins seminar you understand. You are constantly moving, jumping, dancing, and changing the way your body moves.
This isn’t some BS to get the audience pumped up. It’s to get them into a peak state to be able to learn, retain, and immerse in the environment.
Tony Robbins understands that physiology is the fastest way to break the pattern of thinking the same thing over and over again.
If you change your body you can change your thoughts.
If you change your thoughts you can change your mood.
And if you change your mood you can change your life.
To change your physiology go to the gym, do some breathing exercises, take a walk or jump on a rebounder.
This state change will make it easier for you to change your thoughts and start feeling better instantly.
Write in a Gratitude Journal
“The struggle ends when gratitude begins.” — Neale Donald Walsch
It’s physically impossible to be angry and grateful at the same time.
Gratitude ends suffering instantly.
The next time you’re angry, sad, anxious, frustrated or stressed focus on one thing you’re grateful for in your life. It could be your significant other, your dog, your friends, your parents or anything else.
Write it down in a gratitude journal, make a note on your phone, or leave a voice memo you leave yourself.
According to Psychology Today, shifting your focus to something you love, appreciate will:
- Open the door to more relationships
- Improve your physical health
- Improve your psychological health
- Enhance empathy and reduces aggression
- Help you sleep better.
- Improve your self-esteem
- Increase your mental strength.
Practicing gratitude on a regular basis will get to focus on the abundance in life, not the lack of that is bringing your negative thoughts (and suffering).
Drive Through a Cemetery
“Death smiles at us all, all you can do is smile back.” — Marcus Aurelius
If you woke up today and are reading this you STILL have the option to improve your life.
151,600 people didn’t even wake up today.
Yes, over 150,000 people die every day around the world.
Quit suffering and start appreciating all that you have in the world.
There’s a cemetery close to my house and one day I day I was suffering over something small. I was feeling pathetic and weak because of my thoughts.
As I was driving home, all of a sudden I had an intuition to drive through the cemetery. As I drove through I saw people standing over graves, crying, grieving, and holding each other. They were grieving their loved ones who are no longer on this Earth.
I instantly snapped out of my funk and wrote this article. Because, if you are still breathing you have the chance to change your life entirely.
Focus on your energy on what you have, not what you don’t. There is still plenty of time to make the positive changes you want in your life.
Find a Way to Give Back and Contribute
“The secret to living is giving.” — Tony Robbins
It’s easy to forget how others live around the world.
Less than 1% of people in the world earn over $100,000 annually.
Yes, six-figures means you earn more than 99% of the 7 billion people in the world.
If you’re feeling down and sorry for yourself go out and help someone else because there are plenty of people that are doing much worse than you. It’ll be a quick reminder that life glorious and that you have so much you can appreciate.
Not only will volunteering help you but you will help others.
Do Something Unselfish
“I saw that.” — Karma
End your suffering quickly by simply being a good person.
Buy someone a cup of coffee.
Tip someone way more than you normally would.
Hold the door open for a group of people.
Be nice to random strangers.
If you’re suffering you are focusing on YOU.
Get over your self-pity and focus on being a good human being — the world can never have enough.
Put down your phone, talk to people, compliment a stranger, and do something nice for others. The Universe will reward your good deeds.
Think About Your WHY
“When you know your why, you’ll find your way.” — Michael Hyatt
The last thing to help you get out of your suffering state is to focus on your WHY.
Why are you working so hard? Getting up so early? Staying up so late?
If you have a clear WHY it’ll make it easy to do the hard stuff in life so focus on that!
As Darren Hardy said in the Compound Effect, “If your why-power — your desire — isn’t great enough, if the fortitude of your commitment isn’t powerful enough, you’ll end up like every other person who makes a New Year’s resolution and gives up too quickly and reverts to sleepwalking though poor choices.”
Your WHY can be anything as long as it’s important to you!
Maybe it’s to send your kids to school. Help your parents out financially or get in shape to help inspire others in your family.
As Simon Sinek said, “Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress; working hard for something we love is called passion.”
Whatever it is, make sure your WHY is important to YOU. It doesn’t have to matter to anyone else.
Ten years from now you’ll laugh at whatever’s stressing you out today. So why not laugh now?
The average human life expectancy is 79 years.
Life is short…quit wasting time and make each day count.
Practice gratitude, help others and remember why you’re doing this.
Stop wasting any more time suffering and start living the life you were intended.
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