(Based on the writings of Madisyn Taylor)
When things go wrong, it is easy to get into a bad mood, and that bad mood has a way of spiralling out and affecting our life for days to come. In the same way, when we feel badly about ourselves, we tend to act in ways that have repercussions, again creating a negative vibe that can negatively influence the next several days.
While it is important that we allow ourselves to feel what we feel, and to be genuine, we do not have to completely surrender to a dark mood or feelings of self-doubt. In fact, the more we simply allow and accept our darkness as one part of the picture, the more easily we can also allow and accept our light. In this vein, we can temper our grey moods with an injection of sunshine in the form of sending good wishes to ourselves.
If you feel a bad mood coming on or find yourself plagued with negative feelings, take a moment to acknowledge that. At the same time, recognize that things can and will change, and that you can still have a good day, or a good week. This is a great way to support yourself when you are working through tough times and hard feelings. When you visualize good things for yourself, you send yourself love and warmth, as well as encouraging yourself to keep going.
My Thoughts:
I put great store in positive thinking. Deciding that I am going to have a good day regardless of what is thrown my way, makes dealing with issues a lot easier than expecting everything to be negative and annoying. As has been said in a previous blog, if you always look for the negative, you will find it in everything you touch.
Whenever things stress me, I try and remember to take deep breaths for a count of ten … although I’m not sure it works to calm me down, or if it just gives me more time to calculate my next move. Either way it does mean that I am not able to act in haste. That said, this only happens when the rational side of my brain can overpower the bit of me that acts like a bull-in-a-china-shop.
Depression is not thankfully something that affects me, but I do live with it hanging over others that are very close. Winston Churchill called it ‘The Black Dog’, and although there is now some controversy as to the extent of his illness, what I find interesting is the way those around him acted to him during those phases. Personally, I have found that maintaining a sunny positive attitude and chivvying someone along to try and rally their spirit, is counter-productive. Time, and gentle support are what they need, but by quietly maintaining my good mood, is what gets me through those times.
Embrace the Storm
I will always be here …
Be here to listen and hold you when you cry
To walk by your side
Read with you
Read to you
Listen
Keep you safe while you rest
Watch your favourite programmes
Make you laugh, even if it’s laughing at me and not with me
Sing and dance around the front room with you until we drop
Sit in silence until you are ready to face the world again
Hug you for no reason
And let you know how much you matter to me
I love you, almost unconditionally
But everyone has their limits
I pray you will never find mine
If I could give you one thing
It would be the ability to see yourself as I see you
So, you could realise how special you are
Your illness does not define you
Your strength and courage to cope with it does
I will never let you give up
When you can’t see the bright side … I will always be beside you in the darkness
Lee Montgomery-Hughes © 2018 (All Rights Reserved)