Sometimes attitude is all I have. Snow –like cold dark thoughts— clings more easily than sunshine. It can be difficult to keep ahead of the bad weather or the bad mind-set. Everyone has down times or bad days. Pain makes some of those difficult to shrug off.
Here’s what I do:
Engage in positive conversations. In real or virtual frames staying happy is an active endeavor. Find something– even the simplest topic– that you enjoy and talk to someone about it. It can be as easy as engaging a friend on Facebook about a picture or telling your child which cereal you like. Keep it simple and listen or read the responses. Look for what makes the other person smile and you might reflect that emotion.
Commit an act of random kindness. Help someone. Even the tiniest effort can go a long way in improving emotional state. It can be an open effort where you receive praise or –my personal favorites— the kind of thing that no one but you will know you did. Examples are easy—- A kind word on a blog goes a long way, a compliment to a stranger, picking up a piece of discarded trash, putting a few dollars in a charity jar,helping someone carry groceries or other items, or even a smile on Facebook or at the store. You’d be surprised how much a smile can help!
Engage in self-expression— drawing, writing, blogging— It doesn’t matter if you demonstrate pain, anger or joy, let the emotions flow. Like a good cry at a sad movie, you will feel better afterward.
Move. Sometimes exercise can help. In the face of extreme pain it can be difficult, but the endorphins released can often be worth the effort. There was a time that I lifted weights to deal with emotional upsets and it works! Generally now I’m the dead weight I lift, but the principle is the same.
These are ways that I cope. What do you do?
patrick o'scheen 
Exercise always helps. I also try very hard to live in the moment. Happiness comes in small everyday things.
yes often it does 🙂
Good Advice. Very nice post!
thank you Mona!
Mona I nominated you for the versatile blogger award!http://wp.me/p36JSE-9u
I love your inclusion of kindness. It’s hard to be negative when we are being kind to people. Same for gratitude. Try listing for one minute all the things you have to be grateful for. One minute can turn things around. And I agree that exercise helps, too. I’m off to my martial arts class soon!
Sweet! Hit the heavy bag for me! Thanks for your input!
Very nice! Some great reminders. 🙂
Thanks!
Hey Patrick!
I didn’t even know your had a blog. I love it. I love your post. I have found that if you make an effort to give back, it comes back around. That is why I work in a school with children with issues, rescue dogs and horses, do therapy work with dogs and horses. I have a great life and I love it. It has taken me a long time to get here, but I am truly happy with life and myself. Pie the book seems to be doing well and that also makes me smile. A lady at work today told me I was freaking everyone out because no matter how bad it is at work, I am always smiling. I have to tell you seeing my horses helps a lot also. So thank you for all your kind words and sharing you book with me. I will talk Dragons with you anytime you want. Did I tell you I love Dragons? Ha!
Happy Trails To You!
Yay! you found me!
Haha I like Pie! Glad it’s doing well. Happy to talk about dragons anytime 🙂
Because you ARE so sweet, I’m giving you a Super-Sweet Blogger award. You can find it here:
http://www.marianallen.com/2013/05/9-storyadaymay-surprise/
I get outside – feel the wind or rain or sun – whatever – just feel space around me. Concentrate on breathing. I’m over 80% into the book and it is seriously cutting into my writing time 🙂 Must finish Dreamer. I love the story, Patrick. But I’ve always been a sucker for a dragon.
Ha ha thank you! I’m always that way with books! glad you are enjoying. 🙂