Those days where the old critical self defeating voices that aren’t around too much anymore are pretty much havin a party in my head. I usually start by tryin to scare them away with my most powerful affirmations. The ones posted on index cards on my bathroom mirror. But they just ignore me. One looks up, bursts out laughing and drops a case of Milwaukee’s Best on the table, then sets out the cups for beer pong, like they plan on stayin for a while.
I sit down to meditate to quiet them. That’s when one chick puts her hand on her hip, lights up a cigarette , picks up a microphone and says, “Ya lets see ya quiet THIS” and goes on to remind me of all my faults and fears and times when I made mistakes.
So, I put on my crystal earrings, chakra necklace and the magnetic reflexology sandals that I got at the psychic fair.
They counter the attack by waving those big foam hands. You know the ones you see at professional sporting events with the team’s name on them and the first finger up for Number 1? Except these ones are doin the Loser sign and instead of a team name they say, “Bite Me”.
So……. what can we do when we try everything, and nothing seems to get us out of the grungies?
SHOTS! …… Just Kidding. That could help a little in the short run, but you’ll feel worse once you stop drinking so I’m really not recommending that.
Things you could do:
- Take a nap. The rest will help a lot. It will also stop the negative thought patterns for a while to give you some relief. When you wake up, they won’t be as strong, so you could try meditating again and it will probably work well.
- Take a walk. Not a walk where you just think about everything, but a walk where you just think about walking. Ya, I’m not kidding. Like think about the sound of your feet on the ground and the sounds around you and how your feet feel on the ground and how your legs feel to lift and move. Its called a walking meditation and is a practice in being present. A walk in nature is the best because there is healing power in all of nature.
- Don’t feel bad about feeling bad. Don’t beat yourself up over it or feel like you‘ve failed in some way. Know that bad days are normal, and everyone has them. It’s just like how everyone gets a cold or a fever every once in a while. Then the fever breaks and we get over it.
- Call in sick. We all need mental health days. Ask yourself what do I need today? And give that to yourself. This way you could nap, watch TV in bed or read a book, take your walk and do whatever else makes you feel better. The key is to take good care of yourself on these days.
- Surrender. Give up. Say, “uncle”. Accept things as they are and allow the flow of life to take care of you. Trust that it will carry you to a better place. Sometimes we look at the situation right in front of us and it looks “bad”. But we can’t see the big picture. Often times it is a blessing or miracle in disguise. Trust that God or the Universe knows what it’s doing and it’ll all work out for the best.
- I’ll repeat this cause it’s so important. Take good care of yourself. Maybe a hot bubble bath, some tea, paint your toenails, play some comfort music. That could mean Barry Manalo, Enya or Michael Jackson. Whatever feels good.
- If you do go to work, or do things other than your choice, just be very present. Do that one thing completely. Seeing and smelling and feeling and being there with one thing at a time.
- Say or write things that you’re grateful for. (This is WAY more powerful than most people realize) At my low times, this can be a little hard, but anything like, “I’m grateful that I’m alive, I have breath and lungs and air, and water to drink and a chair to sit on and blankets on my bed, and socks and a toothbrush. If you can do this for 60 seconds it will have great attracting power for more positive thoughts and I guarantee you’ll feel an immediate shift and sense of relief.
- Repeat a Mantra to quiet your worrisome thoughts and bring relief. Probably on a bad day a true but lofty mantra like, “I am a divine being living in a divine world” or “Wild animals lie down as I pass because I am pure positive energy and have divine powers to realign stars, move mountains and walk on water”, will just make you roll your eyes and feel worse. Save those for days when you’re feeling good and they’ll raise you to an even higher level. On a bad day, try a simple mantra like, “It’s going to be ok”, “I am safe”, “I accept Peace in all areas of my life”, “I intend to feel good”.
