Loving the God Damned Moment

Yea, you heard me. This moment–this stinky, metal on metal, fit last season and now it doesn’t moment.

How do you keep yourself up when you feel like you’re in quagmire? We’ve all been there—things change too quickly or unexpectedly, leaving you thinking of happier times and resenting your current situation. I’m an impatient person and sometimes I find myself concentrating on all the negatives, big or small. I want smooth, and oh, there it is and that’s exactly what I was thinking.

But on occasion I get itchy sweaters on a hot, hot day. Turtlenecks. Sharp sticks poking me in the side. General emotional blech.

Here are my suggestions for those moments:

• Take yourself out from under the microscope

Don’t get mad, but you are not the center of the universe. I know, I have to remind myself of this on a regular basis. Focus on something else for 5 minutes. It doesn’t have to be the most significant thing in your day. Write a haiku—5,7,5, remember?

• Do something for someone else

See: “You are not the center of the universe”.
Sometimes, it’s just about changing your focus. Try putting that brilliant spotlight on others for awhile—and use your powers for good, not evil. I pick a random day each week and focus on doing 5 things for someone else—big or small, for friends or strangers. It helps me to put a measurement against it (freak) after dealing in a world where it’s all about deliverables. Everyone wins and I hope it creates a positive ripple in everyone’s day. You know, butterfly wings…

• Change your scenery

Take a little walk, go get a latte, take an overnight trip out of town, go to the gym. There are so many choices and, the best thing is, your voyage doesn’t have to be lengthy or involved to be effective. I don’t know why it works but it always does. It has the same unexplainable curative properties as 7up when you’re sick.

• Be your own best friend

You know exactly what your best friend would say or do at this moment to motivate, cheer, and inspire you. There’s a reason why this person is your best friend. Have your own WWMBFD? –otherwise referred to as “What Would My Best Friend Do?” Allow the horrible carney voice in your head to be turned into a loving, caring voice—even if it’s delivering a bit of tough love. That’s what friends do—just emulate.

• Create your own *Mental Health Moment*

I have a friend I call and the conversation starts, “I need a mental health break.” She understands that distraction is the only thing required. I will take happily take pith at this moment, mental shiny keys jingling before me, solely designed to distract me from the stuck place I currently reside.

Sometimes, friends are busy and we have to practice some old fashioned self soothing. Here are some of my favorite places to visit online to take me away from the moment when I need more than videos of cats doing cute things:

Zen Habits Leo Babauta’s blog on simple productivity in all aspects of our lives. Thought provoking articles with good “How to’s”.
Dooce Heather Armstrong used to be a Mormon, is an author, lives in Utah with her husband, kids and dogs, talks about dealing with depression and is a stitch—you now, same old. She writes about her far from everyday life in an hysterical, honest way.
The Happiness Project Gretchen Rubin is testing all the theories on how to be happy. Good food for thought and she gives you tools to start your own happiness project.
Dreamin The Life Portland blogger who writes about trying, failing and succeeding to live the best life. Funny and true, like you’re talking with a friend.
The Art of Non-Conformity Chris Guillebeau’s blog on not working for the man, travel and living his dreams. One of his goals is to visit every country in the world—he’s currently at 119 out of 197. I gotta get out more…
Totally Unique Thoughts Sign up for your daily message from the Universe. Yes, you heard me. The Universe will send you brilliantly short pep talks to your inbox. It is as effective as a compliment from a stranger. Try it.
FAIL Blog Just people effing up left and right and always in front of a camera. So wonderful. Based here in Seattle—we are almost neighbors.

 

• Visit TED.com

We live in a fascinating world and information is available to us in ways it never has been before…good and bad. Give TED 20 minutes and you can listen to a cool talk on ANYTHING by the person in the world who know the most about it, is probably funny and may even have an accent. You will feel smart after TED, in a MENSA way, I promise.

• Love on an animal

The Stroke Institute found that people who owned cats were 30 percent less likely to suffer a heart attack. (Kind of weird though since they’re the Stroke Institute…) Anyway, when I’m feeling a little out of sorts, I just dig my old cat out from under the bed and force her to hug on me. Very effective.

• Write through it

Sometimes I just need to untangle myself and dissect something that’s bothering me without other’s input. It’s amazing what you can discover when you read your own words and hear your voice, sometimes for the first time.

• And, more than anything…

Remember, that this is a moment in time and that it too will pass. Remind yourself of the last challenge and how you made it through. I know it sounds like a can of corn but tomorrow is another day, full of wonderful and horrible and it is totally up to you on how you focus. You are in control on that pesky voice that tells you, “You can’t. You will fail.”
I believe you can do it.



Now, stop ready FAIL blog and get back to it.

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