I’m in a bit of a funk.
Something is off, though I am not sure what.
When something happens and it upsets me I can figure out how to solve the problem, and then the bad mood will go away.
When I don’t have a reason for being in a weird mood I become frustrated. Everything piles up on me without explanation.
I feel lonely and empty. I start to view everything from a negative light. I’m not like myself at all.
I know I’m not the only one who feels this way.
How do we escape these feelings if we don’t know where they come from?
I prefer to focus on solutions rather than the problems so let’s ignore the thousands of hours we could spend figuring out the why, and instead focus on the how.
These are four tips I remind myself of every time I get into one of these moods. I hope that they help you as much as they have helped me.
Write your grateful list.
You don’t have to be surrounded by family eating turkey to be grateful.
You will be beat up, tired, lonely and heartbroken throughout this life. During these times being grateful for whatever you do have can be the only thing that saves you.
I jump to this tip as soon as I feel even a slight funk coming on.
Write down ten things you are grateful for, or twenty, or thirty. As many as you need to remember that there is always something in your life worth feeling good about.
The worse off you are, the deeper you will have to dig. But if you find something to be grateful for at rock bottom, you’ll never have to worry about falling again.
Change the channel.
If you are in a bad mood, think back to a time when you were happy. What was really all that different?
You still had troubles, worries, fears and problems. You were still the same living, breathing person you are today.
I remind myself of this to remember that my mood isn’t who I am.
It’s just a channel I’m on.
Do anything you can to change that channel. Don’t give in and listen to that sad music, instead watch a stand up special.
Instead of writing your sad poetry try playing chess online, meditating, reading or anything that is outside of the norm for you.
Shake things up and change your channel.
Focus on others.
Being upset requires a certain degree of selfishness. “Why are things so bad for me? Why don’t they love me? Why can’t I just catch a break?”
I’m not saying it’s wrong, that’s just the way I look at it.
To get out of the funk, you have to switch your focus to others.
I prefer to do this by messaging someone I haven’t spoken to in a while out of the blue. I don’t try to get their advice or burden them with my problems. I tell them that I miss them. I try to express how much they mean to me regardless of how close we are to each other.
There are many ways to shift your focus though. Anything from volunteering to spending some time petting a cat will help.
It’s hard to feel down on yourself when you are focused on someone else. I guarantee if you make another person’s day brighter, you will catch some of that light as well.
When all else fails, decide to reset tomorrow.
Sometimes I am in a funk, I’ve tried everything, and there is no way out.
At this point I remind myself that this is just a feeling, not who I am. Maybe today is a write off, but tomorrow is a new day.
You will be happy again, and unfortunately, you will also be sad again.
But every day ends, and every new morning will begin. Focus on restarting tomorrow.
Writing this has helped me with my funk. For that, I thank you. By doing this I have focused on others and changed the channel.
I think today is a bit of a write off, so I’ll go to bed now.
And tomorrow… well, tomorrow is another day and I am grateful.
I like what u said about changing the channel. Perspective is so important. Many people give up their lives because of a moment of poor perspective. So it’s important to figure out how to retain the perspective most conducive to life lol and happiness.
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It’s true, the best skill you can have is being able to take a step back and realise that your current mind state is temporary. Thank you for the compliment. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Collection of Interests Blog.
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Good advice. I have a grateful list but I like the idea if changing channel. Xx
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I have tried a lot of things, but these are my favourite. Thank you for the encouragement. 🙂
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http://verakasi.wordpress.com/2013/03/24/the-trust-channel/
😉 🙂
I like your stuff. 🙂
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I love your post so much!
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This really spoke to me. Thank you!
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It’s no problem. I hope it helps somehow!
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Great article and suggestions. Focusing on others truly help to reset my mood when I’m in a funk. Love it. Thank you.
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No problem, that tip is by far the best advice I’ve ever been given on the the subject. I’m just passing it on and hoping it helps someone as much as it helped me. Thank you so much for the words of gratitude.
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To change moods I do the quieting reflex. Take a deep breath in and when you exhale, smile. It changes one’s outlook for the day! Thank you for the follow! ^..^
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That is a good idea, I’ll try it next time. 😀
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Let me know how it works for you Steven! 🙂
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I will! I have a feeling it will be a keeper. Another trick in my toolbox. 🙂
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Great thoughts. Enjoyed reading!
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Thank you!
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I will definitely be employing these tactics when I’m having a ‘wobbly’ day. Thank you 🙂
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It’s no problem at all, we all have those wobbly days. 🙂
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This was great thanks for sharing.
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No problem, I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
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Thank you so much for the tips. I had a day once that was going all wrong, and I guess I changed the channel. What I did was I got back in my PJs and into bed for ten minutes. And then got back up and pretended I was starting my day. I retook my shower, the whole works and left that awful bad start behind. I still laugh about it today. Thanks again. I loved this!
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That is an awesome idea! I have to try that sometime, that way I can start the day on my own terms. Thank you for sharing that!
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Great stuff. Thanks for sharing because we all get into a funk at times.
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It’s true. Sometimes you have no idea how you got into it, but it’s best just to pull some tricks out of your toolbox and get out as fast as possible. 😀
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I really enjoyed this post, as I’m prone to these negative feelings more often than I care to admit.
I love the idea of a grateful list! One thing I try to employ every morning, is before I get out of bed, I like to list in my head the things I’m grateful for, such as the roof over my head, the fact I have a job to wake up for, the clothes on my back etc
I will definitely be using your concept of “changing the channel”.
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The grateful list is a really good tool, I try to use it often to stop bad moods in their tracks before they snowball. I get into bad moods more than I would like as well, although I’m getting better at avoiding them or cutting them short. I hope the other tips work for you just as effectively as they did for me. It’s always good to have tricks in your toolbox.
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am so in a funk right now and dont know what to do. feel like i ve tried every thing buts not working. thanks so much for the tips, apart from giving me answers, you hav also brightened my face again after many hours
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If I have helped, even just a little, then I am happy. These moods come at us with no warning and usually no explanation so it can be very hard to get out of them. Thank you for brightening my day as well with your kind words. I appreciate them. 🙂
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I needed to read this! Thanks for posting.
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No problem, glad I could be of service!
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I love the gratitude list. As a journaler I keep many journals in one book, one is a gratitude journal that I try to do everytime I write in my journal. At least five unique and novel items have to be put on the list every time.
BTW, are you related at all to a Beverly Evans Farquharson (sorry if I misspelled your name….I’m working from memory and my memory really hasn’t gotten out of bed yet…..) Beverly Evans lived/died in Cupertino Ca. She is/was my mother’s sister. We’ve lost track of that side of the family and well, Farquharson isn’t exactly Smith in a family tree. 😉
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I have been wanting to start a journal recently, I’m sure it is a good help to guarantee you do a gratitude list.
As far as I know I am not related to her. Maybe from hundreds of years ago. It is a quite unique last name though. 😛
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Thank you for favouriting one of my blog posts, because if you hadn’t, I wouldn’t have found your journal. I really like your writing style and your content is very similar to what I’m going through. I’m going to follow your blog as I feel your blog posts and ideas will really help me.
No one is ever alone, I hope we can all help one another overcome our obstacles!
Much love!
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Thank you so much for your comment! Writing my problems and ideas down helps me to deal with the difficult parts of life. The fact that I have had an impact on you as well has made this experience all the more valuable.
Hopefully we can continue to help and inspire each other. Thank you again for the kind words!
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I know all about being in a funk. That seems to be my mood each and every day, whether it’s for five minutes or all day. It just is.
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Try using some of these tips! Also, remember that if you identify yourself as a person who is usually in a bad mood, it will become a self prophecy and you will be that type of person. Thank you for sharing.
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It’s funny because I was always the happy go lucky type. I’d see the positive in everything and everyone. That’s why lately it’s been really hard because the person I see now is not the same person I once new. Will definitely see what tips work for me. Thank you.
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Steven,
I really enjoyed reading this because I am always looking for a new a different way to get out of a funk. I have bipolar disorder and these are perfect to help me during those down times! thanks!
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I am so glad that I could help, even if only a little. I can’t imagine what it’s like to have bipolar disorder, but I hope that these tips help you as much as they have helped me. Thank you for sharing, it makes my day!
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Thank you so much. I had forgotten all the things you suggest, it has been such a long time since I tried to write my gratitude list. I am grateful for you right now.
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It is no problem what so ever. When I get a comment like this it makes me so happy that I continue to write and try to help. I will be forever grateful for the people who reach out and brighten my day. I appreciate it to the moon and back!
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I love this post! It’s so important to remember that it’s only temporary and there are so many things we can refocus on to find our way back to “happy”!
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You’re exactly right. We can’t confuse our current mind state with who we are as a whole. It’s just a way we are looking at things in that moment. Thanks for sharing!
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This is a brilliant post – how you’ve managed to put all the advice across so clearly and compassionately.
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That you so much. I try very hard to break everything down to its basic and easily digestible elements. 🙂
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Thank you Steve. We seem to think and work along the same lines. One thing I have realised is that the more you focus on gratitude, the more you appreciate how much there is to be grateful for every day. The more you focus on past feelings of wellness and happiness, the easier they are to import into the now. And yes, if nothing works, forgive yourself and wait for a better time. I used to beat myself up regularly, “Come on, you silly bitch, you could if you tried.” Then, as I recovered, I had to accept that I could not have done more than I did. Now I recognise those moments and trust myself to do what I can, just as soon as I can. Till then, I meditate and heal myself, ready for the next opportunity.
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That was beautifully said! We have to remind ourselves often not to be ourselves up. It’s an easy trap to fall into. I feel like it’s easier t get mad at yourself than to try and fix the problem, but sometimes the hard way is the better way.
Thank you so much for sharing this!
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Focusing on others has worked for me in the past. I’ll add something else; Do your chores.
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That is a good way to get your mind off things
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It is, isn’t it? But only if you can do nothing about it. Else, its just a great way to procrastinate.
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Hi Steve, got your comment on my Word Press website and wanted to comment on yours. I like your material that I’ve looked at so far. Wanted to comment on this particular section.
First of all, to get out of a “funk”, the Bible says to “Seek Ye first the Kingdom of God and HIs righteousness, (Jesus) and all these other things will be added to you…” Matthew 6:33. Each morning I seek the Lord (pray), first, and that includes praise to the Lord, listening to God’s voice, and making my request known to God (verbalizing). And then obeying what I feel that God is speaking to me. When I say speaking, I mean that I “listen” and usually I will know what to do by what comes to my spirit. See John John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and they follow me.”
Secondly, I only am concerned about TODAY and not TOMORROW because “today has enough worries of its own.” James 4:13 talks about how that you should rely on God and not on your own plans because we need to focus on what God’s plan is for today. Paul says in I Cornithians 15:31, says I die daily to self. Also we must take up our cross daily and follow me, (Jesus)… Matt 16:24. II Corinthans 6:2 states “today is the acceptable day of salvation.” We must do what God wants us to do today. Yesterday is behind me, tomorrow is ahead of me, but my focus should be on today.
Adoption of this stance or philosophy, if you will, will go greatly toward alieveating stress and worry. True humility is obeying God on a daily basis. Jesus of course set the ultimate example of obeying God daily. Mark 1:35-37. Phillipians 2;5:13. Each person has to decide for themselves to whether to follow Christ or not, Joshua 24:15, but for me the ultimate “life lesson” has been to practice this.
Would love to converse with your more on this. Please feel free to email me at prophetbob@outlook.com Thanks for following my blog at prophetbobdotorg/wordpress. Thanks and God bless Bob
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Reblogged this on rebloggobbler.
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Thank you for this! Your writing is very positive but also truthful. It is not always sunshine and rainbows, but there is a light even in the difficult times. I appreciate your following my blog so that I could read through yours.
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I will soon be bookmarking this site. Has plenty of great information.
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Wish to let you know I came across your articles to be very beneficial to my business.
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I’m so lucky that I stumbled on this site. I can’t stop reading and have discovered a lot. Absolutely the most effective content I attended across.
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This was fantastic. I will difinitely have to keep those little tricks in mind for the next time a funk sneaks up on me. Thanks!
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It’s no problem. I have used these tricks more times than I can count. I hope they serve you as well as they have served me!
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Link away!
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Yes! I know exactly what it’s like to be in a funk and not know the WHY of it. It can be so hard to get out of it! I really like how you write out possible ways of getting out without blaming or making us feel bad at all for having gotten into a funk in the first place. You guys seem really nice! I appreciate your posts.
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It’s all about looking for solutions no matter what situation you are in! I would never harass people, questioning them as to why they feel the way they feel. I just want to help people no matter what mind state they have found themselves in. It happens to all of us, right? Thank you for sharing your positive thoughts with me. They gave me an extra boost this morning!
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Lovely article 🙂 Keep writing!
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Thank you so much, I appreciate it!
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