| y"> | | | | or that of someone you care about, you probably |
| No one can stay in a good mood all the time, but | | | | don't have to be concerned about it. If someone |
| you can feel pretty good most of the time if you | | | | is rude, lazy, inconsistent, untruthful, or has some |
| put your mind to it. Too many of us fall into the | | | | other quality that bothers you, take that into |
| trap of slipping into negative, self-pitying, | | | | consideration when dealing with them. If you can, |
| depressed, angry or other states that don't feel | | | | avoid them whenever possible, if that's what |
| very good. | | | | seems to be the best solution. But don't let them |
| When we feel good, we are not only happier, but | | | | "get" to you. It's not worth it, and it's very unlikely |
| more pleasant to be around, more productive | | | | you are going to be able to get them to change |
| and, according to many Law of Attraction | | | | anyway. |
| teachers, magnetic to the good things in life. | | | | ** If you don't do so now, take up a meditative |
| Here are some guidelines to help you stay | | | | type practice. This can be an actual sitting |
| positive the vast majority of the time. Now, it is | | | | meditation, or an exercise like Thai Chi or a gentle |
| natural for certain traumatic or extremely | | | | form of yoga (strenuous forms of yoga can be |
| disturbing events to make us feel angry, sad or | | | | good for health, but for now I'm talking about |
| afraid. Yet, for most of us, it is the little things | | | | quieting the mind) or even long walks. In all of |
| that keep us from feeling good. While we certainly | | | | these, concentrate on taking long, relaxing |
| don't want to attract crisis into our lives, the really | | | | breaths. Try to empty your mind, or keep it |
| serious "negative" events often inspire us to find | | | | focused on your breathing or on your immediate |
| the courage or mental strength to face them. | | | | surroundings. Don't use this time to rehash |
| Again, it's the small stuff, the daily annoyances of | | | | stressful thoughts or experiences! |
| everyday life that tend to sneak up on people. | | | | ** Pay attention to your moods! Think of bad |
| ** Make peace with the clock. Constantly being in | | | | moods as a kind of emotional quicksand. If you |
| a hurry is a major cause of stress for many | | | | pay attention, you can avoid stepping in it. Or if |
| people. If you have to, leave the house earlier; | | | | you sense the ground getting soft, you can take |
| plan for delays. But most importantly, keep in | | | | a different path. But if you aren't paying attention, |
| mind that worrying about time will not make you | | | | you just sink deeper and deeper until you are in a |
| more efficient. If you are stuck in traffic, for | | | | real funk. When you start to feel this "quicksand" |
| example, take some deep breaths, put on some | | | | under you, immediately do something to divert |
| good music or an audio-book or think about | | | | yourself. If you are sitting down, get up and take |
| something else. There is absolutely nothing you | | | | a short walk (even if you are at the office). If |
| can do to change the road conditions, so stop | | | | you are in a situation where this isn't possible |
| letting it get to you. | | | | (stuck in traffic, to use this example again), you |
| ** Watch what you eat and drink for energy. If | | | | can still make an effort to change your state. |
| you are constantly consuming sugar, caffeine, | | | | Breathe deeply; look around in all directions, |
| "energy drinks" or other short-term mood/energy | | | | including up, towards the sky. If you are at home, |
| enhancers, you are setting yourself up for | | | | you can even do something mindless like turn on |
| crashes. Replace these with nutritious foods that | | | | the television or read a mystery novel. If you |
| control mood and blood sugar, like nuts (almonds, | | | | spend many hours at such escapes, this can be a |
| walnuts, sunflower seeds are good). | | | | problem, but for short amounts of time, to |
| ** Be an Actor, not a Reactor. Remember, you | | | | change your mood, they can be effective. Some |
| can't control how other people behave or what | | | | kind of exercise can be helpful as well. The point |
| they say. If people are constantly annoying you, | | | | is, when you feel yourself starting to sink into a |
| you are probably taking things personally. Unless | | | | bad mood, don't just passively let it happen |
| someone's behavior is an actual threat to your life | | | | -make a change of some kind. |