Negative Emotions Zap our Energy
Negative affectivity subsumes a variety of negative emotions, including anger, contempt, disgust, guilt, fear, and nervousness. Did you know it has been proven that anger takes a lot of energy to maintain? It completely drains you and ends up directly affecting your health in the long run. I do not know the amount of energy you have, but the energy I have on a daily basis is next to nil! I need all the energy I can muster.
We cannot – and must not – let negativity take up residence in our minds. Once we do, it can be very difficult to get rid of. When I would get depressed, it was hard to find anything to be positive about. It could be a beautiful, sunny day outside and I’d grumble because the sky was blue. It made NO sense! Negativity would get a stronghold and it was hard to free myself from it. We must not allow ourselves to give up an ounce of energy toward negative thinking, negative emotions, and negative words.
The way we think, how much physical activity we do, what we say, & our lifestyle play a big role in our journey to wellness. You have the right to live well! You can change the course of your life.
Let me share a few natural tips I found helped me to feel better again:
Schedule
One way to counter depression is to get in a routine. Make a schedule. I suggest using a calendar that is just for you. This way you are free to make additional notes about how your days are going and how you are feeling each day.
Exercise
Summer is a perfect time to begin a new routine outside. Simply try going for a walk. In the case of having been sedentary for some time, I suggest starting with a 1-3 minute period of walking in place. If you try to do 3 minutes and notice you are getting winded, cut back to 1 minute, Make sure to take note of how you are feeling at each minute interval you reach. The main point here is to start moving again. Remember, feel-good chemicals in our brain are released when we exercise!
Goals
On your schedule write some goals. Start small. Maybe you want to help do the dishes two days a week. You might write something like,”my goal is to spend 15 minutes reading my favorite book that’s been collecting dust.” You might even make it a goal to do five minutes of exercises every other day.
Some of us with a chronic illness will find ourselves staying in bed all day due to extreme fatigue. After a good night’s rest, there have been many times I’d still wake up so tired. I’d roll over and fall right back asleep. There have been countless days when I simply did not care whether or not I got dressed!
Making a goal help gave me a reason to look forward to each day. I do my best to make the most out of each one.
SOMETHING NEW
Try something you have never done before! Read the book your friends have been telling you about. Take that online class. Learn how to draw or learn a completely new language! How about volunteering in your community? Sit in the hallway at school with a child while he practices reading a book to you. Help out at a local church on soup night for the homeless. Be a coach or referee for a basketball team at school or summer camp. Challenge yourself. The list can be endless!
Life is so worth living. It took a lot of baby steps before I could walk. But I stayed focused, followed my vision and am living a life of wellness. It is not easy to come out of depression. But it is worth every step to come out on the other side smiling.
Don’t give up. I made it. And you will make it, too. I believe in you.
Happy. Content. Optimistic. Peaceful.
You start by thinking about something other than your illness.
You can and will begin feeling better with the right tools like therapy, possible medication, staying focused, and incorporating the tips given above.
I wish you enough💜
Ginny Hanson
Health Coach and Mentor
