Knock You Down

Lately, I have been feeling less than stellar, things have been getting better each day. I have compiled a list of steps I have kept stored in my mind that have been gradually helping. I'm not going to say I'm fully happy, because I'm not, but I'm not depressed either. Kind of stuck in a weird limbo.

1. Don't tell yourself you've hit rock bottom.
Life happens. One day you may have it all, then the next it comes crashing down. That happened to me. Maybe not so much on a personal life sense, but definitely with the job life. If you tell yourself you've hit rock bottom, then you will never get out from the abyss. I know I have told myself I have hit the bottom, but I've learned to stop saying it, propelling me to move forward.

2. Never think anyone is out to get you.
Sometimes when you do something bad, you think you are being judged almost immediately when you step outside. I thought that for a good chunk of time, and that may have kept me from doing the things I wanted to do. But I pushed myself to get out there and enjoy life at a depressing time. I realized that if my friends judged me for a mistake I have made, then they weren't true friends. I'm happy to say that this didn't happen.

3. It's always the darkest before the dawn.
Generic and cliche phrase, I know, but it is so true. I realize that we are all on the brink of a new season, and truth be told, things change when the seasons change. Summer is on the horizon. I'm not letting myself be down for the duration of the summer. Summer is supposed to be fun, spontaneous, wild, and relaxing. Why spend it moping around and not taking any steps to get better? Things are always at their worst before they get better. "It'll get better." rings true in my ear.

4. A healthy daily routine should be established.
For me, a routine helps me stay on track. When the routine disappears or ends, I'm spun out and lost. When this happens, I feel inadequate and sometimes, worthless. But I am working on a routine that should get me back on the track of life. We all have our rough patches, some more than others, but we eventually get through them. Now, I'm not saying your whole LIFE needs to be on a routine, you need some spontaneity in your life to keep things fresh.

5. Surround yourself with the things you love.
Things that are a constant reminder of happiness is amazing to keep around. Some people keep pictures, some keep notes, hell, some people keep old texts. And that's not even the tip of the iceburg. For me, certain songs and movies bring me back to a place I cannot describe. You put on "Jump" by Van Halen, I'm instantly put in a good mood. If Mean Girls is on the tv, I forget about everything else and laugh my ass off. This all sounds cheesy, I realize, but this step is my secret weapon. If I'm fighting with a friend or just facing daily obstacles, I surround myself with things that take me back to a happier time that eventually turn into peace of mind. This may sound like you're running away from the problem. That's not it at all. This is a matter of taking a break from the problem. We still have to face the problem head on, or it will remain forever. Taking breathers is completely healthy. If you're head is under the water, it is nice to come up for air sometime. :)