Have you ever found yourself caught in a gloomy mindset, thinking about things that typically don’t cross your mind?
Maybe you’re thinking of quitting, giving up, or even escaping your life and traveling the world?
Well, welcome to modern-day life, filled with expectations and pressure to be successful.
When life gets hard and we don’t get what we want, we tend to get frustrated. Eventually, that frustration leads to anger, which in turn results in an overall feeling of helplessness.
That’s when the gloomy thoughts take over.
“I can’t do it. I’m going to quit.”
Now you start questioning yourself. You forget about all the things you’ve accomplished in your life and you only think about how hard life is in the moment.
You lose all perspective. It’s just negative thoughts. Everything sucks.
I’ve been on this path many times in life. You and I both know that it’s a pure waste of energy.
Whether you feel sorry for yourself or not, life goes on. It’s your responsibility to snap out of your gloomy mindset.
10 things you can do right now to feel better
I want to give you a set of techniques you can immediately use if you feel gloomy. Maybe that’s right now. Or maybe you can use it in the future when you get in that type of mindset.
Here are ten practical steps you can immediately put into action.
- Let go: Surrender, but not in the way you might think. Let go of unrealistic expectations and overly ambitious goals that are causing you stress. There’s virtue in knowing what truly matters. Remember, the sun doesn’t shine brighter because we force it; it simply shines every day without effort.
- Embrace simplicity: Escaping isn’t the solution. Instead, learn to appreciate the mundane aspects of your life. Find joy in simplicity. A cup of hot coffee on a cold morning, a warm smile from a stranger, the sound of rain on the roof; these simple pleasures are the real treasures of life.
- Listen to your favorite music: Music has the power to uplift your spirits. Listen to songs that make you happy.
- Revisit your favorite childhood movie: For me, it’s “Back to the Future II”. I watched that movie so often when I was young. Watching it now reminds me of that time. Doesn’t matter which movie it is for you. Just let it remind you of simpler times.
- Buy a bunch of good books: Get excited about immersing yourself in new worlds and ideas. Reading can be a great escape. From fantasy epics to insightful biographies, books offer us countless lives and realities.
- Read “A Manual for Living” by Epictetus: This brief yet profound book will help you refocus on what’s truly important in life. Epictetus teaches us that it’s not events that disturb us, but our interpretation of them.
- Connect with friends: Engaging in meaningful conversations with good friends can be energizing and uplifting. Reach out to an old friend, share a laugh, reminisce about old times, or even vent if you need to.
- Go for a long walk: Walking is not just physically beneficial, but it’s also a great way to clear your mind and relax. As you walk, try to consciously notice the world around you – the falling leaves, the chirping birds, the cool breeze. Appreciate the beauty of nature.
- Indulge in self-care: Take a warm bath or visit a sauna. Relaxation helps you to focus on the warmth and good feelings.
- Slow down: When gloominess strikes, our thoughts tend to race. Make a conscious effort to slow down. Take deep breaths, meditate, or practice mindfulness. Remember, it’s okay to pause.
As you can see from the above tips, it’s all about slowing down your life and mind.
When you’re glooming, you go fast. You want to slow down.
Reject the gloomy thoughts
When gloominess sets in, remember that you have the power to break free from it. You can return to your normal self.
Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist who endured unimaginable suffering in concentration camps, said:
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
This is a very powerful idea. YOU have the power to choose your attitude, NO MATTER WHAT.
Choose positivity, life, and good things—even if life is hard. Never walk away from hardship.
Go through it with an optimistic mindset.
