How to Get Out of That Funk

When you're down, lift someone up.

When we get into tough states of being it's really easy to feel down and drag everything down with us. Even our lips fall susceptible to gravity. Once we're down there in the mud and muck of our own experience, it's rather difficult to see anything but the mud and muck. 

One of the quickest ways to pull yourself out of it is to intentionally lift someone else up. When you do, you'll find that you are pulled up with them! It doesn't take long, and it doesn't take much. 

Next time emotional gravity takes ahold of you, give one of these things a try and see how quickly you change your own state:

1.) Call around to people you know and see if anyone needs your help with anything. They may need a loving listener or strong arms to move a dresser or some assistance picking out a new paint color for the dining room. Whatever it is, be willing to be in service to them if you're able. 

2.) Do a random act of kindness out in the world or with a stranger. If you're at the grocery store, take that loose cart to the corral. Smile and greet the next person you see. Write kind notes and leave them on people's windshields as you walk from the parking garage to your office. Make the kid in the car next to you laugh by making funny faces. Get creative or keep it simple. It doesn't have to be elaborate.  

3.) Say something nice to someone - or a few nice things to a few someones. Compliment the receptionist on how warmly he answers the phone. Thank the police officer on the corner for her duty. Let the elderly gentleman at the coffee shop know he is really rockin' that cardigan. Tell you spouse why you appreciate him/her. This simple kindness can create a wonderful connection and may even make that person's day.  

You may feel like you don't have time to do any of this, but trust me, functioning in the mud and muck is a whole lot like trying to function in mud and muck. It's a slog. Tasks take longer to do. Mistakes are regularly made which have to be fixed. You're hurting and have less energy to be effective. 

Pausing to help someone one else out, is actually a shortcut not an inconvenience.

Just remember the next time you're down, lift someone up and watch both of you rise!