HOW TO GET OUT OF A FUNK: SELF-LOVE AND COMPASSION

I used to joke about getting myself out of a funk. I’d tell myself, “I’m going to gaslight myself out of it!” As you can imagine, that can only get you so far.

Getting yourself out of a funk will forever be easier said than done.

I like to think of a “funk” as my mind just catching a little cold. It’s just a period where I do not feel myself. Lacking motivation, feeling insecure, and having no desire to socialize are just some of the symptoms. This can even lead to physical manifestations, such as fatigue.

Positive thinking is the notion that it will all work out for you. “Just think positive!” I know we’ve all heard this and have all wanted to roll our eyes. Sometimes, that may be how some of my blog posts come across!

Side note: Subconscious thoughts are things we tell ourselves to rewire our brains. This is a whole other discussion, not what I am referring to here. Positive thinking is when we tell ourselves it’s okay when we obviously are not.

Treating yourself like a child.

In my time working in early intervention, we would label the emotions and help our kiddos identify what they were feeling. Telling them “it’s okay” does not mean anything when it is obviously not okay in their world. We are all just grown toddlers at the end of the day. We do not steer far from this.

Labeling your emotions can also be a whole blog post in itself. I think this is something that takes trial, and even having visuals, such as a chart of all the emotions, can be helpful.

The process can be taken even further. You could take your thoughts to a journal or talk to your pet about them to get them out of your system. This may even help you realize that these thoughts may not even be true. Or you may find them even silly at this point. It is beneficial to let it out and allow yourself to see those emotions for what they are.

Another reason to treat yourself like a child… with care.

Picture a little you and how you would treat them if they were going through this. If you see a child crying, like you may be on the inside, you would not beat them up for not thinking positively. They don’t even know what the word positive means!

Give yourself some compassion. You are always learning and going through new experiences. It is human nature to go through all the emotions. Let that emotion sit with you for some time. But not, too, long!

Following this can be your time to reintroduce some cathartic activities, such as crafts, writing, reading, walking, or even just chilling with your pet (you can tell my roommate just got kittens, right?). Think of something little you would enjoy. Use that to mediate how you feel.

Why is this important?

It is so easy to be complacent and sit in a negative mood. Having the strength to get yourself out of there speaks volumes sometimes. It’s not easy! You must give yourself compassion to feel this way.

We are always growing, learning, and experiencing new things (whether we know it or not).

Next time you feel yourself in a funk, I encourage you to give yourself come grace. This, too, shall pass.