In a society that demands we “have a nice day” and keep up our perky smiles, what do you do if you just don’t feel that way on any given day?
We all have down days — times when nothing is going right, and we wonder if it ever will.
It’s important to normalize these down days when you only want to sing the blues.
A variety of moods are essential to our human condition. Our feelings ebb and flow like the tides. If we were to feel only one way every single day, we just wouldn’t be human.
Give yourself permission to have a down day, or two, or three. If you want to be alone and cocoon for a while, that’s fine. We all need “alone time”; we all need down time and down days.
A sense of time and space is critical when you’re feeling this way, however. Be aware of how long the down time continues. The shift from having a case of the blahs to needing help and support is when your mindfulness must come into play.
After a few days, this time spent alone has gone on long enough. You must reach out from this isolation, deliberately seeking support.
If you haven’t spoken to anyone in a meaningful way for a while, reach out and share how you are feeling. Letting a trusted friend know what is bugging you is essential. A caring person with an alternative perspective will provide help and support.
There is a fine line between singing the blues and sinking into depression. Don’t let that sad song go on too long.
Photo: Dave Dyet