We all have different ways we go about making
ourselves feel better when we are feeling downcast. Most of the time, we resort
to our friends. As for me, the techniques I have depended on include;
- - Reading chats from people.
- -Reading books.
- -Listening to music
- -Doing more work, just something to
get my attention out of it
- -And for sure, I’ve also depended on
people to lift me up and out of that mood so you’re not alone on this journey.
Anyway, all this methods are great ways of
coming off a downcast spirit but they are also all external support and form
just a part of the self-validation equation. On the other hand, we also need to
get internal support by allowing yourself be your support system.
I was able to come up with some things I could
do to help myself in those moments to create a healthy balance and support
myself.
So if you’re also looking to be able to create
such stability in your life, the following ideas can be of help;
Be
aware and appreciate yourself
Be aware of yourself and what’s going on for
you. Focus on the positives and be honest with yourself about your shortcomings
as well. Be grateful to yourself for all you are able to do daily. Note all the
things you did well, the choices you made that turned out great, the things you
were able to achieve, people you were able to talk to and ease their stress,
advices you gave to someone, help you rendered one way or the other and so on.
After you’ve become aware, celebrate yourself
when you achieve something. It helps you gain self-esteem and belief in your
capabilities. You can do what makes you happy, a little gift or a sit out with
a friend, whatever it is no victory is too small to be celebrated.
Doing this regularly makes it a habit and creates
in you a validation of yourself which you can depend on when you need it.
Ask
yourself, “What am I hoping to be told?”
Most times when we tell people our
aches in life, we’re just desiring to hear ‘it’s not your fault’ or ‘you didn’t
do it on purpose so don’t feel bad about’ or just something that takes us out
of the blame lane.
We just want someone else to confirm
the best in us and believe in us. Give yourself the opportunity to know and
reaffirm this to yourself.
Speak to yourself the things that you
hear others say that make you feel better. Believe in yourself and tell
yourself that you’re the best version of you. Doing this regularly makes it
easier for you to believe it all the more when someone else says it and before
you know it, it becomes an unconscious response.
The
goal is not for you to not relate with other people but for you to offer some
kind of self-support before involving the external one.
Be
true to yourself and your emotions
Sometimes when we feel bad, we try to cover it up by doing certain things
that could make us forget what we feel. This is not good and it doesn’t help us
sort our problems in the right way.
Allow your emotions to run its course and come to an end. Most times,
they don’t last for long before they’re over and done with.
Read
what inspires you
It can be a quote from the net, a book or article, read what inspires
you. You never know, you might just come across a quote that addresses your
particular situation for example, the bible is also a source of inspiration. This
is a way of getting validated with the help of someone else, igniting your
spark through the help of another person.
Be
around people who inspire you
While you read something inspirational, it is also very important to
surround yourself with people who inspire you. This makes it easier for you to
get inspired. This set of people have your good at heart and will encourage you
to validate yourself because they’re validating themselves. They keep you living
out healthy habits encouraging to care for yourself.
Care
for yourself
Taking care of your self is also a form of internal validation because it
means that at this point, you see yourself as a person to be taken care of. It’s
also confirming that you love yourself. Caring for yourself involves doing what
makes you happy, preparing your favourite meal, taking strolls or walks round
your block, listening to a music by your favourite artist, watching a movie you
love.
Learn
to accept.
At times things don’t turn out the way we want them to irrespective of
the efforts we put into it. In the events of this, acceptance is a way of telling yourself
“okay, your feelings are valid, and we’re going to have to take this for what
it is.” When you make efforts to achieve things and they turn out differently
from what you expected, you have to remind yourself you made an effort. That is
why it’s good to always attempt your best at things. Acceptance isn’t about
giving up, rather it’s about surrendering to what you can’t control and not
letting them control you.
More so remember
this prayer “God give me the strength to change what I can change, the courage
to live with what I cannot change and the wisdom to know the difference between
the two”.
God is always
here to help!
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