When all around is Doom and Gloom it’s hard to stay upbeat. When we are down we are less resourceful, more likely to notice the negatives. Besides, if you can’t change things, it’s still nicer to feel happy than sad! Here are my Top Five Tips for Staying Up when others are Down:

 

  1. Limit your exposure to the “news.” It’s depressing enough at the best of times, but when the economic forecast looks bleak it’s worse than usual. One dose a day is sufficient, and the best way to take it is via the print media – a news website or an old fashioned newspaper. That way you can be selective about what you take in. 
  2. Stay away from depressive people. You know the ones! They are always griping and moaning, and after you’ve talked to them you always feel worse, not better. Cultivate upbeat friends. Make sure you’re not the one others wish to avoid! Constant complaining is a really bad habit. Find positive topics of conversation.
  3. Read uplifting literature. Look for success stories. Explore the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series. Read the biographies of inspirational people, especially those who have triumphed over adversity. It will help you to keep away from the TV with its constant barrage of bad news!
  4. Do at least one Good Deed each day. It’s a psychologically proven way of giving the spirits a lift. Pick up some litter. Open a door for someone. Smile at a passing stranger who looks depressed. Phone an elderly relative. Throw your change into a charity jar. You’ll not only benefit yourself but make someone else feel better.
  5. Keep a Gratitude Journal. At the end of each day, write down 5 things you feel grateful for. It may be hard at first, but as it becomes a habit you’ll notice more and more good things happening. You are retraining your brain to notice the positive and it will help to turn your life around.

 

Decide today. Do you want to feel happy or sad? It really is as simple as that!