Feeling Blue?

How do you shift your mood from negative to positive? You may have learned to put on your game face, when inside you're feeling blue. Even though you may be good at that,  probably deep down you really just want to shift your mood.  There are some tried and true strategies for us to keep in our arsenal so that we can shift our mood when needed.  Feeling optimistic and positive about life and the world is important in creating success in your life.

Let's start with what NOT to do:

• Complain - this turns you into a victim and turns solution thinking into powerless thinking.  Just don't do it.
• Gossip - saying negative things about others that you wouldn't say to their face reflects poorly on you.
• Yell - yelling is a symptom of anger and fear so force yourself to lower your voice and regain control.
• Over-indulge - eating, drinking, or drugs only provide a temporary escape not a solution to a problem.

Ok, on a more positive note, here's what YOU CAN DO to shift your mood:

• Smile - experts say that even the gesture of smiling and curving your mouth up can shift your mood!
• Move - get some exercise to release serotonin.
• Write - journaling moves out the busyness of your mind chatter, providing serenity and inner calm.
• Sing -  just sing 
• Dance - dance is a proven antidepressant. Studies show dance boosts happiness and benefits overall health. Don't wait to feel good to dance.  Dance to feel good!! 
• Breath deeply - Oxygenating your lungs and your body is calming, improves the detoxification process, relieves anxiety, and lowers blood pressure 
• Create - research has shown that being creative alters us by improving our mood, self esteem and socialization.