With pandemic-driven isolation on the rise, discouragement is knocking on many people’s doors. What can you do when it comes calling? Here are six ideas of ways you can deal with it.
1. Acknowledge It
Everyone deals with discouragement at some point. Don’t be ashamed. Attempting to suppress it only strengthens its hold. Admit you are feeling blue, first to yourself. Before you can deal with it, you must acknowledge it.
2. Seek the Source
My daughter gave me an essential oil diffuser. You put a few drops of oil into a cup of water and it creates steam with a pleasant aroma.
The magnitude of hopelessness can be like the aroma from the essential oil; it’s disproportionate to the size of what is discouraging you. Don’t bask in the emotion, but pursue the source.
Once you find it, place it in the right-sized box, and resize your emotions. Now you can also focus on resolution.
And consider if it actually discourages you. Perhaps you aren’t discouraged but simply tired. Or worried. Or hungry.
3. Express Gratitude
One remedy to discouragement is gratitude. We all have things we can be thankful for. Take some time to journal items for which you are grateful. Suggestion: leave “at least it’s not worse” off the list. Focus on items that bring you a truly positive sentiment.
4. Serve Others
Pre-pandemic my wife and I made, delivered and served lunch one a month at Seattle Urban Academy, an alternative high school for at-risk kids. It was a highlight for us, and we always left feeling grateful and enriched by interacting with the students and staff.
When you serve, you take your eyes off your own condition. It’s not about comparing, but concentrating on others. While watched water may never boil, our discouragement can grow with compound interest as we keep an eye on it.
5. Exercise
Our physical state affects our emotions. It’s hard to be discouraged in the midst of a workout (unless you are discouraged about the workout). Release some endorphins, which are peptides that have an analgesic effect. Walk, run, bike, rake, whatever, and you will feel better.
6. Seek Connection
Recently I received a call from Lee, a college friend I hadn’t spoken with in 20 years. He told me, “I was thinking I need encouraging voices in my life and I thought of you.” We had a great call, filled with stories and laughter. We both hung up encouraged.
Think about those people who are advocates and connect with them. Don’t place the responsibility on them to fix your situation but connect to enjoy their company.
You Got This!
Feeling blue? Take action today on this list, and soon things will be better.
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