How long do you let those inevitable ‘pity parties’ rage on for?
Early tonight one of those ‘pity parties’ was in full swing in my head! Feeling sorry for myself that I am not going to Pro Blogger next weekend due to a little funding issue. The tears were flowing and those nasty little voices were having a ball.
Thankfully a yummy dinner quietened them down, and a little Facebooking, of course, delivered the perfect message to me as it often does…………
Thank you Weird and Wonderful World for posting the perfect reminder that the party was over!
A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the “half… empty or half full” question.
Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: “How heavy is this glass of water?”
Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.
She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.”
She continued, “The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything.”
Remember to put the glass down.
Pity parties are dangerous things, as they can keep you trapped for hours in that negative energy. It is so important to let the story go, if you stop feeding it, it simply passes. Like attracts like, hours of sadness, will attract hours more, and we sure as hell don’t want that!
Some of the other things that I do when I get into this state might also work for you:-
Hit Facebook, on my Wonderfully Women page, my newsfeed is full of pages sharing positive and uplifting stuff.
Read an uplifting book and get lost in the pages.
Put your earplugs in and turn on your ipod, music is a great distraction.
Eat chocolate.
Draw a card from my Doreen Virtue Angels pack, always a positive message waiting there.
Put some Lemon or Mandarin essential oil in the burner, they are such uplifing fragrances.
Drink wine (that only applies if it is wine-oclock).
Breathe big deep breaths, not those little shallow things that usually accompany a bout of the grumbles.
Clean (my kitchen is now spotless, thank you very much).
Have a hug with someone you love.
Please feel free to add some more suggestions of what I can add to my arsenel of bad mood banishing? Thanx!
Sharing for #IBOT with Essentially Jess
Most definitely play music, LOUD. I recommend F U, Cee lo Green – even if you don’t approve of the lyrical content, I defy anyone not to be laughing and toetapping at the end…
I love that story about the glass – I’ve read it before and I am sure I will read it again. Just really puts things into perspective.. and that’s all we need some times, perspective!
It’s ok to have a pity party, but it’s not ok to let it rot to your soul.
Love your list of feel good pity party cures x
That is a great reminder. I actually had a downer this weekend after an awesome win. My husband distracted me and took me on a date, balance restored and I am all good again. Dwelling rarely produces results but action does.
I find getting lost in a book is great for taking my mind off things as well. Nothing like getting lost in a fantasy world to forget what you were stewing over.
I find exercising really helps – it’s hard to have a pity party when you are doing something good for yourself !
Have the best day!
Me
What a great story. We should keep this one close and relate it often.
Heading over to your Facebook page!
Chocolate always works for me too!
That’s a very cool analogy, and so true.
I have gotten better at letting my pity parties go. When I was suffering with depression it was so much harder
I love that glass of water story! It is perfect.
I find the best thing for me when I’m having a pity party is to remember that “this too shall pass” … and that usually all it takes is a good night’s sleep to kick those blues to the kerb.
Visiting from #teamIBOT xxx
Love me a good pity party for one – once I have a good cry it usually goes away – so that is what I try and do – listen to sad music, cry and then get over it! 🙂
Good on you for calling last drinks on the pity party. And particularly for cleaning the kitchen as a remedy for feeling sorry for yourself – that’s worth a medal I reckon.
I’ve read that story about the glass of water, my husband brought it home for me once because it was published in a local newspaper, I thought it was great. I loved using my angel cards until I lent them to a friend and didn’t get them back :(. Red wine and wine o’clock hour works for me and venting to my husband works well, he is really good for that.
It’s all a matter of perspective. Yes, I’m feeling down because I missed out on something, but I have to remind myself that I’m lucky to have a home, health, jobs, kids, etc. Yes, it’s annoying at first, but it works. If all else fails, I go to bed, tomorrow’s always a new day!
Nice to meet you, Nikki!