Happiness, Day 5

[ladysprite]

It's tired and I'm getting late, and the general feeling of blueness won't go away no matter how hard I fight it - I feel like the more I try to be upbeat and happy and positive, the further away from that I fall.

However, I'm still trying, and I guess that's what matters.

Today.... let's see. I had an adorable little golden retriever puppy come in as my last appointment of the day. Cute as anything, healthy, friendly, kissy, absolutely lovable, with a family that was clearly in love with her and dedicated to taking very good care of her. Clients like that make me feel better about the whole pets-as-holiday-gifts situation.

It's not much, but it's something.....

Comments

[metaphysick.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear that the unpleasantness persists. If there's anything that I can do to help, just give a call or drop me an e-mail.

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

Thanks - I appreciate that.

Mostly I think it's just a combination of seasonal stuff and work worries, combined with trying too hard to be cheery. With any luck, I'll shake it off before too long.

[metaphysick.livejournal.com]

The pervasive chill, gray skies, and early nightfall certainly doesn't help one's mood around this time of year.

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

As a suggestion, perhaps "upbeat and happy and positive" isn't the direction to go; this sounds like you're forcing yourself to play a role that you know is a lie, and it's not working.

There's more than one way to be happy. Might "quietly contented" be more feasible?

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

Nod. When I was studying ACT, it suggested that the measure shouldn't be "how do you feel?" because there are times that's beyond your control, but "what did you do?" which is more within your control. Did you do the things you wanted to get done? Be more concerned about that than how you felt.

If I'm feeling bad, I might be sick. I can't necessarily hope to feel better until the sickness passes. But I can try to get through my work day, catch up on LJ, exercise, etc.. When I'm healthy, I'll feel somewhat better, and when my brain and emotions are ready, those will feel better too.

Herm. Keep in mind, of course, there's two ways of "trying to be happy", as well. There's the "try to be happy" in the sense of trying to do something that makes you happy (again, doing things), versus trying to summon up happiness within yourself.

Another principle of ACT is that, if you try to break away from negative feelings, it kinda-sorta focuses you on those feelings... "I'm trying not to feel (tired/sad/lonely/miserable)" is a kind of reminder of what you're trying to get away from.

(And I think I'm into babbling now, so I'll go to bed.)