How to Pick Yourself Up When You Are Down

Although it feels good to have positive encouragement from others, without having our own support, it is extremely difficult to start, continue and/or complete anything we want in life. After all, it only matters if we believe in ourselves and can empower ourselves when feeling down.

Sometimes people will compliment us on our dress, looks, or attitude. How many times have you found yourself thinking “He/She is just probably trying to be nice, I know it’s not true”? Other people can easily see the positives and beauty we have. But it doesn’t mean anything unless we believe in it too!

So here are a few simple and very effective ways to encourage yourself when you are down. These will help you be your own first supporter and complimenter when needed!

1-    Gratitude. Gratitude. Gratitude

At any given moment, we all have big or small things we can appreciate. Often we tend to brush these things under the carpet and keep focusing on the future and what we want. However, by focusing on what we have right now, at this moment, we can instantly feel so much better.

In retrospect, probably just a few months ago, you were struggling to achieve what you have right now. By realizing how far you’ve come and how your efforts paid off, you can create inner momentum to be pleasant and thankful.

Simply review what you are thankful for at this moment. Then progress to thinking about what you are thankful for today, this week, and so on. This small exercise will help you recognize your big and small achievements. In just a few moments, pay attention to the upliftment of your energy. You will find yourself bubbling with smiles and inner peace!

2-    Be present

Being present may be a hard goal to achieve for most of us. Often times we either dwell on the past too much or worry about what’s coming next. As a result, we are rarely in the present in daily life. Problem is, life is happening now, at this moment only. We can’t change the past and we cannot really be sure of the future. By focusing on the present, we get a chance to make the best out of what we have right at this moment.

Take a deep breath in and as you let go, focus on your sensations. What smells, sensations or noises do you recognize? The best way to place yourself in this moment is to engage in your environment and senses rather than your thoughts.

Hypnotherapy can help you recognize your self-worth.

3-    Focus on your strengths

We all have strengths and weaknesses. Whatever we focus on grows stronger. If you live your life bothered by your weaknesses and worrying about getting better, most likely you will end up doubting yourself. On the contrary, if you focus on your strengths and make the best out of them, you will probably achieve more in life.  

Take an inventory of all the things you are good at. Also, think about the things you enjoy about yourself and get compliments on. How can you improve those areas more? How can you incorporate those in your daily life or your duties to improve the quality of your life?

4-    Be kind to yourself

How do you talk to yourself usually? Do you say to yourself things like “You can’t do it” or “You are not good enough”? or do you say things like “You’ve got this!”? How you speak to yourself contributes to your mood and well-being significantly. You can either put yourself down or pick yourself up! The choice is yours.

First, pay attention to how you speak to yourself. If you find that you are mostly negative, try to switch those thoughts with positive affirmations. At first, this may feel weird or unnatural but continue and practice until it flows!

5-    Change your habits

They say we are not our decisions; we are our habits. Our habits create our present and future. By looking at your habits, you can predict your future. So take a look at your habits. What habits do you practice daily that aren’t supporting your goals?

For example, even though you want to stop smoking, do you find yourself waking up and grabbing your coffee exactly the same way you always do with cigarettes? No wonder you always circle back to cigarettes after a few days of “quitting”. Instead, try doing something different after you wake up. Maybe drink water instead or step outside for a moment.

If a habit doesn’t support you and your goals, change it, do it differently and wire your mind differently as a result.

6-    Be realistic

One of the biggest saboteurs of personal success is unrealistic goals and expectations. When we set goals that are too high to achieve, we may feel anxious, self-conscious, or like a failure. These are all because the goal is not realistic and very hard for us to achieve at this moment.

For example, if you are making 10k a year right now and your goal is to make a million by next year, let me tell you, most likely you will not be able to achieve that goal. Your confidence will be lower and you will start doubting yourself. Your goal is simply unrealistic and too far to achieve, for now.

Instead, if you set your goal about 2,5 times more than what you have right now, not only you are so much more likely to achieve your goal but also you will feel more confident and self-assured along the way.  

Take some time and review your goals again and make sure that they are achievable and realistic for you based on where you are right now.