Often, when we are feeling down, anxious, fearful or just off balance, we are focused inward. Our thoughts are focused on our emotions that we feel in our minds and bodies. The problem with this, is that this pattern tends to heighten our awareness of our symptoms, and make us feel even worse.
Practice this instead. Look outward. This could be one of many, many things. It could be stepping outside and paying attention to the way a flower moves in the breeze. What color is it? How does it move? What if you imagined resting your head on one of its petals? It could be asking the cashier at the Piggly Wiggly how she is feeling today, and really mean it. How you feel after her response to your kind gesture may surprise you. It could be – looking at your fur-baby in her eyes and imagining what she sees through them. Is it true that dogs only see in black and white? Maybe their world looks like a 1940s film.
Maybe it’s helping someone. The sheer act of helping others takes the focus off of our ourselves, off of feeling bad, and gives us – and others – a very nice boost of dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin.
Look out instead of inward. There is magic there.
