So, now we find ourselves in January when all too often the come-down after the excitement of Christmas and New Year can leave us with the dreaded January blues. Cold, dreary weather, lack of sleep and too much food and drink over the festive period can leave us feeling sluggish and overweight, and it can be hard to lift spirits.
For those of us prone to feeling down at the start of the year, we need to act positively – both practically and mentally – if we’re going to beat the blues.
Good planning and keeping busy are two of the most practical ways to brush away feelings of doom and gloom. Be sociable, even if you feel you need a break from the party scene; exercise and eat well, your body will thank you for it; sleep to recuperate. And book a holiday – having something to look forward to is therapy in itself.
As well as practically preparing ourselves to stay happy, we also need to tap into our own personal ability to be happy and positive.
We don’t often think of happiness as a choice, especially when we condition ourselves to feel low straight after the Christmas festivities and as we head into January. However, we can, if we want, make a conscious decision to choose to be happy. Our choice has a greater influence on our life than we might think. When we choose happiness, we lift the spirits of those around us, and we get more happiness in return.
We can also help ourselves to be happy by deciding every morning that we’re in a good mood. Since the day hasn’t started yet, nothing has happened to bring us down. Reserve judgment on things we anticipate will be unpleasant or difficult until they’ve actually happened. It may not turn out as badly as we think, and our positive attitude may just prevent it from happening.
Choose to have a positive attitude even in the face of difficulties and be grateful for the good things we already have. Just as life can’t always go our way, it can’t always go against us, either. Include not just the good people in our lives and our accomplishments, but also our positive qualities and what we have to give to the world.
Have faith in what life brings, because life has a strange way of giving gifts when we least expect it. Be open to receiving success, happiness and joy and let yourself enjoy the positive experiences of your life without hesitation.