Picking yourself up when you're down

It's easy to feel motivated and inspired when things are going well. During these times you feel inspired to achieve and follow through on all the steps you've meticulously devised to reach your goals. But what happens when you hit a fork in the road? For example:
1) you receive an unexpected bill
2) you experience rejection
3) you notice you've gained weight
4) you fight with a loved one

These negative (unexpected) experiences can really bring you down and throw you off course. Further, if you're not careful, they can quickly cause you to spiral into thoughts of helplessness and hopelessness which often lead to depression.

In order to cope with the struggles life can throw at you - in the moment - it helps to tackle your moods from the physical & then from the emotional/psychological perspectives.

Physical
In the midst of a negative mood, you first need to change your physical body to try to shake off the feeling of hopelessness. Unfortunately this is when many people turn to alcohol and/or medication for a quick-fix solution (later suffering from the side effects). Better options include eating foods that release serotonin - like tuna, having a coffee or going for a walk/run.

Emotional/psychological
After you've shaken off the physical component it's important to work through the emotional and psychological components. This often requires speaking to someone else who can give you a balanced perspective. This is why I suggest my clients text or email me when they are in the midst of a stressful situation or mood - that way they can have a quick response from me to help them snap out of their negative state & feel better about moving forward - right in the moment, rather than having to wait until their next session to discuss the issue.

The last step is taking control. Have a look at the situation in your (now) more rational mindset and work out what steps you can take to get through it.

Life will often throw things at you when you least expect it. However, if you cope with the strategies noted above, you will increase your resilience and optimism and live a much happier and fulfilling life.