Hi Paul, & thank you. I don't know if you recall, this thread is a challenge to me, because when I read the title, "Do you like yourself?" I had then, in the last quarter of 2021, my answer was an immediate "NO!" It has been as if liking myself was impossible & unthinkable, as if I could hear a sarcastic "What have you got to like about yourself?", so obviously the answer was "Nothing" - because that was what they thought.
Their opinion - not mine.
I'm a human being like everyone else, so I have an intrinsic right to my opinion & to feel good about myself.
Also, I know now that my mood is not ME. Yes, my mood might be gloomy & my outlook bleak, but that is not who I am.
When I remember that staying curled up in bed, feeling like getting up is too much effort while I feel like doing nothing, will not in fact do anything to encourage better feelings.
Rather, I remember, I will feel worse for letting myself lay there feeling miserable.
When I make the effort I have something I can point to & say to myself, "you achieved that today".
Every little thing I've done on days like that need to be acknowledged & appreciated. Eat a bowl of cereal, 'tick' did that. Got myself undressed, into the shower, so I also got dressed again, 'tick, tick, tick' Wonderful! & guess what? It feels really good to get warm in the shower, clean & fresh feeling too. Days like these, it's marvelous.
I think it's so important to do something when the mood is low.
Mind, if your mood is low because you are grieving, in pain, (physical or emotional), facing some disappointments hard to take, etcetera, recognise these. These things will bring down our moods. There really is no reason for adding to our low mood with blame, guilt, or calling yourself names. over events or circumstances that happen in life.
So, can we forgive ourselves for being human?
Can we give ourselves a word of encouragement & understanding?
Unless this is literally your first time experiencing a low mood, then I'd remind you, we have all been here before, the mood has lifted, every time.
Hugzies
mmMekitty
