Please Take a Compliment
A Listicle by Faith Keller
A Listicle by Faith Keller
People are more and more aware of the importance of mental wellness, but something that could be stressed even further is how to improve your mental wellness. Here are 5 exercises to consider that could potentially help your outlook on a bad day.
Compliments are a type of positivity that often get overlooked. Whether it is complimenting a stranger, or your best friend, chances are, it will help someone feel more compliment and appreciated. As important as giving compliments and spreading positivity are, the power of accepting a compliment is equally as powerful. If you find that your confidence is lacking and you are self conscious, denying a compliment is denying yourself the chance to feel better in your own skin. I know what you’re thinking, “How can accepting a compliment change your mindset?” Good question reader, its because you are taking the “fake it ‘till you make it” approach! To talk to yourself nicely, you will allow yourself to feel more empowered in your own skin. After a while, the nice gestures will be truths of your own, instead of pleasant lies that you thin the people around you are feeding you. If accepting compliments makes you feel awkward there is always the approach of making a joke out of it, such as my favorite: “genetics! How’d I get so lucky!” (Trade marked by me, Faith Keller.)
A good exercise, when you wake up each morning, is to look in the mirror and try to find 3 things about yourself that you like. This can feel cheesy but, if you are lacking confidence appreciating your natural self, the things that you have grown to see as flaws, may become something beautiful. It can be something as small as your hair color, to your personality, smile, legs, really - anything that you can find positive about yourself. You’ll find this getting easier and easier the more that you do it.
On bad days, it’s sometimes hard to remember that there were plenty of good things that occurred. One negative moment often overshadows the many positive ones you have each day. I suggest taking a second to think about - or even write down - the 10 good things that happened to you that day. When I tell this to people when they’re having a bad day they often respond with “nothing good happened to me, “ which stresses my argument. Small things like making it to class on time, finding time to shower, or wearing a good pair of shoes can be examples of small good things. Think about it, your day could have been so much worse if you didn't shower, or make it to class on time, or wear the shoes you like. It’s beneficial to remember the good things, even if they're small.
Depending on how you feel about spirituality, this may not be for you, HOWEVER it these methods have been proven to lower heart rates and reduce stress - so keep scrolling! Mediation helps you to focus your thoughts and ground yourself - even in those times when you feel anything but grounded. I’m no expert, but there are a ton of YouTube videos that can guide you in short to long meditation exercises. Yoga can make you feel more physically limber, but it's focus on breathing and concentration can also make you feel more centered and grounded. Yoga forces you to hold your pose regardless of the circumstances, thoughts, or whatever is going on around you.
The art of writing down how you’re feeling. This will help to clear your mind and have all of your thoughts down on paper instead of circling in your mind causing you to constantly feel overwhelmed. Simple, easy, but a great way to control your thoughts.
Crying is okay. Being sad is okay. Your feelings are always valid no matter what the people around you say. It is important to accept your emotions as real and truthful. They are NOT something that you have to “get over.” Accepting your emotions is the first way that you can learn to begin to feel better. As Gandalf says in Lord of the Rings: “i will not say do not weep for not all tears are an evil.”