Have you ever felt fed up? Maybe with work, with your new diet, or just with life in general?
I call this ‘being stuck in a funk’. And in this case, a funk isn’t a good thing!
It’s common for us all to feel this way sometimes. Life is full of ups and downs, and, sorry to be the one to tell you this, but bad things can happen. So, entering a negative state can be scarily easy sometimes!
We all need some downtime every now and again, and it’s important to allow yourself to feel whatever it is you’re feeling – whether it’s sadness, anger, disappointment, etc. But here’s the key thing to remember; there’s an opposite feeling to sadness, and it’s just as relevant and SHOULD be just as consistent in your life.
And unless you keep this in mind, you can get stuck in a rut for good.
How easily a ‘funk’ can start
It’s perfectly normal to want to hide yourself away every now and again – think of it as just regenerating yourself!
In our busy day-to-day lives, sometimes we end up forgetting to check in with ourselves or have a moment of awareness. And if this goes on for too long, it can cause us to shut down, and need time away from anything and anyone.
You can’t use a phone that has no battery left, and you can’t drink out of an empty cup!
Sometimes, being stuck in a funk doesn’t even involve any particular sadness or exhaustion but can instead be brought on out of sheer boredom and dissatisfaction with our lives.
For example, think back to the Coronavirus lockdown (yes, I know it feels like a lifetime ago!) and remember how it felt to be stuck at home each and every day. It grew repetitive pretty quick, and for a lot of people, it felt like we just drifted through life.
That’s not living! Life is about taking risks, being spontaneous, and having fun! So, it’s no wonder so many people used to feel stuck in a rut.
But even though life is returning to normality these days, there are still some people who feel the same. You might be working from home, feeling like there’s nothing exciting going on or anything to look forward to in the future. Maybe it feels like everyone else is doing new things, moving on with their lives, whilst you’re still in the same place you were, let’s say, five years ago.
Whatever the reason is for how you’re feeling (sometimes there can be more than one answer!) you don’t need to feel bad about it, because it can happen to anyone. And the best part is, you CAN move past it.
How to leave the ‘funk zone’
The first thing you need to do is have awareness. Ask yourself how you’re feeling, and then why you’re feeling it – how did you get here? You can’t fix something you’re unaware of!
Your WHY feeling should also be taken into consideration. Can you sense it, or is there any way to incorporate it into your situation? If not, then changes definitely need to be made!
Part two of the process – and arguably the most important step – is asking yourself what you want. This is CRUCIAL because a lot of the time we can fall into the trap of focusing on the opposite.
‘I don’t want this, I don’t want that’ can become a rabbit hole of ‘I don’t wants’, and it can spiral further and further, as there will always be something you don’t want! By placing all your thoughts into what you don’t want, you’re essentially stepping even further back into the negative zone, and you won’t be helping yourself at all!
But by making a mental note of what you want, you’re setting a goal for yourself, and by doing this you’re making a plan of how to escape the rut you’re currently stuck in.
Part of being stuck in a funk is thinking that there’s no way out or that there’s nothing to look forward to but so having something new to look forward to will help move you on.
Do more of what makes you happy.
I don’t believe in taking life too seriously. As morbid as this may sound, we never know when our lives will end, and I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather die happy than miserable!
With this in mind, have fun! One of the best things you can do when feeling down is play some uplifting music. Have a sing and a dance, and I guarantee you’ll feel at least a little better. You’ll be surprised by how much your body language can affect your mood!
Another thing you can do is remember who the hell you are! Look at yourself in the mirror, and say to yourself ‘I am (yourname), and I can frickin’ do this!!’ Think back to all the great things you’ve achieved before – even if it’s just a time when you did something you didn’t want to do! Remembering your previous achievements is a great way to motivate and empower yourself.
And finally, just look after yourself! Sometimes when you’re stuck in a funk you can end up not looking after yourself properly – maybe your sleeping habits are a bit all over the place, maybe you’re only eating “comfort” foods, or maybe your usual hygiene habits have gone completely out the window.
Investing in a new self-care routine, whether it’s taking a relaxing bath, or trying out a new healthy food recipe, can really help you work through those negative emotions, as well as changing things up a little.
Remember what happiness is.
Being stuck in a funk can feel hopeless, but at the end of the day, as long as you’re taking action then you’re already going in the right direction.
You can choose to stay where you are, and continue drifting through life with a victim mentality, or you can choose to really LIVE!
As finally, don’t ask ‘why me?’ but instead go for ‘why NOT me?’!
If you’re ever feeling stuck and would like support, then maybe the Live Love Laugh Lounge is for you – a safe zone for like-minded women who are living their WHY, and have been in your position before! Reach out to me at cheryl@cheryl-chapman.com if you’d like to join us!
Cheryl xx
PS – The genetic blueprint really helps with understanding who you are and what you are here to do – fill in this 2-minute questionnaire and I will send you your own ‘genetic blueprint’ which will help you understand yourself so you can begin to find your why! You will find it here.
PPS – If the link doesn’t work for any reason (sometimes technology has a bad day) then email me on cheryl@cheryl-chapman.com and I will sort it out for you!
PPS – If you liked this blog and want to read more blogs surrounding female empowerment, you can find last week’s here: ‘Listen Up!‘
“I’m on a global mission to help 10 million disheartened souls, who are at a crossroads, to STOP asking why me? And START saying why not me!”