It’s okay to feel down sometimes, but there are ways to feel better
Lately, Jenna had been feeling down in the dumps.
Ever since losing her job a few months ago, she just couldn’t seem to shake the gloomy thoughts and find her happy spirit again.
She would wake up each day with a knot in her stomach, dreading the empty hours ahead with nothing but sadness to keep her company.
“Why do I feel this way?” she wondered. “When will it end?”
Like many people going through hard times, Jenna was struggling with sadness and wondering how she could feel better.
But she was about to discover that with some small efforts each day and by caring for herself, even the deepest blues can lift.
Though times were tough, Jenna knew she wasn’t alone in her melancholy moods.
Nearly everyone experiences feelings of sadness at some point in their lives.
It’s completely normal and okay to have down days, especially after difficult events like losing one’s job.
But she also knew that wallowing in sadness indefinitely wasn’t good for her mental or physical health.
Deep down, she wanted to feel happiness and enjoyment again.
So Jenna decided it was time to try actively working on getting past her sadness instead of passively hoping it would go away on its own.
She started small, with little steps each day aimed at caring for herself and her well-being. And slowly but surely, these small efforts added up, helping Jenna find a new sense of inner joy once again.
How Small Changes Led To Big Improvements
1. Getting Outside Every Day
One thing Jenna used to enjoy before her job loss was taking long walks outdoors.
So she made it her goal to get outside for at least 30 minutes each afternoon, even if she didn’t feel like it at first.
Experiencing nature’s beauty ended up lifting her spirits more than she expected.
2. Reconnecting With Friends
Jenna had been avoiding calling or seeing friends because she thought they wouldn’t understand her sadness.
But she realised isolation was only making things worse.
So one day she mustered up the courage to invite a close friend over for coffee, and found that talking through her feelings with a caring listener began easing her loneliness.
3. Treating Herself With Self-Care
To reward herself each day, Jenna started small indulgences like taking long, relaxing baths with scented candles.
Other times, she treated herself to little acts of pampering, like a manicure or buying her favourite snacks.
Giving herself permission to feel good through simple pleasures began helping her mental state.
4. Gratitude Journaling
While it sounded corny, Jenna decided to try keeping a daily gratitude journal listing things she was thankful for, no matter how small.
Surprisingly, focusing on life’s blessings instead of lack increased her overall outlook.
5. Checking In Regularly With Affirmations
Every morning and night, Jenna began repeating positive affirmations to herself, like
“I am strong. I am worthy. I will feel better soon.”
Hearing these affirming words helped shift her inner dialogue towards more compassion.
6. Practicing Positive Thinking
Old habits die hard, so Jenna consciously worked on catching when her thoughts turned negative, then replacing them with more positive or nuanced perspectives.
Small tweaks made a difference in lifting her mood over time.
Making even minor adjustments like these each day ended up becoming very uplifting for Jenna.
Before long, feeling sad had become much less frequent as her inner joy re-emerged.
Don’t Give Up — Taking Care Of Yourself Really Does Help Ease Sadness
Through trying different simple self-care approaches, Jenna discovered that actively working on her mental health did wonders for overcoming her low mood.
On days she still felt down, she gave herself permission to have an “indulgence day” doing relaxing activities. And on good days, she challenged herself to get out of the house or be social.
Looking back, Jenna realised it’s perfectly alright to feel sad sometimes.
Life has its ups and downs, and jobs will be lost.
But focusing on self-care showed her that small daily efforts, like getting outside, socialising with friends, practicing gratitude, and treating herself with love and compassion, can together lift even your heaviest heart over time.
The lessons she learned have really stuck with Jenna.
Now, whenever things get difficult or she finds herself feeling down, she knows several tried-and-true methods to ease her sadness and rediscover her natural joy.
Most importantly, she understands that each small, steady step matters — and that with continued patience and care for herself, brighter days always follow the grey.
Her message to anyone else going through a struggle is simple:
“You’ve got this. Keep on keeping on with self-care, and you’ll get through the challenges facing you, as I did.”
In the end, Jenna proved that even massive sadness isn’t permanent when you refuse to give up caring for your mental health each day.
Through low points in life, tapping into compassion for yourself — whether that means journaling, saying positive affirmations daily, spending time with loved ones, or simply noticing nature’s beauty — can make dark clouds pass and the sun shine bright once more.
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