How to Get Out of a Funk
Funks. We’ve all been there, even Beyonce...probably. You know, when the sky seems to be falling and there’s a straight domino effect of all these shit things happening. It gets to the point where you just want to hide inside until the Universe stops picking on you, and Mercury isn’t even in retrograde? Oh yeah, I’ve definitely been there. It sucks.
When I’m in a funk and everything seems to be going haywire, I love to have a pity party and victimize myself. Why are all these things happening to me? What the hell did I do to deserve all this? Well, according to good ol’ Buddha’s Law of Vibration and Attraction, that pity party is only going to make things worse. The Law of Attraction states that whatever you put out into the Universe: energy, emotion, actions, thoughts, etc. is exactly what you are going to receive back. This is due to the Law of Vibration, which states that everything is energy, so whatever vibrations you are putting out are being picked up by the Universe and other people. There are scientific facts that actually back up these theories.
You’re probably thinking that’s great in theory Nic, but I feel like complete shit and I’m in a terrible ass mood - how am I supposed to make myself happy to bring better experiences? Trust me, this is an internal bitchy conversation I have with myself all the time. Once I stop bitching at myself though and actually try to change my attitude, I see results. Here’s how I do it:
How to Get Out of a Funk
Clear Your Energy
It’s hard to drastically shift from a negative to positive mindset, especially overnight. Sometimes, there needs to be a little bit of negative energy clearing to make that easier. The ways I do this include EFT, meditation - specifically with positive visualizations, or hypnosis if you have access to a professional.
Read Inspiring Content
Sometimes it’s hard for me to turn the positive self talk on immediately. I’m perfectly fine utilizing books and social media accounts for help. I rarely have shame in being vulnerable and seeking help, especially when I’m looking for inspiration. Some of my favorite reading resources are: Universe Has Your Back Cards, You are a Badass Book, A Course in Miracles. My favorite social accounts (some have books!) are: @drjoedispenza, @melrobbinslive, @donte.colley, @gabbyberstein, and @werenotreallystrangers. I've been really enjoying the goop podcast as well. The entire point is to change your mindset to focus on the positive.
Practice Affirmations
Affirmations are really great for when you want to feel a certain way, or see certain results, but you’re just not there yet. Affirmations state how you want to feel, so that you can project them out and rewire your subconscious, instead of the current negative ass self-talk. The hard thing about affirmations is that in order for them to really work, there has to be a lot of emotion and intention behind them. That can be difficult while in a funk because you are feeling the exact opposite of what you are saying.
Here’s how I wrap my brain around that. At least once a day, I try to say the affirmations out loud with a lot of energy to get myself really amped up. There’s something about saying something out loud with intention that makes it feel more believable. The rest of the day I set a reminder on my phone and repeat them internally (so that I don’t look like a crazy person in public), at least once an hour. I’ve found the more I repeat them throughout the day, the more I really start to believe what I’m saying. Once I start to believe this positive self-talk, I feel happier and naturally start to pull out of the funk.
Amp up the Gratitude
I try to practice gratitude everyday. My practice consists of writing down 10 things that I was grateful for that day before I go to bed. When I force myself to get really granular each day, I start to see things I would have otherwise not noticed, for example a smile from a complete stranger. When I’m in a funk, I make sure this is a practice I am fully dedicated to. I will even say the 10 things out loud while walking around my bedroom to really feel happy and grateful for them. Throughout the day, I pause for a moment after something good happens (even the smallest of things) and say to myself, “wow, I am grateful for that experience.” This automatically puts me in a space of abundance, rather than lack (aka: why are all these shitty things are happening to me).
Have a Dance Party
I am a child of the 90s. I was age 5-15 during those years, so I have 90s nostalgia in my blood. When “Hit me Baby One More Time” comes on at a bar, I can barely contain myself. I know that any 90s song is really going to get my vibration up. I have absolutely no shame in turning on a Spotify 90s playlist and dancing around by myself. Why? Because it makes me feel happy and good. If ballads are your preference, hey, you do you. Whatever is going to make you feel good is what you should be listening to, and ideally dancing to. It’s nearly impossible to watch Beyonce’s Homecoming on Netflix and not get psyched up, if you are needing a suggestion - just saying.
Surround Yourself with Good Energy
Remember the Law of Vibration I mentioned above? If I surround myself with great friends, family, or my niece puppy, I automatically feel good. I am very cautious when I’m in a funk as to who I spend my time with. We all have those energy sucking individuals in life, and while I can create boundaries during good times, I’m more susceptible to taking on that energy in funk times. Go out of your way to spend your time with people who are going to pick you up - that’s what friends, family, and puppies are there for.
Whether you are into these laws or not, I’ve definitely experienced it from both ends. When I’m a funk, everything turns to shit, and when I’m positive and happy, I feel like I’m killing it at life.
What’s the harm in giving it a try?