Lately a few darks clouds have been showing up overhead. I found a that a friend has been suffering from extreme sadness. The news shows the economy tanking. Norway is still reeling from a recent hate crime that took the lives of innocent people.

What to do when darkness hovers like this, threatening to block out the light I know exists above the clouds? It’s tempting to wallow. Oddly enough, when we are in a state of negative emotion we tend to almost seek out more negative stuff to verify our right to be there. Strange but true.

 When life turns dark like this, I take out my pre-prepared “Things that lift my mood” list.

Taking a walk. Listening to my “Dance with Strangers” dvd. Baking Oatmeal Craisin cookies. Writing in my Journal. Swimming at the Recreation Hall. Calling a friend to laugh. Searching out funny clips on Utube. Cutting down weeds with my ginsu kitchen knife. Looking at new recipes for dinner. Playing my guitar. 

I have a very long list of things I enjoy. When I find something new to enjoy I try to jot it down on my list for future reference during darker days.

Here’s the truth. Good thoughts and feelings don’t aways just show up. Sometimes we need to be willing to seek them out.  We can do this by having a back up plan of activities we enjoy. That way, when the dark clouds hover overhead, we have a positive action plan that will push them aside and let the sun shine through.