This is a mini post – just a few small thoughts worth sharing so you can spiral up when you feel trapped in a downward spiral.
Ingrid Fetell Lee (The Aesthetics of joy) writes about downard emotional spirals and how to break them and spiral up. “Emotions spiral either up or down because they build on each other and unconsciously promote thoughts and behaviours that reinforce our current mental state.” When we are agitated and moody, everything we interact with is clouded by that emotional state. However, the good news is that “researchers who study positive emotions have found that even a brief burst of positive emotion, (like taking a walk outside away from the stressors), can disrupt a downward spiral and kickstart a positive one. Negative emotions narrow our focus inwards, positive emotions broaden our attention and make us more open minded. Instead of thinking that it takes too much effort to create a small moment of joy (SMOJO) in a hectic world, it is actually the first link in a chain reaction to spiral upward.”
Here are some tips to get you started
1. Acknowledge your mood
2. Change your scenery
3. Do something active
4. Do a small task
5. Invite a friend into your space
ThriveZim Education 