Reconnect with yourself and feel alive
All of us go through periods when we feel unmotivated. Doubt and depression get the upper hand and life seems to have very little meaning. Things that we once enjoyed no longer give us the same pleasure.
We realize that we’re just going through the motions but don’t seem to have the energy to change how we’re thinking.
People who have experienced a recent trauma such as the loss of a loved one are especially vulnerable to becoming disconnected from life and developing this feeling of emotional numbness. It can also happen when life becomes too routine and boring.
As hard as it may seem to motivate yourself to change when you’re stuck in this state, it’s important to get back into the flow of life and FEELING it fully.
By focusing on making small changes each day it’s possible to wake up your motivation and begin to feel life again.
Here are 12 suggestions that have worked well for others and may help you…
- Plug into your emotions. This piece of advice may sound counterintuitive when you’re feeling disconnected, but focusing on emotions like happiness and excitement will help you begin to feel them again. Schedule an event that you can feel excited about or focus on an activity that has made you happy in the past. Dedicate some time each day to feeling enthusiastic about something positive in your life.
- Take care of yourself. Taking care of your body is an important part of feeling energized and more alive. Focus on eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep. Limit your consumption of alcohol since it’s actually a depressant.
- Live in the moment. In Zen Buddhism, living in the moment is referred to as mindfulness. It means that you are aware of input from your senses as you move through your daily routines. Instead of worrying about past or the future, mindfulness allows you to simply exist in the present. It’s hard to be mindful all the time in modern society, but if you remember to try mindfulness a few times a day you’ll see positive changes in your thinking.
- Learn from children. We can learn about how to live in the present moment by observing small children. A child who’s involved in a fantasy game isn’t worried about what happened yesterday or will happen later today. We can’t always be carefree as children, but we need to remember to give ourselves occasional moments of child-like freedom.
- Slow down and enjoy. Have you heard of the Slow Food movement? It’s built around the belief that people should slow down when they eat and learn to savor each bite. Take this philosophy to the next level and adopt a “slow down” attitude about all of life’s simple pleasures, from enjoying a fragrant cup of coffee or tea in the morning to relaxing with a hot bath before bed.
- Look outside of yourself for inspiration. We can all become inspired by learning more about inspirational people. Read a book or watch a film about someone you admire and let their attitude and accomplishments serve as inspiration. You can also be inspired by people in your family or in your community who are making a difference in the world.
- Challenge yourself. Set a challenging goal for yourself and put a time limit on it. Let other people know about it. Then take the first step to completing your goal. Whether it’s running a marathon or cleaning out your garage, taking that first step will motivate you to take keep going. You may even want to use an online tool to track your challenge and remind you of your progress. Each day, only worry about the next step instead of becoming intimidated by the possible enormity of the challenge.
- Banish negativity. Get into the habit of monitoring your thoughts for negativity. Trying to get motivated and back into the flow of life will be much more difficult if your thought patterns include lots of negative self-talk. The simple act of replacing negative thoughts with positive ones will go a long way towards helping you climb out of your slump.
- Spend more time outdoors. Exposure to fresh air and natural light for at least 30 minutes per day will improve both your mental and physical health. Taking a walk and really looking at everything around you can be like a mini-vacation when the pressures of the day are weighing you down.
- Socialize. Isolation is the last thing you need if you’re already feeling disconnected. Surround yourself with people. Spend time with family and friends and look for opportunities to make new friends. Pay more attention to your partner or spouse. Focusing on others will help you forget about your problems.
- Kindle your spark. Explore interests that create a “spark” inside you. Maybe you played a musical instrument when you were younger but haven’t picked it up in years or maybe you used to play basketball or ride a bike or dance. Becoming an adult doesn’t mean that you should stop pursuing your passions.
- Don’t be fooled by materialism. We are bombarded with commercial messages telling us that we will be happier or a better person if we buy more stuff. The reality is that material possessions complicate and clutter our lives. Escape materialism and learn to live more simply. If you limit your exposure to advertising you’ll find it easier to resist the urge to buy things. Instead of using shopping as a form of therapy, spend more time outdoors or with friends.
The quest for meaning is what gives life purpose. If you feel your life is without meaning, explore the paths that others have taken to find life’s meaning. Find out more about spiritual philosophies or make a commitment to volunteering. Devote yourself to the people you are close to. Take on a creative project like writing or painting.
These are just a few suggestions for finding meaning in your life – now it’s time to go out and find one that works for you!
