Mantras or Music

I was looking over a journal entry of a year ago and I came across a day in which I had an excess of negative feelings. Now, I'm not normally a pessimistic person. I have been blessed with an optimistic nature; one that looks at life as full of blessings. On that day, though, I was more aware of my shortcomings than usual. In fact, I wasn't aware of them. I was focused on them. My age, my weight, my lack of motivation to exercise, yadda, yadda, yadda.

A few months later there was another journal entry. In this one I had also discovered the previous entry and was surprised at my attitude. Where had that come from? It was just not the true me. I remembered the day, and what had prompted it. It was a deep winter day. Gray. Snowy. Again.

At that point I realized that even on the gray days I would have to find the sunny side. I always knew that one of the hardest parts of leaving Florida wouldn't be adjusting to the cold, but losing those heavenly deep blue skies and sunshine that are a daily part of Tampa living. Even so, I was surprised at just how gray Pittsburgh can be. (Did you know we are 2nd to Seattle in gray, rainy days?)

In the past, on the few occasions I really had to talk myself UP, I found music was usually the key. I'm a huge Beatles fan. I've often said I never needed to use drugs. Their music was my mood altering drug. If I was sad, I could find a song that matched my need for comfort, commiseration, or cheering up. When my daughter, Janice, would see me in a lazy, I-can't-get-going mood she would put on "A Hard Day's Night". Even when I knew it was coming and said it wouldn't work, the very first chord would yank me out of the doldrums and by the end of the song I was full speed ahead. But the song that is my very best pick-me-up is "Here Comes the Sun." To those who know me, it's powers are almost legendary. It could almost be a mantra. The more down I am, the more I will replay it until the smile is on my face. It has never failed.

Mantras are good, also. The Serenity Prayer has pulled me through frustrating moments more times than I can count. But music is really my upper. Just telling myself "I love my life" usually doesn't do it for me. In this time of change in my life, I've found there are a few times when I really need to remind myself to focus on the light, even if it means turning on all the lights in the house to beat away the gray. And every week I discover another means of brightening my days.

In these challenging days it's important to know how to look on the sunny side. Is it hard for you? Do you find you fight a constant battle with negative feelings, or are you like me and tackle them one at a time when they pop up. What works for you; music or mantras?
I like hearing from people, so if you care to comment, let me know how you deal with those repetitive chores or negative feelings that creep into your daily life.

Until then, may your gray days turn sunny!
Connie