Combating the Blue Funk

Christmas is behind us and soon New Year’s will be as well. Then we will be faced with the most brutal time of the year as winter rages on. Your writing could suffer as many sink into what I sometimes call a “blue funk.” Over the years, I have learned it is not a good thing to stay wallowing in a state of negativity with no positive gain. Here are ways I know to combat the feeling and put you back in your happy place:

Appreciate what you have. The first thing you should do when you wake up each morning is think of what you have to be thankful for—for one thing, you woke up! At the end of the day, take inventory of all the examples of abundance in your life that you experienced through encounters during those hours. Whether it’s the person who held the door for you, a phone call you took, or something endearing someone told you, it’s an example of how full your life already is. Think of each of these as a ray of sunshine glowing on your heart. They’re all signs you are not in this life alone.
Find the good in everything. Everything can be seen in a negative or positive way. If something happens to you, for example you have a flat tire, be thankful you didn’t wreck the car. There is always a positive side to every experience. Is it better to think of the glass half empty or half full? Which thought makes you happier? Why not think in a manner that will make you happy instead of miserable?
Start believing that you can change things. It all starts with a belief, and the harder you believe that you can make things better, the more it will turn out that way. It’s the positive side of the self-fulfilling prophesy.
Enjoy the moment. Whatever you’re doing in that moment, take the time to enjoy it. Every task, undertaken in the right manner and the right spirit, can be fun.
Take positive action. As long as you’re moving forward, you’re not going backward or stagnating in the same place. A small step to make life better for someone is the right step to make, even if that move is a baby step. The more you practice, the larger your contribution in the future. For instance, write a page a day. Even if they’re not that good, you’re still practicing your craft.
Do something that gives you meaning. Often we feel dissatisfied with life because it seems we aren’t doing anything worthwhile. So, search for a way to give to others in the following ways:

1. Spend time with loved ones and really listen. Be there for them..
2. Volunteer. Helping others freely with no thought of return brings its own intrinsic rewards.
3. Create. Any kind of creating — whether it be writing, drawing, singing, playing music, designing, building something — can bring meaning to your life. You’re expressing yourself, sharing, and providing the world with a creation that will live on as something tangible, at least for that moment, and goes on to become a lasting memory.
4. Give anonymously of your time, your talents and/or your resources. Knowing you did something just because it was the right thing to do makes you feel better than any amount of praise.

Often these activities also provide inspiration, so they are a win-win for you and others. Now get over that sinking feeling and be happy. Time to write the next chapter in your WIP.
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Bobbye Terry writes mystery/suspense and romance under her real name and fantasy/science fiction as Daryn Cross. See more about her at www.BobbyeTerry-MysteryHappens.com and www.DarynCross.com