This Is How I Feel And Maybe So Do You

No human being comes with a manual. If we did, we wouldn’t need shrinks.

The truth is, part of what makes people appealing can also make them terrifying. Their emotional volatility is either fascinating or distressing, depending on how it’s expressed, yes — but also on how it’s taken.

Everyone has got their moods. 

Last week was a tough one for me. I recently moved out to a different city and that has been quite a whirlwind. 

By last saturday, I was physically and emotionally exhausted. And I guess I have been “too busy” to actually pay attention to my mood swings and the reason behind all that mess.

A Tough Week, a Chance Encounter

At that point, I had lost control of my emotions, and shed some tears. I was so tired, so hungry, and so stressed. Determined not to be defeated, I began working towards my next article, on the lookout for a new interesting topic. Sat, stared and was eager to get an exciting idea for it… NOTHING. Not a single word. Not a single thought in my head. 

Typically, I feel writer’s block is perfectly normal, but I just wanted to rip someone appart. All of a sudden this old lady approached me and said “Can I please have some money”. She looked haggard, old and really really like really tired. I felt completely idiotic that I was feeling so miserable over “moving to a new city and knowing nobody” and there she was, this old lady begging for money to buy some food with a smile on her face.

So I pulled out some cash and gave it to her.

Instantly Feel Better

I couldn’t believe how much better I felt. I had gone from feeling depressed and exhausted, overwhelmed and stressed out, to feeling blessed, fortunate, happy, and high on life in a matter of seconds and at a remarkable cost of just some money. What some would argue was a selfless act, I might argue was selfish, in how great it made me feel.

A random act of kindness is the secret to instantly improving your mood any time you want. 

You don’t have to give money to a lady on the street to feel better. You can pick up litter. You can call your grandma. You can hold the door for the next 10 people to come and go from your office building. You can retweet thoughtware.com.

You can do anything that takes you out of yourself and if, only for a moment, focuses your time and attention on someone else, needier than you. 

Kindness Makes You a Better Person.

This is at once a selfless act and a selfish one, because no matter what, you’ll feel better after being kind. Then you’ll be more prepared to be the leader you are, and take on the world and its challenges.

By the way, I went on to have the greatest weekend and week start after that. It’s ALL a matter of changing your thoughts.

How do you inspire yourself when you’re feeling down? Tell me in the comments below.

Photo credit: Flickr user Moyan Brenn