Creative Ways to Enhance Your Mood

Sometimes we all experience an occasional low mood, so it can be absolutely normal. What is not normal is a constant, prolonged low mood that lingers for a period of time. In that case you may want to try some of the suggestions on this list to ramp up your mood & start feeling better again. Here we go:

· Chocolate can be one of the best ways to indulge your senses. Try a little dark chocolate (just remember moderation is the key). If you don't care for chocolate (I don't know anyone who doesn't) then reach for your favorite forbidden treat & have at it. Ice cream is another all-time favorite of many people, or maybe a little slice of mom's old fashion apple pie, or perhaps a mouth-watering brownie. Whatever your desire is, go for it and have no guilt afterwards.

· Play soft music in your office or at home. Music has a way of massaging your internal parts much like a steam bath. The sound stimulates your senses and provides a relaxing place to simply be in the moment & enjoy what is...Yeah! And don't forget to dance, dance, dance.

· Spend a moment meditating on your day. Mindful reflection before your busy day begins can help you to focus in on the priorities of the day, leaving everything else stored in the "to do later rolodex of your mind." At the end of the day, repeat your brief meditation & recall everything you've accomplished throughout the day. Shifting your thoughts towards gratefulness has the potential to ramp up your mood to a level beyond the mundane. So go ahead, spend a few moments each day with mindful meditation & breathe. (don't forget to smile).

· Begin each day with exercise. There's nothing more invigorating than a good 30 - 40 minute workout. It doesn't have to be anything vigorous, just a simple brisk walk through your community observing all the majestic beauty around you will pump up the volume of your mood. If you enjoy swimming, hiking, playing any type of sport, or maybe just cleaning the house, these are all forms of exercise & can be very beneficial for increasing your mood. The point is, get moving & see how well you feel.

· Catch a play at the local theatre. Getting out of the house & finding somewhere to connect with other people can be cathartic all by itself. But attending a play or ballet at the opera has the ability to take your soul places you've never been. It can be magical, majestic, mystical, and enlightening. Take a friend with you to share in this wonderfully artistic expression. You won't regret it.

· Go to the beach & take in some sun. There are so many wonderful qualities about the beach that will undoubtedly enhance anyone's mood. The ocean has a way of calming you, caressing you, soothing you, and speaking to volumes into your soul. You can't help but to smile at all the many beautiful faces among you, and can't help but to laugh at the children playing & giggling in the sand. It's really a place where everyone can be a child again, if only for a little while.

· Go out and purchase a pet. Are you a dog lover, a cat lover, or maybe a bird lover? Whatever your favorite pet is, I suggest owning one of your own. They are powerfully therapeutic & can be wonderful companions. I've owned dogs & birds myself. My pets brought pure joy & unconditional regard into my life. And they make you smile when you're in a funk. So, if you don't have a pet I suggest considering one. If you can't have a pet in your home for whatever reason, spend time with your neighbor's pet, or find a friend with a pet & hang out there for a while. Soon you will experience what other pet lovers have embraced...the joy of loving a pet.

· Take a trip somewhere you've never been before. Spending time traveling & discovering the world around you is always a good mood booster. There's such thrill & excitement in seeing unique buildings & landscapes, interacting with a diversity of people, and trying new foods from different cultures. There are many low-budgeted opportunities to travel these days, including taking day trips with others' who only wants to be gone for a day.

· Be your authentic self. Your authentic self lives among you, but sometimes escapes your awareness. Being centered in the here & now will help you avoid going too far outside of your real self, the authentic you. It's expressed outwardly to others' and reveals the provocatively spirited you. The authentic you is the spiritual you, which is the very core & essence of who you are. When you're being your authentic self nothing is pressured or forced, loving is easy & smooth, smiling becomes a natural part of your make-up, honesty & integrity are on the forefront of everything you do, people tend to be drawn to your presence, and you command attention from any crowd.

· Get Those Endorphins Released. Being light-hearted, laughing, and finding humor in just about everything throughout the day tends to lessen stress and release endorphins into your system. Endorphins are neurotransmitters produced in the brain that reduce pain. Exercise, laugher, sex, and touch all have the potential to release endorphins, which is a natural feel good hormone.