{"id":2443,"date":"2017-05-18T21:19:38","date_gmt":"2017-05-18T21:19:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/56-ways-we-instantly-lift-our-moods\/"},"modified":"2023-04-20T18:11:49","modified_gmt":"2023-04-20T18:11:49","slug":"56-ways-we-instantly-lift-our-moods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/blog\/56-ways-we-instantly-lift-our-moods\/","title":{"rendered":"56 Ways We Instantly Lift Our Moods"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.bb_wrapper{width:100vw;text-align:center;margin:0;padding:0}.bb_left{display:inline-block;vertical-align:top;text-align:left;width:49%;max-width:49%;padding:5px}.bb_right{display:inline-block;vertical-align:top;text-align:left;width:49%;max-width:49%;padding:5px}<\/style>\n<div class=\"bb_wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/032_38_GRA0916-blog-1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3353\" src=\"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/032_38_GRA0916-blog-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"982\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<div class=\"artcred\">Photo credit: <span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"\" target=\"_blank\">Kristen Vogt<\/a><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Always acknowledge when you\u2019re feeling depleted.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>When you feel that unwanted dark cloud of melancholy and irritation come over you, it feels nearly impossible to escape the storm of negative emotions that are taking over. The good news is, there is always an escape. Sometimes all we need is a little pick-me-up.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In \u201c56 Ways We Instantly Lift Our Moods,\u201d our <em>Bella Grace<\/em> fans share their favorite ways to lift their spirits and overcome that dreaded mental fog we all experience at times. This article originally appeared in <a href=\"https:\/\/stampington.com\/Bella-Grace-Issue-9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Issue 9<\/a>, and we\u2019re excited to be able to share it with our Grace Notes readers.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<div class=\"bb_wrap\">\n<div class=\"bb_left\">1. I take some deep breaths and remind<br \/>\nmyself there is something wonderful up<br \/>\nahead. Maybe the air will smell of flowers<br \/>\nor I will see an image I must capture on<br \/>\nmy phone.<br \/>\n\u2014 Anita Starkoff2. <\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I think of a happy song. When the days<br \/>\nare bad, it makes me laugh to sing \u201cIt\u2019s a<br \/>\nBeautiful Day\u201d by Michael Buble.<br \/>\n\u2014 Julia Ralston<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>3. I turn to my letters. I either read ones that<br \/>\nhave been sent to me from beloveds, or<br \/>\nI pull out my lovely stationery, stickers,<br \/>\ncards, and pens, and write encouraging<br \/>\nnotes or letters to someone else whose day<br \/>\nmight be going not so well.<br \/>\n\u2014 Melissa Gibson Snyder<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>4. I remind myself how much worse it could<br \/>\nbe. Car won\u2019t start? If that\u2019s the biggest<br \/>\nthing I have to worry about, life is good!<br \/>\nYour outlook changes when you put<br \/>\nthings in perspective.<br \/>\n\u2014 Penny Kleiner<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>5. Hug one of my cats and then have a big<br \/>\nbowl of ice cream and watch one of my<br \/>\nfavorite movies.<br \/>\n\u2014 Donna Roberts Bell<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>6. Breathe. Switch things totally around<br \/>\nfor yourself. Turn on some music, drive<br \/>\nto the beach, a forest, even Macy\u2019s.<br \/>\nYou\u2019ll be delightfully distracted.<br \/>\n\u2014 Frances Macias-Souza<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>7. I pull out my sketchbook and let art<br \/>\nhandle it.<br \/>\n\u2014 Marta Paulina<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>8. I crank up some Bon Jovi.<br \/>\n\u2014 Sara Gearheart<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>9. I try to reframe it in my head. What is<br \/>\nthe funny story I can tell about this?<br \/>\nHow can I get a laugh out of it? There<br \/>\nis almost always a way \u2026 otherwise,<br \/>\nI\u2019ll just make something up!<br \/>\n\u2014 Arlene Giddings<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb_right\">\n<p>11. Get in the car with no destination<br \/>\nin mind, but I always end up at my<br \/>\nfavorite bookstore with a cup of good,<br \/>\nstrong coffee.<br \/>\n\u2014 Shana Miller<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>12. I step outside and place my bare feet in the grass and<br \/>\nwiggle my toes! \u201cEarthing\u201d is the trendy name for it,<br \/>\nI suppose. I simply think of it as resetting my senses.<br \/>\nMaybe it is because it rekindles a childlike action?<br \/>\n\u2014 Angie Lambert<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>13. Lift another human being up to love and light.<br \/>\n\u2014 @enchantedmakeovers<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>14. Reaching out to friends and visiting a bookstore or<br \/>\nlibrary usually works for me. Being surrounded by<br \/>\nthe written word in a cozy, quiet environment brings<br \/>\nme back to center. And then if it\u2019s a really bad day, I<br \/>\nwill pick up a latte (a treat that I don\u2019t normally get)<br \/>\nor make myself some tea.<br \/>\n\u2014 Brianna L. Morehead<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>15. Something that makes me laugh, like @thepopcast<br \/>\nand my husband\u2019s jokes.<br \/>\n\u2014 Laura Enfinger<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>16. Dress up!<br \/>\n\u2014 Ruby Shea<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>17. Put in my headphones, crank up the music, and<br \/>\nsing or dance, or both!<br \/>\n\u2014 @gibby1118<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>18. I take a deep breath and think of all the things<br \/>\nthat have gone right, then I smile and move on to<br \/>\nthe next task.<br \/>\n\u2014 @_brooklyndragonfl i_<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>19. Breathe, close my eyes, and think of a woman<br \/>\non the other side of the world who would love to<br \/>\nhave my problems. Be grateful to be able to have<br \/>\na coffee that was spilled, be thankful to have a car<br \/>\neven if it does not start. All of this is temporary.<br \/>\n\u2014 @lucky_velvet<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>20. Listen to bad hip hop in my bedroom.<br \/>\n\u2014 @kenny.jane<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Grace-Notes-2.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb_wrap\">\n<div class=\"artcred\">Photo credit: <span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"\" target=\"_blank\">jeshoots<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Grace-Notes-3.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3358\" src=\"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Grace-Notes-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"517\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb_wrap\">\n<div class=\"bb_left\">\n<div class=\"artcred\">Photo credit: <span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"\" target=\"_blank\">Markus Spiske<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<p>23. I open the closet where I store all my quilting fabric<br \/>\nand supplies, take a deep breath, and think of all<br \/>\nthe lovely things I\u2019m going to sew.<br \/>\n\u2014 @beautifullysewn<\/p>\n<p>24. Take a few deep breaths of lavender oil, and if I can<br \/>\nget some exercise, I\u2019m always in a better mood after<br \/>\ngetting out pent-up energy.<br \/>\n\u2014 Annie Lupton<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>25. I try to focus on emotions and the little things that<br \/>\nare connected to them. I may look at an old pair of<br \/>\nballet shoes from my daughters first time in dance,<br \/>\nor pictures of when my husband and I were in<br \/>\n\u201cyoung love.\u201d I remember all the reasons I have to<br \/>\nbe happy.<br \/>\n\u2014 Aubrey Bahr<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>26. Playing an old favorite song at high volume and<br \/>\nsinging along (badly) while sitting in my car under<br \/>\nthe carport or while driving with the windows down<br \/>\non a county road.<br \/>\n\u2014 @sebs03isme<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb_right\">\n<p>27. Go to my stash of good chocolate, say a little<br \/>\nprayer while it melts in my mouth, and take<br \/>\na deep breath. My favorite quote is from<br \/>\nthe order of St. Benedict: \u201cAlways we begin<br \/>\nagain.\u201d It is the mantra of my days.<br \/>\n\u2014 Caitlin Mallery<\/p>\n<p>28. I keep a \u201cpocket\u201d full of positive affirmations.<br \/>\nOn days when my anxiety levels are running<br \/>\nhigh, I step outside, focus on the sky, and run<br \/>\nthose affirmations through my mind.<br \/>\n\u2014 Whitney Bilodeau<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>29. Dance! Especially in the car. Pitbull\u2019s music is<br \/>\ngreat for dancing. I took belly-dancing lessons<br \/>\nfor several years, and I learned that a good<br \/>\nshimmy can knock physical and emotional<br \/>\nstress out of my body. Plus it makes me smile<br \/>\nand feel sassy.<br \/>\n\u2014 @the_elegant_leopard<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>30. I watch Jimmy Fallon videos whenever I\u2019m in<br \/>\na bum mood. They never fail to cheer me up.<br \/>\n\u2014 Jessie Padilla<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb_wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Grace-Notes-4.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3359\" src=\"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Grace-Notes-4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"569\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"bb_wrap\">\n<div class=\"bb_left\">\n<div class=\"artcred\">Photo credit: <span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"\" target=\"_blank\">Kaboom Pics<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<p>37. Find the humor in it and laugh, and<br \/>\nthen say a prayer of gratitude for fi ve<br \/>\nthings that were bright spots in the day.<br \/>\n\u2014 Moira Blaney Rossi<\/p>\n<p>38. I look at vintage photos. They remind<br \/>\nme of gentler times where love and<br \/>\nlaughter were captured and forever<br \/>\nbrighten my view of the world.<br \/>\n\u2014 Ella Wilson<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>39. Zendoodle and listen to music. This<br \/>\ncreative aimlessness helps me relax<br \/>\nand breathe. It\u2019s great meditation.<br \/>\n\u2014 instagram.com\/carlabe_ing<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb_right\">\n<p>41. I take a short drive to our local greenhouse<br \/>\nwhere I walk in the filtered light and<br \/>\namong the newly seeded plants. I am<br \/>\nreminded that every day is a new day and<br \/>\nthat tomorrow will likely be brighter.<br \/>\n\u2014 Kathy Pardell<\/p>\n<p>42. Play some hardcore dancehall reggae in<br \/>\nmy headphones and instantly I\u2019m happy<br \/>\nand having a party at my desk.<br \/>\n\u2014 @traci.elaine<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>43. Journaling does it for me. I just finished a<br \/>\nlong and rambling entry that helped clear<br \/>\nthe cobwebs in my mind.<br \/>\n\u2014 Linda Hoye<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb_wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Grace-Notes-5-2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3360\" src=\"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Grace-Notes-5-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"bb_wrap\">\n<div class=\"bb_left\">\n<div class=\"artcred\">Photo credit: <span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"\" target=\"_blank\">Kaboom Pics<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<p>44. I sing along with great old songs by Joni<br \/>\nMitchell and Crosby Stills and Nash while I<br \/>\nedit photos and write prose.<br \/>\n\u2014 Deanna Wisman<\/p>\n<p>45. I turn on Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra,<br \/>\npour a glass of wine, and watch the beautiful<br \/>\nsunset melt across the sky.<br \/>\n\u2014 @kellen813<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>46. I pull out my favorite book, my knitting,<br \/>\nturn on a The Civil Wars album, and just<br \/>\nget lost until the world (aka my boys)<br \/>\ncomes calling.<br \/>\n\u2014 Elaine Jason<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>47. I hold an amethyst or another calming<br \/>\ncrystal. The energy of the stones directly<br \/>\naffects my attitude for the better.<br \/>\n\u2014 @nefelibata1727<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>48. I have a very simple prescription for the<br \/>\ngrouchiest of moods. 1 Jane Austen movie +<br \/>\n1 bar of expensive dark chocolate = instant<br \/>\nmood reboot. Add a pair of comfy granny<br \/>\njammies and I totally forget what had me out<br \/>\nof sorts in the first place.<br \/>\n\u2014 Christie Smith<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb_right\">\n<p>49. I lie on the floor and let my furry friends tumble<br \/>\nand kiss me until the bad mood passes.<br \/>\n\u2014 @floggingwally1<\/p>\n<p>50. If my daughter is around, we turn on the tunes and<br \/>\nspin until we get dizzy, falling over in laughing<br \/>\nheaping sets us right again. We\u2019ve also been known<br \/>\nto race our feet as quiet as we can and that burns<br \/>\naway the grumpies. Then when it\u2019s quiet, I journal<br \/>\nmy three positives for the day. There is always light<br \/>\nif you look for it.<br \/>\n\u2014 @upliftinganchor<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>51. I grab a pen and whatever scrap of paper I can find<br \/>\nand I start my list of what makes me happy. I\u2019ve<br \/>\nbeen doing it as long as I can remember. Sometimes<br \/>\nthe list is an entire page, filled with things like<br \/>\n\u201cgardening, the smell of lilacs, frost on the leaves<br \/>\nin the fall, farmers on old tractors, Christmas eve,<br \/>\nearly morning trips to the lakeshore, the Andy<br \/>\nGriffith theme song\u201d&#8230; and sometimes it\u2019s just a<br \/>\nscribble like, \u201cvisiting over coffee around the old<br \/>\nkitchen table.\u201d Either way, those happy and magical<br \/>\nthoughts never fail to bring a smile to my face and<br \/>\nremind me how lucky and thankful I am to be alive.<br \/>\n\u2014 Kelly Jackson<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb_wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Grace-Notes-6.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3361\" src=\"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Grace-Notes-6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"825\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"bb_wrap\">\n<div class=\"bb_left\">\n<div class=\"artcred\">Photo credit: <span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"\" target=\"_blank\">Guilia Bertelli<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<p>54. I count three blessings. They can be simple.<br \/>\n1 &#8211; fireflies. 2 &#8211; cotton candy sunsets. 3 &#8211; the<br \/>\nsmell of gardenias.<br \/>\n\u2014 @tamibug<\/p>\n<p>55. If I\u2019m ever having a bad day, my beautiful bed<br \/>\nnever fails me. I crawl into clean cotton sheets and<br \/>\nfall asleep.<br \/>\n\u2014 @catherine.michelle<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb_right\">\n<p>56. I grab my littles, a bag of snacks, my keys, and we<br \/>\npile in the car. We drive with no real destination<br \/>\nin mind; they just know it will be somewhere in<br \/>\nnature. A trail, field, hilltop, or lake. Nature and my<br \/>\nlittles. It\u2019s a sure way for my mind to declutter the<br \/>\nnegative toxins.<br \/>\n\u2014 Abbie McGinty<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb_wrap\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Here are some of our favorite pick-me-ups to help you relax and unwind:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: inline-block; margin-right: 10px; vertical-align: top;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/stampington.com\/image\/cache\/catalog\/ProductImages\/5SER-KITGRA11B-600x600.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3356\" src=\"https:\/\/stampington.com\/image\/cache\/catalog\/ProductImages\/5SER-KITGRA11B-600x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" \/><br \/>Ode to the Bath Bella Grace Starter Set<\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: inline-block; margin-right: 10px; vertical-align: top;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/stampington.com\/image\/cache\/catalog\/ProductImages\/5SER-KITGRA12B-600x600.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3356\" src=\"https:\/\/stampington.com\/image\/cache\/\/catalog\/ProductImages\/5SER-KITGRA12B-600x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" \/><br \/>Out of the Blues &#8211; Journaling Bundle<\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: inline-block; margin-right: 10px; vertical-align: top;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/stampington.com\/image\/cache\/\/catalog\/ProductImages\/5SER-OILSET1-600x600.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3356\" src=\"https:\/\/stampington.com\/image\/cache\/\/catalog\/ProductImages\/5SER-OILSET1-600x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" \/><br \/>Essential Oil Gift Set &#8211; Energizing<\/a><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; &nbsp; Always acknowledge when you\u2019re feeling depleted.&nbsp; When you feel that unwanted dark cloud of melancholy and irritation come over you, it feels nearly impossible to escape the storm of negative emotions that are taking over. The good news is, there is always an escape. Sometimes all we need is a little pick-me-up. &nbsp; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":1131,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2443"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2443\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1131"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}