What does “feeling good” mean to you?
How do you feel good about yourself?
Does “feeling good” require another person, a specific place, a particular activity, an article of clothing, a favorite food?
Is “feeling good” someplace you arrive after all of your chores and the to-do list is complete?
Is “feeling good” a prerequisite, a starting place from which everything else flows?
With experience, and through my work and training as a life coach, I have learned that all the ways we try to arrange our exterior environments in an effort to “feel good” is pointless. Feeling good is an inside job. The great news? It’s a gift you can give yourself.
And I believe feeling good from the inside is the best gift you can give yourself this holiday season – or anytime!
How to Feel Good
The practice of feeling good and making it a priority is a powerful way you can create the best version of yourself and your life. But many of us don’t know how to feel good!
I think first we need to do away with the idea that “feeling good” is selfish. When you truly tap into positive feelings – mind, body, and soul – you will not only change your life for the better, you will also positively impact the lives of everyone around you.
“Feeling good” has to do with our thoughts, our emotions, and our physical bodies. Having positive emotions, learning how to feel good about yourself, and taking positive action is only possible when we’re thinking positive thoughts. Our thoughts are often deeply affected by what is going on in our physical bodies.
Of course, we can’t “feel good” all the time. All emotions are just messengers, useful under certain circumstances. Fear keeps us from taking unnecessary risks. Sadness signals to others that we need comfort. We should not simply put on a happy face when we don’t feel good, remembering that negative emotions – even twinges or stiffness in the body – can be important messengers.
But feeling good is what it’s all about! Psychologists say we are typically more driven to make changes in our lives when we can see and feel an immediate reward. We do the things that make us feel good! Avoiding punishment or pain actually doesn’t work as well as a motivator.
Choices That Feel Good
For some of us, “feeling good” on the inside is incredibly difficult. Perhaps we are struggling with grief, anxiety, or depression. Maybe we feel there are too many things in our life that feel out of control. When we’re feeling really low, we may have to start small. Gratitude is a good place to start.
Choosing to take action can make us feel good. Here are some of my go-to feel-good actions:
- Text a grandchild.
- Take a mocha to my 94-year-old friend.
- Walk, swim or do a YouTube exercise video.
- Call my life coach.
- Send a picture from my iPhone to a friend.
Sometimes, we need to balance our energy by slowing down. Here are some of the ways I interrupt the “doing” with “being” to make myself feel better:
- Mindfully prepare and enjoy a hot cup of tea.
- Meditate, or take a nap (research shows these can be interchangeable & have many of the same benefits! If you don’t like one, try the other.)
- Journal.
- Take breaks from mentally taxing activities. This gives my brain a chance to regroup and reboot.
- Laugh. Watching comedy or enjoying a funny book is a wellness practice!
As we start to feel good more often, we’ll notice what throws us off balance. As we become more balanced, we naturally tend to listen to our body with love and reverence. We’ll more easily make choices that support balance, happiness, and wellness.
So tend to the negativity. Stretch and move the body. And when you need motivation, focus on what you’ve accomplished, rather than a long overwhelming list of what you’ve still got to do. Express gratitude for what is. Celebrate every success, no matter how small, to cultivate more of what you want.
- Feeling good about yourself will help you make clear, thoughtful decisions.
- When you are calm and peaceful, choices are evident and the steps to reach your goal seem possible.
- Feeling anxious, fearful, or upset are roadblocks to positivity.
How to Feel Good About Yourself
Study after study shows that well-being—either being in a positive mood or recognizing that you have a good life—benefits those in our social sphere, whether we’re talking about our families, workplaces, schools, or society at large. When we learn what makes us feel good and put our how-to feel-good strategies into practice, we’re better relationship partners, more kind and helpful in our communities, and more productive in our workplaces. Feeling good about ourselves and our lives is the foundation from which everything else flows. But remember, feeling good is a practice! Which means you will need to practice feeling good even when (especially when!) you don’t feel good. So zero in on this for yourself:
- What puts you in a peaceful state of mind?
- How do you make today count towards feeling good?
- What will you no longer tolerate?
- What habits need to be broken?
- What do you expect of yourself?
- Check out these 7 science-based tips to boost your mood from Psychology Today
Life Coaching to Feel Good Now
Learn to make feeling good a priority & watch your life change!
Don’t wait to feel good sometime in the future. Do the work with me and start feeling good now! In life coaching, we work together to examine where you are right now – in mind, body, and spirit. When are you feeling good? When do you get stuck in a negative spiral? We’ll take a look at what is going on in your life – and, if you’re like most of my clients, we’ll probably uncover some things that will surprise you! We’ll zero in on how to feel good, take concrete steps, and make a commitment to live a balanced life – one where you feel good! – using my proven exercises, practices, and methodology.
Contact me for a complimentary, no-obligations life coaching consultation to discuss the possibilities. Or use the Appointment Scheduler and pick a time that works for you. I coach 90% of my clients over the phone, and my DC-based Life Coaching clients have the option of meeting with me in person. I look forward to hearing from you.