Why doing what you don't feel like is often the remedy
Apricot shares his tips on shifting the mood quickly and why doing the things you don't feel like is vital for your happiness
You will not believe this. And I can imagine, it will take much persuading on my part for you to even try. After all, you’re a hooman, so by nature, you’re pretty skeptical and an overthinker. And, pardon me saying that, a bit lazy too.
But what I’m about to share with you might just change your life. So perhaps, I’ll succeed.
You see, we all have those days when we’re not in the best of moods. Sometimes, there is no real reason to not be happy, but we just wake up and don’t feel like doing anything. Or something just feels off for no real reason. Or we have little energy.
And sometimes, your hooman just leaves you home alone despite doing everything within your paws to stop them. And that just sucks. How could anyone refuse a day of cuddles, and generally a day in our company is beyond me… I wonder what better things they got out there…
But such is life, and when any of the aforementioned situations or moods occur, we have two choices: give in or not give in and do something about it.
Since I am a natural fighter in my home conditions - they often call me a kung-fu fighter here - I always prefer fighting.
And one of the ways to do so is play. Now, this may sound like fun so you might be thinking, well, who wouldn’t want to play? But the truth is when I’m feeling down or I’m running on low energy for whatever reason, playing is the last thing I want to do.
Which makes it EXACTLY the thing I NEED to do.
And it works every single time.
You see, whenever you find yourself in a difficult mood, and you think “this is the last thing I feel like doing”, that thought alone is a pretty good guide to what you need to do to resolve your situation. Perhaps, not the situation itself that caused the mood - for example, I can’t make my hooman magically re-appear at home, and trust me, I tried! - but it will shift your mood and once you’re feeling happier, the world won't look so bleak and lonely anymore.
So it happens, that oftentimes when my hoomans leave, the first thing I do to prevent my bad mood and feelings of loneliness from even occurring is to grab my favorite mouse and play. And no, it’s not out of happiness or joy, but out of necessity.
These are pretty automated reactions by now, as soon as I feel the slightest hint of feelings of unease creep in.
Other times, it's not so easy though.
Sometimes, I just feel tired. Sometimes sad and tired. And sometimes just too sad. But I know if I move a little, both of these feelings will disappear. You see, we KNOW what's best for us. But sometimes, it takes so much of our energy to persuade our bodies to follow...
My hooman for example often wonders, why I call her for play when all I do then is to stand there and look at my stick instead of chasing it. But those are exactly the moments when I know what's best for me, so my instincts lead me there, but my body is just protesting. And so I stand there... trying to persuade myself it's a good idea and that it's REALLY going to help me feel better.
But not even us cats are perfect, dear hooman, believe it or not, so like everyone, sometimes even I lose this fight. Sometimes it just won't happen. But most of the time, I do start playing eventually. And even if for just a very few rounds, nevertheless, I get to feel better even just for trying!
Now think back to how many times you thought running would help you. Or even just listening to some music would. Or doing that funny thing on your mat like my hooman does. But instead of doing that which you knew would help, you decided not to follow your instincts. Because it just felt like too much of an effort.
That my dear ones, is giving in and not a really nice thing to do.
Even I sometimes secretly wish no one would pay attention to me when I call for play with my stick. But I still call for play. The rest is not really in my paws. But you my dear hooman, you really have it all in your paws. Put on that song and see how it makes you feel or try and run around the block and see if it helps. Or roll out your mat and pretend to be a cat (they call it a downward-facing dog but let me tell you, no one’s ever done a better one than a cat). Just try it. And see how it feels. I am pretty sure you'll be glad you did it.
So, next time you think “oh I really don’t feel like doing this”… go and do exactly that! And the less you think about it, the more you make it a habit - an automation prompted by the command of your thought - the better will your life become.
Just like me when I go and play with my mouse without thinking about it twice. The more time and thinking you allow yourself, like me with the stick, the more difficult it will become. And if we don’t want one thing in life, it is difficult stuff. And wasting time. Because time, my dear ones, is a very precious thing. So use it wisely. And ideally, spend it in good mood.
Now, I’ll happily raise my paw to that!