Feeling down? Stay Busy!

If you're feeling a little blue, all it takes to turn that frown upside down is a little mental rewiring. The best way to do this is to stay busy.

Keeping your mind occupied prevents you from ruminating on negative things for too long. If you love animals, the "aww" moment you get from seeing a picture of a newborn kitten might be all it takes to change your mood. (This works for me, as I have a soft spot for animals.) Whether you enjoy sports, cooking, reality TV, or reading fiction novels, focusing on things you like pushes your thinking in a much more positive direction.

The point is that sadness and negativity can eat away at us. Unfortunately, things of a negative nature have a much stronger effect on us than those of a positive nature. Is it any wonder the news is saturated with stories that center on death and murder?

Remind yourself to always cancel out a negative thought with a positive one. DO NOT let the negative ones infiltrate and take over your mind! Just say the following to yourself: "I am strong. I believe in myself. I will not let negativity get in the way of my happiness. I will keep myself occupied with things I enjoy doing so that those pesky thoughts aren't allowed to resurface.

Instead of harping on the argument you just had with your friend, fill your mind with thoughts and images of peace and tranquility: sugary beach sand lapping against turquoise waters, a verdant forest bathed in twilight, the glorious sun reflecting off snow-capped mountains. Or, simply immerse yourself in a good book or movie and transport yourself to a different world.

As debilitating as we think negativity can be, there are many ways around it -- we just have to think "outside the box" and stay busy.

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