5 Questions To Ask Yourself When Feeling Down

Finding the Light in Moments of Darkness

“There is no shadow without light” – Therapist Tiff

We all face times of sorrow, when a sad mood gets the best of us and we can’t help feeling down. Sometimes it seems despite our spiritual practice, self-care, or blessings depression can sneak up on us without any warning. It can be hard to shake these feelings because many times they are caused by a complex combination of circumstances and prior experiences. However you don’t have to be a slave to these dark times, and finding light in these tough moments is possible.

Here are 5 questions to ask yourself during times of sorrow to help you step back into the light.

1. What is this moment here to teach me?

Every moment of melancholy or depression can serve a higher purpose of teaching us important life lessons. Part of the beauty of enduring shadow periods in our lives are the tools we gain to become more resilient. When you feel sad it is important to ask yourself, “What is this moment here to teach me?” How can this trial or tribulation help me to become a better and more resilient person? Is it here to teach you patience, or compassion, or maybe even here to teach you to trust yourself? Whatever your situation may be, every valley gives us the opportunity to grow personally and head back up the mountain of life stronger. In the midst of your struggle, take time to find the lesson.

2. How can I bring light to this dark situation?

In moments of darkness, the perpetuation of sad feelings and behaviors like isolating yourself can make seeing the light seem impossible. In times of deep depression it is important to force yourself to search for light and positivity. The easiest way to do this is to either start a gratitude practice or increase the frequency of your current gratitude practice. Another great strategy is to wake up every morning with the intention to be happy, deciding to be optimistic despite your pain. This is definitely easier said than done, and you may even find that you have to reset this intention throughout the day. However persistence is key, and intention is powerful. Use the little will power you have left when you are depressed to continuously try to look on the bright side of things.

3. Am I confusing my thoughts with my identity?

Just because you are feeling sad emotions does not mean you are sad person. Your being and purpose is so much more than any one feeling that you may experience. Our thoughts have a strange power of being so persistent they can override our higher self. It is important to keep in mind that just because we think a thought, it does not make it true. This is where our Higher self, our internal observer becomes key. In moments of sadness, we must observe our thoughts with even higher intensity. Monitor negative internal dialogue and thoughts full of sorrow. Refuse to accept every thought you have as truth, and take time to consider what thoughts have dominated your thinking lately.

4. How does this situation fit into the bigger the picture for my life and for the world?

Sorrow has a trickster ability to narrow our perspective and shut out the light of the world. Take back your vision by taking a moment to consider the bigger picture when you are feeling down. Enlarge your focus to see bigger plans for yourself and the world. Ask yourself how this situation will be part of your greater testimony. Life has ups and downs and it is important to keep in mind that you will be up again and toting with you the resilience and lessons from this pain. All darkness comes to the light and it is important to stay faithful of your breakthrough and stay persistent in your ability to control your perspective. We cannot control the shifting circumstances that life presents but we can control how we perceive it and how we intertwine each experience into our greater narrative.

5. How can I stop resisting the darkness and learn to sit comfortably with this pain?

After asking yourself the questions above you may notice your mood has shifted but more than likely your pain is still there. You know the lesson, you are fighting to stay positive, checking internal dialogue and thoughts, and keeping the bigger picture in mind. However a shadow is still a shadow, and a low point is still a low point. With all these things in mind, it is important to not deny or resist the pain you feel. Inherent in all the questions above is the ability to the sit with your pain knowing that it will not overcome you nor will it kill you. If you are experiencing depression that lasts more than two weeks seeking help from a therapist and/or psychiatrist can help you deal with chronic depression. However pain caused by life changes and circumstances has an expiration date and will only fully resolve itself when you allow yourself to feel it and process it. Face your sorrow without fear with a calmness to sit with your circumstance without prematurely denying it away. Denial only multiplies depression and makes it come out in other ways like physical illness, irritability, financial impulsivity, etc.

I hope these questions help you get over the hump when you are feeling down. More than anything, I hope you take what lessons you need from this experience. Allow your inner witness to take over during sorrow. Stay Conscious, your inner light will never leave you.

– Tiffany Shelton, M.A. is a psychotherapist and consciousness expert. Her passion to elevate consciousness goes beyond the message of self-care or wellness, but instead consciously adds to these movements by demanding awakening and insight. Learn more about Tiffany Shelton by clicking here.

Sign Up for My Newsletter for a Dose of Consciousness Straight to Your Inbox!