Recently I had a stretch of a few days where I did not get to indulge in any “me time.” I had been on too many calls, had too many social events and had no time to read, write or meditate. I was cranky and resentful towards everyone and everything. After four days of this, I noticed that it was starting to build into a really bad mood and I didn’t want to be around anyone. My patience was wearing dangerously thin.

Set Aside Your Bad Mood and Step Up and Be a Mom

Then out of the blue, at 2:00 pm on Friday afternoon my daughter showed up in tears. She was having a horrible day and needed my support. I put my arms around her, hugged her, and my anger melted away.

We spent the afternoon together and I calmed her down, and then we got salads for dinner. I enjoyed just being a mom again. It felt so good to be needed, and it warms my heart that when she needed help, she came to me.

Giving Eases Our Pain

As I was going to bed that night, I remembered how awful I had felt just minutes before she arrived and how all those negative feelings simply washed away as soon as I kicked into “help someone else” mode. It made me think; this is something useful I need to share.

In the past, when I felt anxious, upset or irritated and I did something nice for someone else, and it helped me tremendously. I had forgotten all about the valuable practice of helping others to help ourselves.

A few years ago, on my way to meet a client, I stopped and picked up a bouquet of flowers to give her. Upon arriving, I greeted her and presented her with the gift; she was overjoyed. This one action completely reversed my bad mood, and I felt fantastic for the rest of the day.

Reminders of How Kindness Cures

Sometimes I just stop and give compliments to total strangers; comment on earrings or a piece of clothing that I like. Even these tiny, little kindnesses help to ease my stress and discomfort.

Examples like this are great validation that helping others helps us even more. It’s helpful to take your mind off yourself and your problems for a little while and focus on someone else. By the time you get back to them (don’t worry, they will be waiting right there for you). You may find that your problems have been resolved or aren’t as bad as you thought they were.

Help Someone Else, Help Yourself!

If you are having a bad day or even a bad week, stop right now this very moment and find a way to help someone else. Just by giving of yourself and focusing on love and kindness will help you to let go of your negative energy. Fill your heart and mind with the positiveness of giving and watch the doom and gloom just fade away!