What makes a day "bad"? We all have days where we feel out of 
whack in some way, at a low ebb etc. This may be prompted by 
some known event such as a poor nights sleep because of a 
teething baby or by other life difficulties. At other times we 
may just feel that "we got out of the wrong side of the bed in 
the morning".

So what do we do about it? I know I prefer to feel in whack 
rather than out of it. Can we get back in whack at will?

Yes, by listening to ourselves.

The technique that works best for me is to follow my discomfort 
rather than trying to escape or avoid it. It goes like this:

* Firstly you have to recognize that you actually do feel out 
  of whack. Accept it rather than denying it. How are you? 
  "Oh, I'm fine." Know the pattern? Come out of denial and 
  learn what is happening.

* Feel into your discomfort, and I do mean feel rather than 
  analyze. Its almost as if you are parenting your self. Any 
  discomfort in your life is a call for your conscious 
  attention, for healing.

* Now ask inwardly what you need to do for yourself in order 
  to resolve these uncomfortable feelings.

* Thoughts and ideas will spring to mind immediately, watch 
  these pass much as if you are scanning a dinner menu.

* Notice which, if any, of these possible options *feels* the 
  most uplifting even if it does not seem especially rational.

* Your mind maybe telling you to snap out of it and rationalizing
  your way back into avoidance or some other familiar pattern 
  of denial.

* Keep directing your attention towards a solution. Ask yourself 
  what is here now, what do I need?

* Listen, feel, observe, have the courage to honour your needs, 
  be meticulously honest with yourself. You may need a nap, you 
  may need to call a friend, you may need fresh food, you may 
  need a new job...listen and act. Follow the feelings and you 
  will bring your self back into alignment, what feels good is 
  good. And the good feelings will empower you to follow through 
  with the necessary action that will further support you.

* But be truly honest, eating a whole tub of ice-cream is 
  unlikely to be much of a solution. You are looking for a much 
  more whole and "complete" feeling than the soft anesthetic of 
  impulse buying or comfort food.


Using this technique you are bringing a "greater" aspect of 
yourself into your life as an ally. You become the observer of 
you, the compassionate observer, and this simply takes a great 
deal of the charge away from your problems.

There is a flow to life with a wave motion, an expansion and 
contraction, peaks and troughs. In all things and areas of our 
lives. Generally we prefer the expansion part because this feels 
full, exciting and hopeful. The contraction aspects take us away 
from our previous feelings of well-being but can be equally 
satisfying if we relax and flow with the wave. 
By observing yourself as you traverse these contours of life 
you will become far better able to deal with life's setbacks 
from the viewpoint of an empowered co-creator. 

About the Author: Chris Jackson is successful businessman as
well as a highly trained therapist. He runs The Abundance Site
which highlights our creative process and inspires others to
risk actually living the life of their dreams
His site can be found at: http://www.theabundancesite.com