In-Grown Eyeballs

I find there are so many recipes, tips and tricks about getting out of the ‘dumps’. There’s this list, and that list, and these simple 11 steps and do this then and that, etc. The trouble with all these lists is who is going to remember to do them when we are down in the dumps? I’m not! If we are honest with ourselves when our attitude is in the dumps, our whole focus is on US (Ingrown eyeballs), and certainly not on any list of things to do!

Since we are focused on US when we are in the dumps our self-talk is often; oh poor me, look what THEY did to me, I can’t do what I wanted because of THEM. We berate ourselves, chisel away at our self-esteem/self-worth and confidence. We walk a little hunched over, look at our feet more and shuffle along. This type of self-reflection and wallowing breeds a victim mentality, one of helplessness and insignificance. No one wants to be known as a victim, yet our negative self-talk often reflects this attitude, when we are in the dumps. A victim mentality is definitely not a healthy long-term mindset. When life doesn’t go our way, we often slide into that muddy rut of ‘ingrown eyeballs’ pretty fast. We’ve all been in the dumps and we will be there again in our journey of life. The question is, how long are we going to stay there each time?

My purpose is not to take away from the ‘expert’s lists’, yet on the other hand I have discovered that the older I get, the simpler and more meaningful I desire my life to be. I know of one sure fire way that works EVERY SINGLE TIME to get out of that muddy rut and peel off my dumpy attitude. It’s simple and very straight forward. It’s as simple as a choice. I have found that this simple shift in focus accelerates my crawl out of the dumps back to my life’s journey with a positive attitude. I find myself more solution rather than problem oriented.

A coin has two sides; one side is our dumpy attitude; our focus is only on us and our circumstances. This side of the coin is where our ‘ingrown eyeballs’ reside. It is a dark side of the coin, a place that is damp, musty, cold, impersonal, enclosed, and isolated. This is not a place where we want to stay very long, yet somehow, it’s familiar.

So now, let’s simply flip the coin over and see what’s on the other side. It’s bright, warm, sunshiny, open, inviting, holds much opportunity, hope, and promise. Your encouraging and uplifting friends are there. It’s a very inviting side of the coin. Your focus on this side of the coin is on others, helping, laughing, loving, experiencing joy, and sharing with them. This is also a familiar side of the coin, but very different from the other.

When we are in the dumps, we have assimilated a selfish attitude because we are focused only on us.

I have found from personal experience to get out of my muddy dumpy rut is simple. This is where simplicity is so beautiful. You get to the other side of the coin and out of the dumps by simply serving others. No list of things to do and no complicated steps. This simple intentional shift of focus from YOU to OTHERS; is just a flip of the coin. It’s as simple as a choice. I guarantee you that when you are in the dumps, by simply and intentionally choosing to help someone else, it will lift you out of your ‘muddy rut’ to the other side of the coin. I challenge you to prove me wrong.

The choice is yours. Simply take a coin out of your pocket and flip it.

Which side of the coin would you prefer?