Feeling Down? Here Are 5 Surprising Tips to Instantly Boost Your Mood

Rabbi Noach Weinberg z"l, in his series "48 Ways to Wisdom," explains the power of words and their positive impact on the human soul. We've compiled for you 5 practical tips that will help anyone who is feeling a bit down. So what are you waiting for? Choose one of the tips and apply it. Now.

1. Be a nag. Talk to yourself

Rabbi Weinberg addresses anyone who wishes to make the most of their life, urging them: Be a nag – use words in the most effective way to push yourself in the right direction. When you wake up in the morning and don't feel like getting out of bed, tell yourself: "Come on... don't be lazy, get your feet off the bed, I promise it won't hurt".

When you're feeling down - pull yourself out of the depression. Use all the tools at your disposal to turn negative situations into positive ones and to propel yourself in the right direction.

Tell yourself what you intend to do: "I'm going to tidy up my room now..."

2. Never call yourself degrading names

Never call yourself degrading names. Never say "I'm terrible, I'm stupid, I won't understand, I'm a failure, I can't change..."

Remember that words are like bullets. And when using live fire - you must be careful!

3. Hold daily motivation talks with yourself

Engage in daily encouragement talks with yourself where you explain to yourself how much you will progress that day. A self-motivation talk might be: "What a wonderful day - full of new possibilities! Life is amazing, and I'm alive! I'm sure today I will be happy, I will succeed in doing all the wise and correct things I know! Today I will achieve the goals I set for myself!"

When the day ends, before you go to sleep, have another short encouragement talk: "Tomorrow I will jump out of bed with energy and joy" or "Tomorrow I won't get angry." Continue and use your voice. Describe in detail how you will succeed in doing this, pause and tell yourself about the joy you will get from successful actions.

You may also be interested in:

How to permanently stop frustration, insecurity, and endless guilt?

Is it even possible to get rid of the fears and depression that surround us?

4. Express your gratitude out loud

Try also to express your gratitude out loud. A substantial amount of gratitude is a powerful tool for increasing personal happiness. "Thank you Hashem for giving me the wisdom to understand," "Thank you for giving me food to eat," "Thank you Hashem for giving me the wonderful opportunity of life"...

Judaism places great emphasis on the concept of focusing on what "is," by expressing gratitude out loud. By saying blessings for everything – for food, for bodily functions, for the blooming of fruit trees, we learn to appreciate and cherish what we have and focus less on what we don’t...

5. Invent a slogan and use it

The advertising industry invests billions to create catchy and meaningful slogans: "This is the truth!", "Go excel!", "Start living smart!" and many more.

Slogans are a quick and effective way to express the essence of an idea. Slogans can help us stay focused and remain aware of our goals and motivations - especially when we are confused. Slogans encourage us to keep trying even when we are almost giving up.

So before you start doing something, pause for a moment and ask yourself: "What do I intend to achieve?" Then, turn the answer into a slogan that will stay stuck in your mind.

The most well-known Jewish slogan is the Shema: "Hear, O Israel: Hashem is our God, Hashem is one." This is more than just a prayer: it is a reminder of the highest purpose of life.

Here are some more Jewish slogans: "It's a great mitzvah to be in joy"; "Bless Hashem"; "This too is for the best"; "The whole world is a very narrow bridge" and many more.

If you are really serious, ask yourself: "Why am I alive?" Answer yourself, then invent a slogan that will help you remember the purpose consistently.

You might be asking yourself: "What will I gain from all this talking?" It’s important to understand that through self-talk you can know yourself better. When you know what you want, you can finally set out on the path to the target. Only if you know what is blocking you - can you circumvent it. Only if you know what you enjoy - can you enjoy it. Only if your strengths are clear and obvious – can you use them.

If you don't know yourself, undoubtedly you will be confused and embarrassed. In such a situation you will never be able to control the powers within you (and you have many strengths), and that's a shame!

People are willing to pay huge sums just to hear themselves. Someone who pays a psychologist $200 an hour feels compelled to talk 'as much as possible' to make use of the money paid. If someone sits with you, asks questions, and listens to all you say – that would be great, but you might not find someone who is always willing to listen - so talk to yourself – for free!

Want the formula from Rabbi Yigal Cohen that helped dozens of people escape depression and anxiety? You can find it here at the Jewish campus.