Four Steps to Getting Out of a Funk

Getting Out of a Funk

Getting out of a funk involves four steps. If you’ve been feeling stuck in a funk, you’re not alone. I often have new clients come to me who are turning to counseling or life coaching because they are feeling stuck in negative feelings and don’t know how to break free. There are many reasons why people go through a rough patch. Perhaps something has occurred that makes you sad. Maybe you’re trying to get over a breakup. Perhaps your relationship with your spouse feels negative, you’re experiencing a loss of a loved one, a significant other, a pet, or even a job opportunity.

What you’re struggling with might be a current situation or something from your past that has lingered and continues to distress you. Your way of coping with the distress is not working anymore. You may be feeling concerned because you have not been able to shake the sadness and discontent in your life, and you don’t know how to get out of the funk. You want to make positive, optimistic long-term plans and feel like you are on the right path, but you’re stuck.

When you’re in the muck of sadness, expecting the worst, and sometimes dealing with sleepless nights, it takes a toll. Getting out of a funk can feel like more energy than you have to give. You probably know you’re missing opportunities to feel better, but discontent has such a strong hold on you that it might be difficult to keep your eyes open to the possibilities. Today I want to share with you four steps to getting out of a funk.

Four Steps to Getting Out of a Funk

1. Take Time To Heal

The first step to shifting into a better-feeling state is to be willing to take the time to heal. Taking time does not mean putting more on your plate that’s probably already full. It’s about taking something off of your plate in order to make room for healing. 

Your intention might be to take off some of the worries by getting support to help you ease the weight of painful memories and release it for good. Trust that sadness will pass, and you’ll eventually see this situation’s purpose in your life. Take time to heal so that you can release painful memories and move bravely forward.

2. Forgive Yourself

The second step of healing is often forgiveness. Forgiveness is a powerful healer. Don’t hold on to the energy of past disappointments or conflicts. You must remember to forgive yourself for choices you might wish you’d made differently. You did the best you could at the time, so allow yourself to move on.

Learning to shift your mindset is essential right now. Our thoughts are often the true culprits behind the trouble we fear.

Release your unhealthy guilt, and realize that regret is a wasted emotion. Instead, turn your attention to the amazing possibilities for the future, and leave the past behind.

3. Reevaluate Your Situation

The third step of healing is to reevaluate your situation. Many times, the solution that you are seeking is closer than you think. However, when you’re not feeling good emotionally, it can be hard to see the path out. Even small opportunities for change and growth can reap enormous benefits. 

Consider the possibility that even just being drawn to read this article, positive forces are working to assist you now. Even though you may not feel this way, you do have many options for change and post traumatic growth, and a chance to accept the help that is being offered to you.

By taking the time to heal, learning to forgive yourself, and reevaluating your situation, you will get to a place where you can honestly say that the challenging times are behind you and brighter times are ahead. You will be able to look to your future with optimism, excitement, and confidence.

4. Receive Support and Guidance

For many people who don’t feel great about themselves and their lives at the moment, it can be hard to believe that feeling optimistic, hopeful, and positive about life is even possible. That’s why it’s so important to get the right kind of help, support, and guidance right now.

Having a partner for growth and change will help assist you in getting your life back on track and begin to make positive, optimistic long-term plans on your right path. One of the biggest obstacles that many people who are feeling down have to struggle with is the negative thoughts and feelings that will sabotage your efforts to turn things around.

Part of my role as a counselor and life coach is to offer support and guidance that helps you push back against those forces so that you can create positive change. This is what I want for you — and for you to know that you’re not alone. I believe you can get back to a place of feeling hope and happy expectation, where you can envision your life the way you want it to be and to take action in that direction. I hope these ideas help you get out of that funk.

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Lisa Marie Bobby, PhD, LMFT, BCC

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby is a licensed psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist, board-certified coach, AAMFT clinical supervisor, host of the Love, Happiness, and Success Podcast and founder of Growing Self.