It happens to the best of you.  You get into a temporary funk.  You rarely see it coming until it hits you smack in the face and things go downhill quickly from there.  You feel less in control of your thoughts and actions than you actually are.

Your professional and personal success is in direct correlation with your inner strength.

Inner strength allows you to maintaining focus and confidence when outside influences have the opportunity to bring you down.

Here are some examples of what may knock you off balance and into a funk.

• You are not feeling well, exhausted.  When you are off balance physically your mind and emotions take a hit.  You overreact, take things more personally, and make mountains out of molehills. 
• You are in awe of people who always look on the bright side when things look so bleak to you. Why can't you be more like them? Your self confidence melts away in not having the ability to see what they see, to do what they do. 
• You are uneasy around the opposite; people who are consumed with the negatives, 'what will go wrong next.'  No matter how great you are doing, you know they'll they fault instead of praise.
• You've just finished negotiating a huge account or completing a gigantic project. This 'high' is naturally followed by a period of recovery which is uncomfortable and can easily lead to funk.
• Business is down causing you to be down.

OK, so you've identified what brought you down, or as I like to see it, how you gave your power away.  Now how do you get it back?  How do you lift your spirits to get back in the game?

1. Take a well-deserved break.  If you feel a funk emerging, separate yourself from what's causing it.  If it's another person, go for a walk.  If it's a challenging project, take a break.  If it's life in general, take a few days away.
2. Hydrating your body with water is a fast way to feel centered, to elevate your spirits. People in a funk often try to fulfill themselves with sugar and junk food.  Do what you know is best for your body-water, protein, nutrients.
3. Declare a boundary.  People who only point out your faults often think they are doing you a favor.  Point out to them that you appreciate their critique, but also need to know what you're doing right in order to learn from both points of view.
4. Stop commiserating.  It's easy to find someone who is worse off than you to make you feel better.  Stop that.  Instead, find someone who is happy, doing better than you, making things happen.  This is the uplifting energy you need.
5. Instead of judging others, be curious.  Perhaps there is something to learn in asking questions as: "What do they see that I don't see?" Perhaps you can learn their thought process, seeing opportunities or obstacles before they occur.
6. If all this fails, take out a sheet of paper and write down all of the great things in your life.  Thinking of them vs. writing them down will too quickly be replaced with 'funk'.  Writing slows down your thought process and activates both sides of your brain to gain perspective.

If you find yourself in a funk or see anyone around you in one this week, I challenge you to put these techniques to work and step out of that funk.  Staying there can lead to more serious problems. 

Having the courage and tools to elevate your spirits enhances your confidence and ability to get back to your productive, successful, high achieving self. 

If you are challenged with this concept of 'elevating your spirits,' begin with taking small steps.  Hire one of our coaches to guide you.  At GV&A, we have a variety of skilled, talented, certified coaches to serve you. It can be fun and easier than you think to attain the success you are after.

To see more of my published articles, including ''Topgrading: Are You an A Player," go to:

Golden Visions & Associates, Coaching for Executive and Leadership Success. 

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