A combination of the cold weather, fading Christmas memories and broken New Year resolutions, as well as an economy in downturn and all of our own personal problems all piling up makes the last week one of the most depressing for large numbers of people – the post Holiday blues are truly among us.
I’ve seen and spoken with several dozens of people in Second Life in the past week who have said they’re feeling really “meh” right about now, and as fatigue, depression and insomnia kicks in, the glumness takes over and we’re stuck in a rut.
Some of the time, you don’t even need a reason to feel down in the dumps – it just happens. You happen to think to yourself “Why am I feeling so glum? This is odd.. I’ve got no reason to be feeling all meh”. Regardless, I make myself feel better with a small counterintuitive tip which never fails me: give someone a genuine compliment totally out of the blue.
What this essentially does is take the focus off yourself, and makes you realise that if you’re feeling sorry for yourself, then other people are likely to be doing the same. So by paying a genuine compliment to someone else and taking them aback, you’re helping them feel better about themselves and also yourself by thinking about someone else instead.
Make sure it is a good compliment too – genuine, huge and out of the blue.
I paid someone a compliment out of the blue last night, and it helped them, and indirectly I realised it helped me too.
And if you believe in karma, then it might just come back around.
Stacie Pryor on January 24, 2009
Great advice, Prad! Thanks for this! <3
Sasy Scarborough on January 24, 2009
It is wonderful advice and so not hard to do in SL, the talent and creative people here abound, in all walks of life.
Prad you do a marvelous thing in your blog, thank you
xox Sasy xox
Ivey Deschanel on January 24, 2009
Thats one of my favorite things to do. I make it a practice every day to give someone a big compliment. Automatically it changes all the negatives to positive…or at least hopeful. Fab post Prad! Any btw, I just love your blog -wink-
Ivey
Tesa Jewell on January 24, 2009
I too always try to tell people my thoughts instead of just leaving them as thoughts, when they are positive I mean lol. I found so many times I would either hear others saying nice things about a person or myself, to others but not to the one we are referring to, how silly is that. So I tell them, and sometimes you end up sounding like a dork, but who cares.
Winter Jefferson on January 24, 2009
I agree totally, Prad. I’m also doing my best to stir up something similiar at my blog *cough and drop link http://incoldbloodsl.blogspot.com/2009/01/who-inspires-you.html cough* It’s time to forget the hate that’s been haunting the blogosphere recently and focus on the good stuffs. The people in it.
Terry T on January 25, 2009
It’s very, very easy to see all the negative around you this time of year: the joy hangover and lack of sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere sets many of us to see the world in drab shades. Some people may even experience seasonal affective disorder (pathetically known in acronym form as SAD), a form of depression brought on by the season. No matter how low you’re feeling, though, it feels wonderful to hear compliments, especially if they’re from unexpected places. I value them a lot, as it gets the ball rolling in more positive thinking.
Faery Sola on January 25, 2009
Excellent Advice Prad… and just cause Winter has lead the way in plugging the positive initiatives going on in SL right now, I’m going to do the same! (hey! can’t help it, Winter is a trend setter,k?). Anyways, go here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/slappreciation/ join up and contribute to making SL and your world just a little bit more happy =D
*hugs to all*
~Faery~
Milla Michinaga on January 25, 2009
Prad, my sincere and genuine compliments to you for this fantastically good blog; which I actually read (I usually just browse blogs and feeds for pretty pictures
), and which always makes me think about stuff.
Smooches, Milla
Natalya Homewood on January 25, 2009
Brilliant advice, I think if you’re feeling sorry for yourself or badly about yourself, it’s very easy to think others are thinking badly about you too. A random compliment from someone out of the blue could really shock you into realising that others care.
Thomas Devlin on January 25, 2009
I wonder how many women here are truelly *interested* in your articles or are they playing the *game*
Clio on January 25, 2009
This is very interesting, Prad.
I love your blog posts, they can be so vary and so entertaining.
Let me give you a honest compliment: it’s really amazing how many things you have done and how well you’ve done them, at your young age.
It is amazing how well you know who you are, what you want and what you love. I admire your knowledge and your depth.
Keep up the good work, because it’s a way to get to know you better, and it’s always surprisingly good:)
Prad Prathivi on January 25, 2009
What “game” would that be, “Thomas”?