Why do I feel so terrible?

Consider the inputs.

From time to time, I get into a negative state. This happens regardless of the season or the weather here in Maine. Here is what it looks like:

Everything feels wrong.

I lose perspective.

I am impatient with others and myself.

I am not looking forward to anything in particular.

When this happens, I don’t always have the answer. But I always begin by looking at the inputs. The inputs are the consumables and activities that have acted on my mind and my body in the recent past. Looking at the inputs means asking questions.

Questions like:

When’s the last time I worked out?

Have I eaten any fruits or vegetables in the past day or so?

How’s my water intake lately?

And I now know that one of the inputs is socialization. Being social is an input. Seeing friends is an input.

I make it a habit to ask: when did I last hang out with someone?