It’s okay to care for the weather of your heart, too. | Gently living with shifting feelings

Some days are sunny, and some days are rainy. Just as the weather in the sky changes every day, our hearts have their own weather from day to day.

A morning when your mood will not clear for no particular reason. An afternoon when a small thing unsettles you. On days like that, do you ever blame yourself and think, “I’m no good today”? But just as the sky is not clear every day, your heart does not always need to be sunny.

For Value Village, “bringing things into balance” includes not only appearance, but also the state of your feelings. Today, we would like to think together about how to relate gently to the changing weather of the heart.

Is it wrong for the weather of the heart to change?

No, not at all. Having waves in your mood is proof that your heart is alive and moving. In fact, trying to feel the same way all the time can place an unreasonable burden on yourself. Even if you urge a cloudy sky to clear quickly, the sky will not change. The heart is the same. Simply noticing, “It’s cloudy today,” can soften that wavering a little. Bringing yourself into balance does not begin with forcing the sky to clear, but with accepting the weather as it is right now.

How should we spend days when our spirits feel low?

On days when you feel low, you do not have to try hard to lift yourself up. Instead, be just a little kinder to yourself than usual. Drink something warm. Put on music you like. Remove one thing from your schedule. Soak slowly in a lukewarm bath. These small acts of care become shelter from the rain for your heart. Having someone listen to you is also a good way. You do not have to force yourself to search for a reason. Just let today’s self pass through gently. The rain will surely stop someday.

Are there any tips for getting along well with the weather of the heart?

One is to make a habit of “observing” the weather. In the morning, quietly look within and ask what kind of weather your heart has today. Sunny or cloudy, simply notice it. You do not need to decide whether it is good or bad. Another is to remember yourself on sunny days. When your heart feels low, it can seem as if that feeling will last forever, but sunny days will surely come around again. That memory becomes a charm for rainy days. The weather of the heart is not something to control, but something to stay close to. When you can think of it that way, each day becomes a little easier to live.

The heart has weather, too. Rejoice in sunny days, and rest quietly on rainy days. Both kinds of days are precious parts of your life.

What does the sky of your heart look like today? Even if it is not sunny, please do not blame yourself.

Value Village will continue to support you in gently bringing each day into balance, staying close to whatever weather your heart may have.