Life is full of its ups and downs. There are times when things are going great and then times where it seems one bad thing after another is hitting you. While this happens to everyone, people respond differently to situations. You may find that someone who is going through a job loss is really struggling to even get out of bed in the morning, while someone who just lost everything in a house fire is still upbeat and cheerful. While it's normal and perfectly OK to feel down and sad when things aren't going great, how you respond to situations can help determine how well you do in life. If you find yourself getting down and depressed every time something even remotely negative happens, you need to evaluate your emotional health. It could be that you are going through depression and need professional help. A doctor can help you feel better, whether it's through prescription medication or perhaps some therapy. However, if you are just a negative person, there are some things you can do to change your perspective.

Evaluate Your Emotional Health

First, it's important to evaluate your emotional health so you have an idea of how you can improve. There's no one test or score that will tell you whether or not you are emotionally healthy. People who have a good emotional health often have the following qualities and experience the following emotions:

Feeling content with life in general Can adapt to changes in life fairly easily Are able to maintain good relationships with both family and friends Can recognize the strengths and positive traits one possesses

If you think these things apply to you, then you probably have nothing to worry about. On the flip side, if these things don't sound like you at all then you may be struggling with your emotional health. Thankfully, there are some things you can try that may help you.

Improve Your Physical Health

Have you ever noticed that people who are negative are generally sick more often than people who have a more upbeat and positive view of life? This is no coincidence. Believe it or not, the physical, mental, and emotional aspects are very closely connected. They can affect each other either positively or negatively. For this reason, you should look at improving your physical health. Taking care of yourself is an important first step to not only improving physical health, but helping your emotional health improve as well.

Form Lasting Relationships

As mentioned above, those with a good perspective on life often have many good relationships with both their friends and family members. Perhaps you don't have family close and don't have many friends. Do what you can to change that. Get involved with small groups at your church, join a club, and give your friends a call. When you feel lonely, you are more likely to feel down and depressed. Improving your relationships can help you feel a lot better.

Have Fun

With the stresses in life, it can be hard to remember to have fun. However, smiling and laughing can help you feel less depressed. Your brain doesn't even know the difference between a fake laugh and a real one, so take advantage of this. You may find that your fake laughs start to turn into real ones. Turn on a funny movie, hang out with friends, or do something you know will make you smile. Don't let the burdens of life keep you from enjoying life by having fun every once in a while.

If you do feel like you aren't able to improve your emotional health, then you should talk to someone. This may be your pastor, your doctor, or a therapist. They may be able to recommend alternative ways to improve your emotional health and quality of life.