Eyes High: A Simple Mood Lifter

Whenever I lift my eyes toward the sky, my mood improves.

I noticed this a long time ago and always assumed my fondness of the sky triggered it, my inner kid spellbound by shifting shades of blue and an ever-changing cloudscape, not to mention imagining myself flying across it like a favorite superhero. But now, I question that assumption. I think my appreciation of the sky camouflaged the real reason.

This aha moment surfaced as I paid closer attention to my subdued moods, catching myself ruminating over life’s challenges and annoyances, some laughable in their insignificance. Whenever I felt trapped in these low spots, I noticed I was looking down. The simple act of looking up produced a positive shift in my mood. It didn’t matter whether my eyes turned toward the sky, or toward the ceiling, the same effect occurred.

After thinking about it more, I realized this physical act of mood improvement has been acknowledged often in our collective consciousness. Common cliches make me a believer: Keep your chin up, hold your head high.

Don’t take my word for it. Wherever you are right now, look up, beyond eye level toward the heavens, to the sky, to the ceiling. What do you feel? If it works for you, use it whenever you find yourself in a darker mood. Nothing could be simpler.