Why We Should Be Proactive in Managing Our Moods
The main reason we should master our moods is to have a better quality life. We all know what it is to be in a good or bad mood. Sometimes we just wake up in a mood, and our day follows suit. Often, we feel a certain way according to the events that take place in our lives, some of which are beyond our control. We get an unexpected check in the mail, and suddenly we feel amazing. Another rude driver cuts us off in traffic, and suddenly we feel irritated.
Have you ever noticed that when you find yourself in a certain mood that things in your life seem to line up to support that mood? Dwelling in negative emotions causes a host of problems including stress, problems in our relationships with friends, family, and co-workers, and general bad feelings about ourselves and our lives. The good news is that through a combination of directing our thoughts and changing our actions, we can control our moods instead of letting our moods control us.
Have you ever noticed that when you find yourself in a certain mood that things in your life seem to line up to support that mood? Dwelling in negative emotions causes a host of problems including stress, problems in our relationships with friends, family, and co-workers, and general bad feelings about ourselves and our lives. The good news is that through a combination of directing our thoughts and changing our actions, we can control our moods instead of letting our moods control us.
Practical Tips for Mastering Our Moods
There are six basic tips that can help us keep our moods positive and beneficial to ourselves and others.
The first tip is to make positive affirmations. We use affirmations all of the time. The problem is that we sometimes do so unconsciously, and much of what we say is damaging rather than helpful. We should say and/or write positive statements about ourselves and our situations. "I am a valuable person who shares my gift with others". "I love myself". "I feel like a million bucks." Affirmations are available online, in books, or we can make up our own. The key is to say them with feeling and to repeat them often.
Vigorous exercise is another way that we can improve our moods because exercise causes our bodies to release mood-elevating chemicals called endorphins. Exercise can also help our bodies to look and function better, which can improve our sense of self-esteem.
We can also engage in creative endeavors such as knitting, drawing, painting, creative writing, or building projects. These activites can benefit our moods by keeping our minds occupied with creating something all our own and by taking our minds off of worries and the general stresses of everyday living.
Fourthly, a gratitude journal does wonders for keeping a positive outlook. It is highly beneficial to make a list of everything and everyone for which we are thankful. By looking closely at all our haves, our have-nots became relatively insignificant.
Meditation is another powerful tool for enhancing a sense of personal well-being. When we meditate, we release thoughts and feelings that weigh us down. Just like computers, human beings need rest and relaxation to function.
Lastly, we can improve our mood by helping others. Random acts of kindness are in endless supply. We can help someone else unload their groceries, can donate canned goods to a food bank, or can help someone with a task in school or at work. When we help others, we help ourselves.
The first tip is to make positive affirmations. We use affirmations all of the time. The problem is that we sometimes do so unconsciously, and much of what we say is damaging rather than helpful. We should say and/or write positive statements about ourselves and our situations. "I am a valuable person who shares my gift with others". "I love myself". "I feel like a million bucks." Affirmations are available online, in books, or we can make up our own. The key is to say them with feeling and to repeat them often.
Vigorous exercise is another way that we can improve our moods because exercise causes our bodies to release mood-elevating chemicals called endorphins. Exercise can also help our bodies to look and function better, which can improve our sense of self-esteem.
We can also engage in creative endeavors such as knitting, drawing, painting, creative writing, or building projects. These activites can benefit our moods by keeping our minds occupied with creating something all our own and by taking our minds off of worries and the general stresses of everyday living.
Fourthly, a gratitude journal does wonders for keeping a positive outlook. It is highly beneficial to make a list of everything and everyone for which we are thankful. By looking closely at all our haves, our have-nots became relatively insignificant.
Meditation is another powerful tool for enhancing a sense of personal well-being. When we meditate, we release thoughts and feelings that weigh us down. Just like computers, human beings need rest and relaxation to function.
Lastly, we can improve our mood by helping others. Random acts of kindness are in endless supply. We can help someone else unload their groceries, can donate canned goods to a food bank, or can help someone with a task in school or at work. When we help others, we help ourselves.
Practice the Tips
By practicing the tips in this article daily, we can greatly increase our positive moods and reduce negative moods. Life will seem so much better, and we will be happier.
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