Life Design Insights #6

So How's Your MOOD?

This message begins a series of messages on an area that has long been ignored in our lives, particularly in the business arena - OUR EMOTIONAL WORLD! I claim we MUST become more aware of our emotional state, and even more we MUST learn to DESIGN our emotional state, if we are to effectively handle the demands of our modern day world. So guys, no more excuses! This one can benefit us as well as women.

 
Do you ever wake up some days feeling "blah", like you're in a funk? Do you ever have those highs and wish life would always feel that way? Do you ever get angry, sad, frustrated, happy or joyful? Do you ever just feel "flat"? These are all just emotional states - not the way that it is and will always be! But, that's where many of us get trapped - feeling like it's WHO I AM and I CAN NOT CHANGE IT! Baloney - it's just your mood.
 
So, let's begin this series with a distinction that will set the stage for future sessions. Our emotional state is comprised of two separate parts, our EMOTIONS and our MOODS. Notice that feelings are not listed here. Understanding the differences between these two is critical, but they do have one thing in common. They are both predispositions for action.
 
This is a critical point! Whatever emotion or mood we find ourselves in, it literally allows us to see and take certain actions and NOT see and take other actions! For example, when we are angry, the action we want to take is to strike out. When we're sad, we want to cry; when we're happy we want to smile and perhaps laugh; when we're joyful we want to embrace. So, learning to design our emotional state, and particularly our mood, opens up lots of possibilities for new action in our lives.
 
That being said, let's look at the primary difference between the two:
 
EMOTIONS are more SHORT TERM and are almost always triggered by some event. So, the relationship is EVENT and then EMOTION. For example, if someone hits you, you are likely to experience the emotion of ANGER. Emotions are the body's response, they are neither good or bad, they just ARE! We must learn to give ourselves permission to experience whatever emotion our body is experiencing. Now, what we do with that is another story.
 
MOODS are typically more LONG TERM and are the background from which actions happen. So, the relationship here is MOOD and then EVENT (or ACTION) - the opposite of emotions. This is why it becomes so critical to be more aware of our moods and learn to design our moods - because they literally "color" the way we see the world and literally dictate what actions are available to us at any moment in life!
 
Think about it. When you're in a "blah" mood, what do you want to do - NOTHING! When you're in a "good" mood, what do you want to do - ALMOST ANYTHING, THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER! We'll make some more distinctions about particular moods in a future message, but that's why OPTIMISTS see the glass as half full and PESSIMISTS see it as half empty. Optimists see, and usually take, actions that Pessimists never see as possible!
 
So, what mood would you like to go through life in? Many people have lived in a "bad" mood for so long they are convinced that's the way they are and the way the world just is. I say NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND! It's the MOOD through which you're seeing the world, and that can be changed.
 
SO, HOW'S YOUR MOOD? IS IT TIME FOR A MOOD CHANGE?
 
 
If you're looking for a mood change or want to learn more about moods and emotions, or DESIGNING YOUR LIFE, give me a call and let's talk.
 
Please pass this message on to friends, family and colleagues you think might be interested and ask them to sign up to receive future newsletters.

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, HERE'S HOPING YOUR WORLD IS FILLED WITH NEW POSSIBILITIES!