Take care, Mr. Moody

Ebb and flow, mountain and valley, highs and lows. That is nature and that is life.

Have you ever had a good start to a day, looking forward to the day’s new challenges and surprises – only to be deflated after a few hours by someone or something that crossed your path?

We are all prone to mood changes and it is only the most resilient who can keep a healthy perspective when they are down in the dumps. Whether the onslaught was caused by rejection or disappointment, or by an unexpected event that thwarted your plans, it is only human that it will affect your mood.

Moods have everything to do with our emotions and we all know that they are not so easy to control. But when they trigger (as they always do) our reason and we allow them to pass judgment on the quality of our life, we are in trouble.

Your moods can trick you into believing that you are a failure, that you have been dealt an unfair hand of cards, and that there is little hope for the future. They make you lose perspective and can affect your relationships. For no reason, you take things personally, feel alone, cheated, and suspect others of going against you.

We all love our mountain top days when life is beautiful, and we feel on top of the world. But we were not made to live on mountains – we have to prove our grit in the valleys, amongst people like ourselves.

There is a way out. Accept your mood swings for what they are – swings that come and go. Relish your mountain top experiences and appreciate them, but don’t expect them to last. Do not analyse yourself, others, or your life while your mood is low. Blame the mood, remind yourself of your good mood periods, and stay out of harm’s way. If possible, try not to inflict yourself on people who don’t know you.

Share your feelings with a good friend who will understand and remind yourself that “this too shall pass.”

 Source: www.lynettebeer.co.za