Once I heard someone remark, “I was in a bad mood one time…for a few years!”
Yikes! This was a couple of decades ago, so I found it difficult to fathom at that point in life. Now however, I think I could understand.
We all hit bad moods and for very obvious reasons. Guy Winch, PhD, identifies 10 causes in this article in Psychology Today such as: guilt, outstanding tasks, brooding, fearing failure, and more. For each of the 10, he offers a counter move to help break out of that bad mood.
Granted, your climb out of depression or frustration may ultimately require much more than one simple step, but at least in the moment, you can begin with one simple step.
Here are three ways you might practice:
1. Write it out. Journal, make a plan, articulate what’s bugging you, or brainstorm solutions. Sometimes the very act of getting these thoughts off the merry-go-round of our mind and onto the page helps substantially. (It’s your choice whether you save those written thoughts or burn them. And, for heaven’s sakes, be prudent about sharing them publicly!)
2. Walk. Force yourself to go for a walk. Make a 10 minute deal with yourself. If you get ready and walk for just 10 minutes, you can stop if you feel like it. In many cases, 10 minutes will leave you wanting more. And it is very likely, that your thoughts will be clearing.
3. Do something for someone else. Pray for someone else what you would pray for yourself, send peace to someone, write them a note, or send them an email. If you can do so with encouragement, visit someone who needs it. Your perspective will broaden and you will have done good.
Worth Repeating
Babies should be classified as antidepressant. It’s pretty hard to be in a bad mood around a 5-month old baby.
–Jim Gaffigan
