Spring is in the air. The Sun is out. The birds are singing and BLAH! You just may not feel in the mood to participate in the good vibes being expressed all around you. People are smiling at you. Your friend compliments you on “looking good.” Your boss tells you what a great job you did on a report. You know you should be feeling great. But no. You’re just not feeling it. Actually, you’re trying to remember the last time you felt anything. You’re just…not…in it. You’re just not feeling life. Period.
I’m not a therapist. I’m not trained in any way to be giving professional advice on the topic of clinical depression, etc., but I am a Mom with four teenage children living under the same roof. To say that hormones can really swing moods is an understatement in my home and then there are the vagaries of life to add on to the top of the emotional sundae. As a financial coach, scout leader and teacher, I’ve been allowed to see into the emotional minefields of many people’s lives. They tell me their many challenges with money, family, intimacy, and tragedies. As I have learned more and more about the human experience on this spaceship we call Earth. I wanted to share a little tool I use to help me when my mood is low and when I want to mentally “walk” my thoughts back to being productive.
First I evaluate where I may be in these 5 emotional states:
1. Frustrated
2. Bored
3. Unfulfilled
4. Burned-out
5. Stressed, Anxious, Depressed
Depending on my emotional state, I will know I need to work on the following:
- Frustrated (Deal with the Manager Self) Capitalize on my Uniqueness
- Bored (Deal with the Leadership Self) Work harder on my vision then implement changes
- Unfulfilled (Deal with Romantic Self) Work on my love life and romance needs
- Burnout (Work on Personal Self) Stop doing what you don’t like! Create change!
- Stressed (Work on Mission Self) What is the one thing only I can do in the whole world?
This was a system I created for myself back in July of 2008. I was taking classes at a local college and had just read a book called, ” Resonant Leadership: Renewing Yourself and Connecting with Others Through Mindfulness, Hope and Compassion, by Richard Boyatzis & Annie McKee. The book had some of these elements in it, but I’ve also added my own ideas as well.
As we move further into Spring, realize emotions and moods will shift and change. People will become creative, excited, twitterpated, and moody. It is the natural order of change in our world. You have two ways you can deal with all these emotions around you.
When you are in a good mood, you can deal with the world in a state of gratitude. When you find yourself in a low mood, you can deal with the world with as much grace as you can muster.
Best of all, when it comes to moods and you’re feeling low, remember, it will change!
Make that change for yourself. You deserve it. You deserve to feel better! The world is an amazing place. You deserve to enjoy what you can when you can!
