8 Ways To Get To the Why Behind Your Mood
1) What emotion is connected to my mood?
There is an underlying emotion to each mood- we may be irritated but feel afraid. This is important to recognize because our emotion can help us understand the Why. As we move through our day, our emotions show up differently and evolve into different moods. Building awareness in the reason for our emotions can help us separate where our mood originated and where it is in the present moment. Asking yourself why, accepting the emotion and validating it can go a long way for our nervous system.
2) Where do I feel this emotion?
Focus in on the emotion- is it in your chest? Throat? Take the time to notice how heavy that place in the body is. It can be causing tension or pain for you physically. Can you breathe into that area and release the contraction? Give yourself some time and grace to find it in the body. Awareness alone can help accept and release emotions.
3) Am I in a clear mindset?
Most of the time, we become overwhelmed and confused with why we are in a mood. It is part of the human experience to subconsciously focus on it to “fix" it. See if you can look within from a lens of curiosity instead of frustration. As you find out more about your mood- can you have compassion for the reasons it has developed? No judgment.
4) Can I regulate my nervous system?
Take some time to relax. Realistically, you are breathing but try to breathe deeper. Allowing yourself to physically fill up and contract within, then exhale and release. Consider where you are- Can you be somewhere alone and physically comforting? Intentionally send messages to your body that you are safe.
5) How long have I felt this mood?
Have you been suppressing this mood/emotion for a while? Most of the time, we push away and avoid the uncomfortable because it isn’t a “good time” for it. As we continually do this- we are telling ourselves that it is not okay to feel and the mind does not usually work in that way. As we examine the origin, the location, the deeper meaning of our mood, we can thoroughly validate that it exists and decrease the need for it to continuously show up within because we have finally RECIEVED the message from our body.
6) Write it out/Talk it out
Externalizing the emotion/mood can significantly decrease the physical reactions that follow. Getting it out, releasing, hearing it be said out loud or reading it will create a conscious reflection for your experience. Before venting to someone who provides you a safe space to talk it out, ensure they have the space/energy to hold this with you. Have an understanding between yourself and them of what you need. A sound board to just listen? Some advice or feedback? It’s yours to determine.
7) Are there external factors that are also affecting my mood?
Consider if anything in your environment/recent experience is making this mood/emotion larger than it began. Maybe you had a stressful day at work and then walked into a tense family dinner. Or you had to go to a social event right after an argument. The mood/emotion did not originate in the present situation but has caused it to evolve further since there was no release. How could you honor the mood before entering a new situation? If you have to move through your day, awareness of the origin/reason can help to compartmentalize what is going on inside.
8) Is this mood protecting me from something?
Oftentimes, we have emotional reactions to things that internally hurt us or make us feel emotionally unsafe. Explore why this mood may be protecting you. From someone, from a certain outcome. If you did not react in this way or carry this emotion- what could happen? Our brain is consistently protecting us and could be subconsciously working hard to avoid an uncomfortable or unsafe situation.
Moods and emotions are NATURAL! It can become overwhelming when we don’t take the time to understand why we feel a certain way. If you feel that you are stuck and lost in your feelings, book a call with a therapist to get some guidance in this process.
