Our moods are signposts
As humans, we are biologically inescapably emotional beings. We are never not in mood. Moods predispose us to take care - everything we say and do is because of the mood we’re in.
During a recent team coaching session, a team member commented that the team moods were predominantly ‘negative’; frustration, irritation, and annoyance.
All moods serve us until they don’t and are neither negative nor positive. Rather, moods are signposts that direct us to take care of what is important to us. I invite you look to your moods as helpful ‘signposts’. For example, a mood of:
Frustration – is a signpost to not feeling heard or understood.
Fear – is a signpost to keep us safe from harm’s way
Anger – is a signpost to protect us from being taken advantage of
Sadness – is a signpost to connect with others. As Susan Cain, author of Bittersweet said, ‘sadness is a universal unifying force’
Curiosity – is a signpost to being open to learn and to change
When you next observe your mood, rather than label it negative or positive, look to it as a signpost to direct your attention to take better care of what is important to you and others.