Step Into Your Intended Mood

Don’t let crappy circumstances dictate a crappy attitude

Carve out a section during the day that is specifically meant for reflection and recognizing what state of mind you’re in. I would suggest the first thing in the morning.

First, be aware of which side of the spectrum you’re on… either on the top side where peace, contentment, love, honesty, joy, gratitude, and so on live, or on the bottom side where unrest, fear, anxiety, stress, dread, self-pity, depression, and so on live.

I mentioned honesty on the top side because even though honesty sometimes uncovers some pretty negative stuff, it ultimately ends in healing, which is positive and on the top side.

Are you feeling…

• Sad because of some bad news you just heard?
• Mad because something didn’t work out as expected?
• Feeling sorry for yourself because you still aren’t where you think you should be in life?
• Anxious because you do not know what’s next for you in this life?
• Depressed because your hopes keep getting smashed against the rocks?

Or

• Content because everything is working out right?
• Happy because of good news?
• Peaceful because… you get the picture.

What you must notice is the meaning you place on your mood by what defines it after the word “because,” ~ because… the goal is to completely separate yourself from your mood and what you think caused it.

For instance…

I’m in a good mood “because” the dog hasn’t chewed up the furniture, I’m getting along with my spouse, the car is running perfectly, I like my job, etc. Or I’m in a bad mood “because” the dog decided to rip the stuffing out of every pillow in the house, my job sucks, the kids stuffed a tuna sandwich in the DVD player again and something just exploded in the microwave.

If your mood is connected to a circumstance, that circumstance is controlling your mood… Switch it around.

Even if you’re in a good mood, if you place a “because” after it, and then define why it’s good, you’re still being controlled by your circumstances.

They are two completely separate issues… you can choose to be in whatever state of mind you want to be in, just because it is what it is.

The ultimate goal is to, yes, be in a good mood more than a bad mood, but the intention is to be in control of it whether your circumstances are working out well or not and then direct it to remain in a good one throughout your life… as much as you can, at least.

Once you realize how much power you have over your emotions simply by deciding to change them to whatever you want, you will no longer be a victim of your circumstances, or be led around by the reactive nose chains of habitual conditioning… and yes, even if it’s a good emotion.

I’m not suggesting that you become this cold-hearted, emotionless stone statue that doesn’t care about anything going on around you, but more in control of your emotions rather than them being in control of you… there is a huge difference.

Yes, you will still have emotions that catch you off guard and emotions you still prefer to experience, but what I’m suggesting is to be aware of your automatic habitual emotions that seem to kick you in the teeth when you’re chewing on popcorn and chilling with Netflix.

This is called maturity, and moving into a state of maturity means not just physical, (which you don’t really have control over) other than putting food in your mouth, but mental and spiritual as well, (which you do have control over) the minute you realize that you’re the one in charge.

Sit quietly, and take a few deep breaths through the nose using your abdomen, not short, shallow chest breaths. Get yourself into a neutral state of as much peace as you can muster and identify how you feel and what emotions were surfacing right before you stepped into your conscious awareness.

What negative habitual state of mind does your default subconscious automatically slip into?

Once you recognize it, you have the power to switch it off and immediately replace it with a more productive, positive state.

Now stay in that current state as long as you can while you’re getting back into your day. As soon as you recognize that you’ve drifted back into the emotional basement, you can consciously step back on the elevator upward.

Do this as many times as necessary until that becomes more of your default state of mind.

If you enjoyed this article and would like another suggestion, consider this similar one. Are You Trapped In A Self-Deceptive Belief System?

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Best Wishes, Many Blessings, and Much Love.

Rick