Our daily moods are part of the human condition. Let’s face it. Some mornings, life just doesn’t feel like smiling upon us (or us on it, for that matter). Other days (if we choose; or even, if we’re a little lucky), we exhilarate in the joy of being. I’m more and more convinced that this is predominantly a matter of choice. I would like to believe that I pay deep respect to those who suffer from depressions or other forms of psychological illness, and to the misfortunes that can lie in wait for each of us in our lives.
In spite of (and perhaps even because of) those misfortunes, I’ll still maintain that the majority of us can decide how to feel each day. Admittedly, I have many people who consistently challenge me on this. “It’s beyond our control,” they claim. Or: “Look at what happened to me today. Anyone would be bitter about that.” Nope. I don’t agree. Regardless of your circumstances, you can choose your own responses. In fact, what hope is there for the world if we all collapsed in a mental heap as soon as the going gets tough??
Many people who are reading this are involved in the most important profession in the world: Teaching. And I can tell you now. If teachers start to collapse under the strain of their work, and their mood states are consistently very poor, then we’re all in trouble. The ripples will spread far beyond schools, and into family life, workplaces and the wider community.
So. How do we consistently alter our mood state? Lots of practice, actually. Your brain sets up neural pathways that are created by your regular thinking patterns. You must make the effort to focus on what is affirming and inspiring, and especially on those thoughts that boost up your mood. For now, here’s one very simple way to do a ‘boost’. Sounds almost too simple… and yet, one of the easiest ways to enhance your mood is simply to smile. Go on. Try it now. Keep smiling for at least 30 seconds, even if you’re only pretending. And note the way that your brain can be tricked into believing that you’re feeling OK. Given that, check out the image. Nature knows.
