The Value Of Down Moods

There are moods we consider positive and others we look upon as negative. Being happy, energetic and optimistic are states we think of as positive. Sometimes I think I would like to be that way all the time. But would that, if it was possible, actually be a good thing?

I got thinking about this one cool grey day as I walked towards the railway station. I had my umbrella in my bag as it looked likely we would get more rain. Some people would have thought it was a gloomy day and they would have preferred sunny weather.

I was quite happy with the weather even though I do love a pleasantly warm (not hot) day. People seem friendlier when the weather is beautiful and even ordinary activities are fun.

However, rainy days are wonderful for the garden and the air smells so good after a soaking downpour. The air is full of negative ions which energise one. Grey days can be great for taking outdoor photos. There are no shadows to mess up a shot. I can walk further before I get tired and I don't have to worry about getting sun burnt.

Back to the positive and negative moods I started writing about. I love being in a happy mood, well who doesn't? So much has been written about ways to be happier which surely proves people want to be happy as much as possible.

Sometimes I am not happy. If there is a problem which needs addressing I will try to deal with it. There are times there doesn't seem to be a reason. On these days I remind myself I will return to a happy state before too long,

I try not to stress about it and instead try to use it to my advantage. It will be a day for reflection and 'going slow'. If nothing else, it does make me appreciate when I do feel happy and I am more aware of it. I also feel empathy for people who are frequently unhappy.

There are days I feel full of energy and achieve a lot in one day. Those days are great for doing lots of walking, going out somewhere and generally getting things done.

Some days I lack energy, and as with being 'not happy', don't know why. If I have not committed myself to going out I potter around at home doing low energy tasks like sorting a drawer in the filing cabinet. I won't choose an emotionally draining decluttering task like sorting out old letters and personal memorabilia.

When I am energetic and busy my office/spare room tends to get messy. Soon the bed is covered in books, magazine cuttings and all sorts of bits and pieces. A low energy day is a good time to sort and put things away, taking care of boring tasks I tend to avoid.

I will probably pull something out of the freezer and heat that up for tea rather than cooking from scratch. I might read for a while in the afternoon. Although I don't watch television much, I might sit in front of a DVD in the evening and perhaps have an early night.

Generally I am an optimistic person but there are days (and nights) when I am in a pessimistic mood. If there is a reason behind this I make an effort to sort out the problem. Perhaps I need to rethink my budget if money is my concern. Maybe I need to put some emergency plans in place if I am worrying what would happen if I needed to go to hospital for any length of time.

If there is no reason for the mood, I do something nice for myself. Perhaps I need a bit of self-nurturing. A bubble bath or soaking and pampering my feet couldn't hurt. Eating my tea by candlelight makes me feel relaxed and special. I sometimes fail to spend time doing nice things for myself when I am busy trying to achieve goals and get things done.

We probably need a few negative days as well as the positive as long as the positive ones outweigh the other sort. There are ways we can actually use emotionally down times to our advantage and to provide balance in life. However, if negative or down moods are a common part of your life or causing problems, it is advisable to talk to your health professional.


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#_life
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#_positive
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