I never think much about moods, until I am in a bad one.  If I feel down or discouraged, I often do not realize just how much it effects me until I no longer feel that way.  Isn’t it funny how much it a mood can deplete or invigorate us?

It reminds me of what my son used to say about my dad.  He said, “You never have to worry about what kind of a mood Grandpa will be in.”  My dad was a happy man, content within himself. It was such a blessing. Moods can really matter in a relationship.

I feel pretty positive most of the time, so it really catches me off guard when I wake up in a funk. It is especially confusing if there doesn’t seem to be a cause for it. I often wonder about that.

Moods are affected by light, especially natural sunlight.  That’s probably one of the reasons people like to go to the beach.  And weather can affect us in that way too.

There are literally hundreds of words that describe moods.  I had no idea until I researched this.  And the possible reasons for them are endless.  Hormones and neurotransmitters, side effects of medications, psychiatric reasons and and reactions to physical injury, menopause and puberty, all are sources.  And the list goes on and on. No wonder we have mood swings. There are so many of them.

Before I started to write about this, I had never really thought much about it, because I am usually pretty even-keeled.  I had no idea how fortunate I am in this regard. I guess this presents an opportunity to think differently.  It can be valuable to remember that the way someone behaves toward you or another person is not always under that person’s control.

We don’t have to take it personally if someone behaves badly toward us.  Nor do we need to react without giving it some thought. We rarely know what is going on in another person’s mind, unless we know them really well.  Even then, we shouldn’t assume to understand unless we have some facts to back up our thinking.

If we consider these things in advance, there are lots of ways we can avoid conflict.  If we try to step into another person’s shoes, it is bound to help us understand the possibilities without taking things personally.

I think I learned something today.  That is always a good thing. Whenever I do this, it helps me evolve a little.  And isn’t that a good thing too? It’s even improved my mood. Wow!