How to master your moods?

Your moods are influenced by your responses to events and people. It is the way your natural and untrained state of mind responds to something that catches your attention and produces an emotional experience inside.

Good or bad mood is a state of mind and is displayed outwardly in the form of anger, irritability, and impatience. It is normal, meaning it happens to everybody and is not an illness or a defect but it disables you to act effectively.

Inability to control and master your temperament can cause misunderstandings, unhappiness and stress. You will get wired to the attitude of getting in and out of your state automatically and find yourself feeling helpless.

On good days, things appear graceful while on a bad one, you seem to get uptight and choke easily.

How to master your mood.

• Become aware of your thoughts.

Do your realize that you go in and out of different states of mind several times a day?

To exercise and become aware of them, catch your thoughts. Pause and listen to your inner talks and watch the images that come out in your head when something triggers you to react and put you in a state.

It takes discipline to catch yourself but this is one of the ways to get direct feedback. By catching yourself, you will have control and choose other ways of perceiving and reacting.

Altering your thoughts will create different sensations in your body and shift your mood. Think positive thoughts and expect favorable outcome. Feed your mind with pictures and sound that put you in a state of joy, calm and poise.

• Watch your lifestyle.

Your lifestyle affects your temperament. Eating right, regular aerobic movements and sufficient rest and recreation provide you the energy to perform efficiently.

Too much sugar, caffeine, alcohol and fat in your diet change your biochemical state and make your cranky. When you don't eat right and consume without regards to your digestion and health, you suffer discomforts. This will result in feeling tired and lethargic that leads to temperaments and tantrums.

You should indulge yourself in regular physical exercise and activities to de-stress, release tension and keep yourself fit. When your body is in good shape, your mind follows.

Allow time for rest and relaxing your mind and body. Get sufficient sleep. Take time off to get in touch with nature. You function better when your mind is calm.

• Create a different outlook on situations, events and people.

In order to get a grip, learn to re-frame and create different meanings. Remind yourself that everything going on inside is a mind's game. It is how your mind sorts and perceives external events. If you base your memories and information on fears and insecurities, you will display outwardly whatever is represented inside.

People have their own positive intentions for their behaviors and attitudes. Your reactions are based on your frame of mind. Their behaviors do not have to affect you emotionally and mentally. You can perceive it anyway you want to.

Give yourself a chance to understand others and your own self before you switch into your habitual states of mind and emotions. Learn to listen attentively and observe without giving your judgment.

It is your choice to continue to allow your mood swings to become part of your life or to master them and gain power.

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