Mood Affects Everything
Life, or our perception of it, is shaped by moods. Every experience I have is influenced by the mood I am in. Accordingly, every goal I have is impacted by the mood I carry. In my life a good mood speeds progress to achieve my goals and create the life I want, while a bad mood robs me of the focus and drive I need to make that happen.
I’m certainly not the only one to experience life this way. As a Men’s Empowered Action coach I see this first hand how mood either works for or against a man as he approaches issues and situations in his life.
Mood is important. When I am in a good mood my life flows with possibility. I’m optimistic. I can manage uncertainty. It’s in my good mood where I move forward in my life, get stuff done, and achieve my goals.
One of my goals was to leave my well-paying career in the US, and move myself and my family to the coast of Ecuador. When I announced this really big goal of mine, discouragement began to show up from some people around me. Have you noticed how that happens?
A Good Mood Is Protective
I have energy and ability to focus
Fortunately my tools for making a good mood were my protection against other’s negative energy. Just so you know, I am not immune from my own self-sabotaging thoughts, so a good mood serves as a light chasing away my own darkness. My good mood raises my vibration above the chaos and turmoil of current events too, so I stay focused in spite of collective negative chatter.
A bad mood on the other hand, well it’s pretty much the opposite of flow and light and high vibration. Moods like anger, fear, anxiousness, shame, worry, bitterness (pick any negative mood descriptor that works for you), make my world small. I become limited in my ability to see all that is possible for me. Progress on my goals suffer, if not all together stop.
I define a good mood as one of joy, peace, love, happiness, satisfaction, contentment or any positive, upbeat descriptor that resonates within me. When I am in these “good moods” the possibilities I see for my situation, my circumstances, and my life are many. My world expands. I have energy and ability to focus on the road ahead to accomplish my goals.
I’ll take a good mood over a bad one any day of the week. Which mood helps you achieve your goals? I have a secret for you. You can choose to put yourself in a good mood anytime you want.
Situational Good Moods
Many things in life can create a good mood. I’m the first one to admit it’s awesome to get a promotion. I love the recognition and the extra pay. High five man! Happy mood. I can get a good mood from finally having that “thing” I wanted too. I’m satisfied, so let the good mood roll on in. What about sex? What guy isn’t in a good mood with that, right?
The down side of these examples is they are all situational. How many situations will you and I need to create to keep this kind of good mood strategy going? External validation, external reward, and external stimuli might make for sweet icing on the good mood cake, but dependence on external anything for our good mood risks not having any cake at all.
Internally Create a Good Mood
Your list for a good mood may be similar or different to mine. Regardless, being able to create a good mood internally, with no external reliance, depends on a relationship to three things: Fact, Possibility, and Uncertainty.
I learned this concept from Alan Sieler in his book Coaching to the Human Soul, Vol 2. In my own life, and in the lives of men I coach, I know that the correct relationship to these three important concepts can create the “good mood” needed for consistent and persistent action to achieve any goal.
Author: Todd Gorishek
Todd is a certified Men’s Life Coach, an entrepreneur, a licensed healthcare professional, a husband, a father, and a world traveler. His mission is to co-create a strong and compassionate world by facilitating transformation through understanding, trust, and empowerment.
He received his professional Life Coaching education from Newfield Network, a certified Life Coach training school, and is a member of the International Coach Federation.