Every day we walk around interacting with people and media and every day we have some sort of reaction to them. We may feel tense, frustrated, elated, sad or a range of different emotions not even knowing how we got into this state. I’m going to relay two different scenarios to highlight the missing link that affects our moods.  

Version 1: Take a moment to just settle into a comfortable position. Now, imagine the following scenario and just pay attention to your thoughts, feelings, and emotions as you continue. Imagine that you have just been criticized by a colleague and are really feeling upset and down on yourself. You are walking down a familiar street and get a sense for the sights, smells, and sounds of where you are. Now, imagine you see someone you know on the other side of the street, this is someone you are fond of. Take a moment to see that person there.

You turn to smile at this person and wave, while the person doesn’t wave back, but just continues on.

What’s going through your mind? Notice any feelings or sensations in your body.

Breathe in, breathe out…

Version 2: This time, you have been praised by a colleague for work that you put a lot of effort into it and it has really paid off. You are feeling light on your feet. You are walking down a familiar street and get a sense for the sights, smells, and sounds of where you are. Now, imagine you see someone you know on the other side of the street, this is someone you are fond of. Take a moment to see that person there.

You turn to smile at this person and wave, while the person doesn’t wave back, but just continues on.

What’s going through your mind? Notice any feelings or sensations in your body.

Breathe in, breathe out…

What happened?

Most likely you had different interpretations for each version. In version one, you may have though the issue lied with you. In version two, you may have thought the other person had the issue. Our interpretations are mood dependent and because the interpretations of the same factual event changes, we can say that these thoughts we’re having are not facts. Without awareness of this we can fall in the habitual spiral of anxiety or depressed mood as we begin to ruminate on what is wrong with us.

Beginning to acknowledge that mood affects our interpretations can be a first step in breaking free from the tyranny of self judgments that hold us hostage. We can then ground ourselves to the present moment by focusing on our breath or body and ask:

How is my mood influencing my interpretation?

Are there alternative ways to see this?

As always, please share your thoughts, stories, and questions below. Your interaction here provides a living wisdom for us all to benefit from.

Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist in private practice in West Los Angeles and is author of The Now Effect, co-author of A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook, Foreword by Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of the Mindful Solutions at Work App, the Mindful Solutions audio series, and the Mindfulness at Work™ program currently being adopted in multiple multinational corporations. Join The Now Effect Community for free Daily Now Moments, Weekly Updates and tips and free access to a Live Monthly Online Event with Elisha Goldstein, PhD.

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From Psych Central's website:
PsychCentral (June 2, 2009)

    Last reviewed: 1 Jun 2009