Bad moods can take an inch or a mile

[David Cain]

I've noticed a lot of people in this forum are getting really down on themselves. I've been there, and I know how much it hurts.

For a lot of my life, I felt really unstable emotionally. I used to let moods really take control of me. Some disappointing event would put me in a bad mood, then I'd start getting down on myself, and end up feeling miserable and helpless. Sometimes it would last for weeks, or even months. It would affect my work and social life; I wouldn't interact well or be very productive, which would only hit the self-esteem harder.

There is definitely a strong connection between self-esteem and how one handles bad moods. This is good news. Everyone experiences rotten moods, but there are skillful ways to respond to them, and not-so-skillful ways. Responding in a smart way can make the difference between an afternoon-long funk and a long, bleak depression. Bad moods can take an inch or they can take a mile, depending on what you do with them

There are skills for dealing with bad feelings. I've learned quite a bit about where upsetting emotions come from, and what to do when you're experiencing them. Rather than repeat the same advice in every post, I urge anyone who is experiencing emotional distress to take a look:

How to keep bad moods from taking you over

Why happiness is such a struggle

I realize this is a plug of sorts, but dealing with emotions is one of the things I write about, and I honestly think a lot of people in this forum will benefit from these articles. I'm quite proud of these articles in particular because I think they genuinely have the capacity to help people. If they don't resonate with you, no worries, I won't take offense.

[WordKeeper]

I like your articles. Do send more!

[David Cain]

I will, but only when they are relevant. I don't want to get spammy or anything.

In the mean time, subscribe to Raptitude by RSS feed or via email and you'll get them all.

Thanks for your comment, by the way