Do you ever get to Monday and think eurgh, Monday blues? What about TGIF that we throw around with such glee at the end of every week? What if you changed that though? What if you tried Thank God it’s Monday? How would you feel then? The power of our thoughts and the stories we tell ourselves is such that they impact our mood. 

Thoughts and emotions are actually intertwined and you could debate which one came first until you’re blue in the face. Then again, what is feeling blue? I’m not talking about clinical depression but about those days when we just feel a bit crappy. On those days, what if you tried to focus on the positive or to take a step back and observe your what you’re saying to yourself? How exactly do your stories impact your mood?  

A Multi-Pronged Approach 

Of course it’s not just about our thoughts because there’s a lot going on in our brains and our bodies when we feel low. Often, we need a multi-pronged approach, so to speak. For instance, I recently wrote a blog about how clothes impact our moods. You should also make sure that your body is well nourished and rested if you want to feel good about yourself. Getting the right vitamins and nutrients clearly plays a major part on how the brain functions and impacts our moods.  

The right vitamins…

Those people who live in countries with little sun in the winter also often suffer from vitamin D deficiency. I always enjoy ivee’s articles for some tips to help yourself be healthy, including this one for getting more vitamin D. I remember living in London and suffering badly from Seasonal Affective Disorder and having to buy one of those large UV lamps to help me wake up in the mornings. It helped but it also made me realise that I just wasn’t made for London’s climate anymore.

Maybe something needs to change …

Sometimes, we also need to change something in our lives. Perhaps that job is the wrong job or you’re in the wrong group of friends. In my case, it was leaving London. Whatever it is, accepting that something is wrong and then changing it takes courage and effort but you’ll feel much better for it afterwards. Having done it myself several times over, I always look back amused at how long it took me to make the decision to change something. It’s hard but it’s also a huge relief.

Our Stories Impact Mood and Define our Identity 

What about our stories? I highly recommend Nigerian writer’s, Chimamanda Adichie, TED talk copied here, about how a single story can create short-sightedness. Having one story about ourselves can also rob us of our full identity because we’re missing parts of ourself. 

So, how can you use this to help yourself feel more upbeat?

1- Listen to your Story

How do you introduce yourself to people when you first meet them? What do you say when someone asks you what you do? Do you talk about your job or your passions? Are they the same or vastly different? 

What about other questions about your family and where you come from? Do you answer according to what others want to hear or do you give your story according to your values? Another interesting thing to consider is the different phases of your life. Many of us keep our school life separate from our 20s and later years however we are the same person deep down. Perhaps have a think about the common traits that exist and what they say about who you are. And is there any part of you that you’re neglecting? For example, what did you love doing at school that you regret no longer doing now?

2- Small Tweaks can Impact How you View Yourself and Hence your Mood

I sometimes like imagining what my story sounds like to someone from a different gender or culture. What do they see that I don’t see? Can I use that to change something to make me feel more positive? 

For example, for years I was stuck in the victim loop after a dysfunctional childhood. The day someone finally helped me see I was being a victim, was the day I could reframe my story. My early years were over and they didn’t have to define me anymore. I worked on creating a story that told me that I could leverage that experience to help others. All that pain and maltreatment could be used for a greater cause. That was an empowering moment and I could suddenly see myself in a positive light. It also did wonders for my self-esteem.

The Power of Our Stories 

We all love stories. They evoke emotions and connections to ourselves and to others. Great stories make us feel that we belong to something greater than ourselves. Sadly, many of us are stuck with negative stories going round our heads telling us that something’s wrong with us. Those stories impact our mood on a daily basis.

Of course it’s not easy reframing your story and it often needs the help of a coach or therapist and a huge amount of self-compassion. However, you can truly transform your life by tweaking your story to build a more positive image of yourself. After all, your story is how you describe to yourself who you are and why you’re here. If it’s all doom and gloom then your mood can only follow in the same mode. 

So, pick up a pen and paper and have a go at rewriting your story in a positive light. You might need to have a few goes but that in itself will help you learn even more about who you are and how you can impact your mood with your thoughts. You might even surprise yourself at what you find.