Moods

Little children don’t conceal their moods.  Their faces pout, or tears flow, or they use various kinds of verbal protests, including yelling or screams to proclaim their mood to anyone within eye or earshot. Adults can be more discrete, or not, according to the amount of self-disciple or effect they are trying to achieve either intentionally or subconsciously. Long before adulthood, most of us have been chastised for public demonstrations of anger, distress, sadness or other forms of moods.  We’ve been instructed to control ourselves. Self-control in public is a worthy goal, but we have all read or heard that suppression of our feelings can be bad for our mental health. As a result, many articles try to instruct us on how to manage our emotions. When I read about moody reactions some people have or have experienced from others, I am always reminded of what my mother would say. When observing me or someone else indulging in regrettable ways of expressing anger, she would say, “No one has the right to impose our bad mood onto other people.” In other words, deal with your bad mood privately.

We shouldn’t make other people feel bad or upset just because we are upset. Although each situation needs to be evaluated by itself. It’s still a good reminder to consider how our moods can color other people’s day and reactions to us. This is a valuable step to self-control and thoughtfulness. If we are upset by something going on within or around us, ask God to help us with whatever is causing our bad mood and to enable us to not impose our mood onto others. If noticed, our thoughtfulness will be appreciated. If not, our character will be deepened. You can be the one who keeps the mood in a room uplifting and pleasant.