How To Improve Your Mood

Where do you get your inspiration from? For me, one of the most useful techniques is to pay attention to what is in front of me. And then to see if there are any patterns. If there are, and I can connect the dots, I generally find some insight.

One of the phrases I most use for myself when I am a bit flat or unmotivated is:

"Mood follows action."
Rich Roll

I've found this to be so true, so many times. Not in the right mood? Do something. Move your body. Start the thing and the feelings will follow.

I was thinking about this yesterday when I spotted another quote:

"The early stages of hard work and focus are going to feel like agitation, stress and confusion."
Dr Andrew Huberman

The reason for this is that the neurochemicals associated with stress (norepinephrine & adrenaline) need to kick in, before we are able to access a state of concentration or focus. Which is useful to know.

Because, from a biochemical point of view, you are feeling resistance to starting the thing you know you should do, because you are experiencing a preparatory stress. The moment you move past the resistance and start whatever it is, you release the stress (or rather, you channel it usefully).

And so, the thing you are stressed about, just start it. As another favourite quote of mine reminds us:

“Don’t prepare. Begin. Our enemy is not lack of preparation. The enemy is resistance, our chattering brain producing excuses. Start before you are ready.”
Steven Pressfield

How do I know this is useful? I was stressed about not having anything to write about today. So I sat down to write. And this is the result. The stress is gone and the work is done.

What do you need to begin?

Have a lovely day, Stephen