Mood Swings - Energy sucker!

This was the story of last weekend...

I was supposed to start my day with a gentle smile on my face, a vibrant exuberating aura, an enthusiastic attitude, and every other thing that I usually imagine in fairy tale stories.

But sometimes the reality turns out to be exactly the opposite.

My emotions were rushing so horribly as if they were a part of a hustling lifestyle...

My feelings were haywire going up and down like a roller coaster ride...

My monkey mind was running wild with a gorilla dance inside...

My thoughts were swinging in the air from one end to the other...

I was unable to focus on a single task.

I was unleashing my irritation on everyone who was destined to cross their paths with me that day.

An empathetic Emperor who usually seems composed in the Temperance energy was carrying a Tower energy inside and Devil energy outside.

The whole mood was spoiled!

Eventually, the next couple of days went terribly.

A few days later, when I was back again in my Emperor energy, I decided to think about the previous day's experiences. (Let's call them Daymares!)

And the real story of "mistakes that I made during the phase of mood swings" began from here...

~ Controlling Emotions V/S Regulating Emotions

"Control your emotions, Tejal." This was the foremost blunder I was making by constantly bombarding my brain to control my emotions. But my brain was in no mood to adhere strictly to my insensible order of controlling emotions. Later, when I was thinking about daymares, I realized that I was giving the wrong order to the brain. Instead, I could have instructed my brain to regulate my emotions than asking them to stop their gorilla dance. There is no such thing as controlling emotions, I can only regulate them. This has been a life-changing discovery for me.

The great takeaway from this is letting the emotions flow like a river. This situation is like surrender because the brain is now like an annoying monster. The more you will try to control the situation, the more you will feel out of control and helpless.

~ Giving Space to Emotions and Feelings

The next thing was that I had forgotten to zoom out on the situation. I felt my emotions, but thereafter I forgot to look at my emotions to understand what they were talking to me by making me feel uncomfortable. I got an amazing insight into the monkey mind when I decided to think over my haunting daymares and I discovered a different perspective on dealing with mood swings.

My inner voice uttered, "Mood swings are utterly uncomfortable, but if you are trying to rush through them quickly, then they may negatively backfire on you by making the situation even worse. Be in that uncomfortable zone for some time! Acknowledge what your emotions are telling you even when their talk is disgusting. Hang in there and once you know you are comfortable to step out of that zone then you are good to exit the zone." This inner voice of mine has been so eye-opening for me. 

~ Taking Your Time

Another mistake was trying to fix everything right away. I was trying to make everything perfect quickly when my brain was not ready to move a bit like a steady mountain. Then there was a time when I understood that the brain works based on action and reaction. Match the actions and thinking as per the present pattern of the brain in a current situation. Let's name this "pattern recognition" for easy understanding. This works like letting a ship go the way where the wind is taking without much intervening in directing the ship as per our wish. Our psychology and physical actions are interrelated. Therefore, If I try to laugh while I am sad then it would be the toughest thing to do. It is important to ensure that both things are working in tandem and not against each other. I call this "Internal and External synchronicity." I decided that next time when I will get caught in the storm of mood swings, I will not forget to have this synchronicity in place.

~ What Works Best for You

We all have heard or read somewhere about how meditation is so useful when it comes to tackling mood swings. For some, this might help a lot, but for a few like me this will turn out to be a total failure. It doesn't mean that meditation is not effective. It just means that it is not suitable for everyone out there. Initially, I used to try hard to sit calmly for meditation, but when I understood that by doing so, I am paving the way for my brain to dwell more in the internal chaos, I immediately tried out some other substitutes like writing down how I am feeling, taking a mindful walk in the park. One thing may suit me, but it may not suit you, and vice-versa. Hence, it is important to recognize what could work in your favor.

~ A Guilt Trap

I used to get the guilt of missing the special moments and failing to create the best memories during the period of mood swings. It was like a feeling of not trying my best, not making the best out of the situation, not enjoying the moment full-fledged, and impulsively leashing out my frustration on innocent folks. Eventually, I understood that "It is Okay to not be Okay." "I know, I have missed so many things, but this is not permanent dear." This has been a savior line for me to dodge that guilt before it takes control of my life. Of course, later apologizing to those innocent folks shall be the priority over and above anything else.

~ Discovery that Helps

Do you think we need reasons to be happy or sad? Guess what? we do not need any reasons to trigger any emotions. I think this is the reason why sometimes we feel happy or sad for no reason. Now you know how we waste our time and energy in finding the reasons to justify the behavior.

~ Life Lessons

Lastly, something in our brain keeps bothering us until and unless we try to learn a lesson from what the brain has to say. Making notes of what the experience has taught us helps a lot otherwise the whole experience would be like an unread chapter that we will have to read again and again. There are points in life when we make a loop of thoughts so much that we feel entangled in them. Mood swings could be an overwhelming experience. What makes it even worse is the "roundabout loop of thoughts" that we all make in our heads. At most making a "spiral loop of thoughts" is the best way to go.

It is so true that when we are in a good mood, even a bad thing seems good and when we are in a bad mood even a good thing seems bad. 

In short, being aware of how emotions work and learning to regulate them should be a vital part of the curriculum when it comes to understanding life.

I am sure, Life would become easier post learning that!

I wish I could enjoy the daymares period as much as I enjoyed curating this curation. 

Well, better luck next time to me!

Before the outro, I take a moment to thank my rushing emotions, Royally!