what influences your mood?

[l345l]

what factors have the power to change your mood on a given day?

the weather?
the food you eat?
exercise?
relationships?
events?

what do you do voluntarily in order to change your mood for the better?

[vaguely dissatisfied]

what factors have the power to change your mood on a given day?

the weather?
the food you eat?
exercise?
relationships?
events?

what do you do voluntarily in order to change your mood for the better?
Boy you asked this just at the right time. People. Especially people close to me. I hate the control they have, but there it is. They can really put me off.

I exercise regularly, eat healthy, drink plenty of water (and a little wine to boot), try to do alot of self-talk (maybe too much), get on this forum, read, watch funny or interesting (distracting) shows, try to talk to these people about things...............whew!

[DeadSpace]

relationships, music to some degree...not much else. try to stay on an even keel, not easy sometimes when things are getting thrown at you. Or when there is a complete breakdown in communication.

[Richard0612]

I normally have, as DeadSpace said, an 'even keel' and I am not influenced by very much. I can however become very annoyed when people refuse to listen to rational thought and constantly push for an emotional response when I literally do not have one to give!
Idiocy will also push a few buttons and get the fire burning. Sometimes I feel like screaming at people: the answer is right in front of your nose, if you actually thought about things a little more you may find it!

[vaguely dissatisfied]

I normally have, as DeadSpace said, an 'even keel' and I am not influenced by very much. I can however become very annoyed when people refuse to listen to rational thought and constantly push for an emotional response when I literally do not have one to give!
Idiocy will also push a few buttons and get the fire burning. Sometimes I feel like screaming at people: the answer is right in front of your nose, if you actually thought about things a little more you may find it!
That sounds like an emotional response.

[Richard0612]

It probably is. As I get closer to 'meltdown point', responses move farther away from reason. I would imagine that at least some INTJs experience this. However, that doesn't happen very often [I normally have good control over things like that] and I think of myself as an idiot for losing it when I do 'explode'.

[vaguely dissatisfied]

It probably is. As I get closer to 'meltdown point', responses move farther away from reason. I would imagine that at least some INTJs experience this. However, that doesn't happen very often [I normally have good control over things like that] and I think of myself as an idiot for losing it when I do 'explode'.
Actually, I often feel an emotional response to certain things, but usually don't let myself react emotionally. This is because I learned as I became an adult that my emotional responses were not acceptable. I was told that they were too passionate and intimidating. So.......I controlled them.

Of course you and every one of us can be pushed to the 'breaking' point. Unless that individual literally has no feelings. You are not an idiot....just a human.

[Provoker]

Food is critical. The longer I go without food the more irritable I become.

[l345l]

i would say that it is mostly relations with other people that can change my mood drastically.

[Max T]

As Deadspace, I normally keep a steady mental state with no major change of mood whatsoever. But perhaps we're prone to structuring our lives to minimise variability- which only leaves the volatility of others occasionally affecting my mood.

Certainly I find that those who are susceptible to large mood swings to be tiring- every time you meet up you have to gauge what mood they're in... or determine if they're changing mood in mid-conversation. Too much work.

[Colette]

Certainly I find that those who are susceptible to large mood swings to be tiring- every time you meet up you have to guage what mood they're in... or determine if they're changing mood in mid-conversation. Too much work.

Agree with that statement wholeheartedly.

To manage my own moods and mental state, I try to keep well fed and rested (although not always achieving this when busy), a little gentle exercise, some activities I enjoy in each day, some relaxation or 'down' time, and distracting myself when I feel worried, angry, or stressed (or whatever the negative emotional state may be).

I strive not to inflict my moods on others, by letting them spill over in this way. I'm more likely to isolate and go off on a long walk when in a really bad mood, than to yell at someone, or nitpick them, or whatever.

Meditation and prayer are also good mental tools, for me, and music is an important factor in my life (singing especially, which I use for stress release)

[Jgib5328]

Generally the more accomplished and the less stressed I feel, the happier I am, it works the other way too. Music does have an effect too, but it isn't that strong. Also, if someone does something really unexpectedly nice to me that makes me feel pretty happy.

[Antares]

What influences my mood, you ask? Hm...

-Music
-People
-Weather
-Achievements

Yep.

[Zilal]

I never thought I was influenced by the weather till someone else pointed it out to me... but now I do think I get down when it's been cloudy too long.

Exercise often lifts my mood when I'm doing it, but the effect tends to stop when I stop.

I am sometimes cranky when tired.

[errrzarrr]

weather influences my mood. If it is raining or it is clouded and it is supposed to be a bright sun on the sky I get some like sad/depresed.

Music Influences my mood for good. There are few songs that get me sad.

Good company/Funny Friends makes me happy even if I feel sad/alone. At least, temporaly.

[Antares]

Music Influences my mood for good. There are few songs that get me sad.

Some songs can make me cry, actually, if they touch one of my 'personal stories'. But the effect doesn't really last. I can feel utterly romantic while singing along to Taylor Swift, but once it's over, I'm back to my INTJ self.

[Richard0612]

Maybe I'm weird, but I am different to the people who said that rainy/cloudy weather gets them down. I am not a natural 'sun-seeker' and get really bored if it is sunny day after day. I like some variety in the weather [suppose it's good I live in Britain then!]; when it's raining or snowing heavily it sometimes makes me think about the amazing system here on Earth that keeps the water moving around. It can often make me feel better, as I have something to think about!

[Aurelia]

what factors have the power to change your mood on a given day?

the weather?
the food you eat?
exercise?
relationships?
events?

what do you do voluntarily in order to change your mood for the better?

What can dampen or lighten my mood is my own thoughts. Exercise and eating healthy is just a normal part of my routine. Certainly my relationship with my husband can influence my mood as can certain events. What improves my mood depends on what is upsetting me in the first place. Confronting the issue at hand is generally the best way for me to feel better. If it's something I cannot control listening to music, reading a favorite book, watching a movie, jogging for several miles (love that rush of endorphins), meditation or sleeping will generally change my mood for the better.

[Learning]

what factors have the power to change your mood on a given day?

the weather?
the food you eat?
exercise?
relationships?
events?

what do you do voluntarily in order to change your mood for the better?

I do believe we decide for ourselves what we're going to think/feel in response to external stimuli (we're responsible for ourselves & our emotions), but also that there are certainly factors that can trigger positive/negative responses if allowed.
Weather: I've heard that barometric pressure actually does affect the human brain... haven't studied it in depth so not sure to what extent, how true, or if particular individuals may be more susceptible to its affects than others.
Food: Experience & studies have shown that things like coffee, alcohol, sugar, food allergies, etc. (mind you I'm no nutritionist) can affect a person's emotional/physiological state... especially if you have something like diabetes or hypoglycemia.
Exercise: Not sure how this affects mood... but I can definitely say that I feel more energized, alert, and better overall when I'm doing it consistently.
Relationships: Well... I still think my moods are up to me, but sure- people can have an impact on each other even if it's only for a moment (not sure if that qualifies as a mood). Incidentally, I do my best to avoid relationships that are unhealthy, while making sure that I,myself, am as beneficial to be around as possible ;).
Events: Well, if a loved one were to die, or if my SO were to cheat on me... those are examples of things that would very likely affect my mood.
I think our environment also has potential for impact on our moods as well (i.e.-who we are around on a regular basis & what activities we are involved in). I've heard even colors can play a role here. A friend once told me she had a yellow (shade of) room growing up, and later found out that it was actually a very depressing color! When I think about it, even schools & other places use color strategically (i.e.-subdued colors to calm students).

[dandylion]

Weather and the seasons definitely influence me. Lately it's been sunnier and warmer, so I've been feeling fiercely motivated and way more optimistic than I've been in a very long time. There's this internal urge to go out and do physical activities, particularly running around and whacking things (I'm trying to quell this through tennis). It kind of makes sense since spring is just around the corner. Being outside or around things of nature makes me calm, too. I read an article once about how humans can become calmer just by looking at plants. I believe it.

Food... doesn't really affect me, but I guess it does kind of. Lack of food can make me feel tired and groggy. Same with lack of sleep... and then I'm just plain cranky.

The time of day affects my mood, too. In the mornings I usually prefer to keep to myself. Everyone just stay out of my way and they'll be fine.

[Learning]

Being outside or around things of nature makes me calm, too. I read an article once about how humans can become calmer just by looking at plants. I believe it.

That sounds true... even visiting a local greenhouse at a WAL-MART would do the trick ;). It's cool, quiet, relaxing, and full of green growing things. Great insight on the other stuff, too, btw.

[Blaze2000]

My mood seems to change based on expectations. If things go smoothly, and get resolved as I expected or as I planned or worked toward then I get a nice mood lift from the feeling of accomplishment. If things don't go as expected then I get pretty irritable. Now the key for me keeping an even mood is setting expectations reasonably.

I would suspect that this is all related to the control thing as well.

[scarlet]

Factors that change my mood on a given day may include:

The extent to which things run to plan.
The amount of order I manage to create out of disorder.
Whether I get alone, out of home time, either walking or driving. Time to daydream and out loud talk/sing to myself.
Smelling good smells eg lavender aromatherapy, fresh baked bread, newly ground coffee, clean laundry.

Cooking always improves my mood. Long walks do too. As does getting a good 9hrs of sleep the previous night.

[BadMojo]

2 things:

Music and the weather.

[Myrak]

I don't get influenced by the weather much any more, and if I do it's mostly positive. Some days it's sunny and that makes me feel good, other days it's darker and cloudy and that makes me feel good too. Apart from that I'm largely indifferent to weather.

However, music is a huge factor for me. I'm not sure if it's the music influencing my mood, or my mood influencing the music I listen to. Most likely both. Sometimes I just need to hear one particular song, or an album or an artist, and I won't stop until I've heard it. Other days I just stick my 35GB of music on shuffle and see what comes up.

Food probably does affect me, but it must be subconscious most of the time. Unless I'm dying of hunger/dehydration I rarely notice.
Exercise I really should do more of, though I hardly get a chance. It does make me feel good, albeit tired afterwards.

People affect my mood a lot, my entire day can change on one fantastic conversation or one bad interpersonal event. Now that I figure it, it seems a lot like gambling. Ah well.

[Motor Jax]

what factors have the power to change your mood on a given day?

the weather?
the food you eat?
exercise?
relationships?
events?

what do you do voluntarily in order to change your mood for the better?


on impulse, i would have to say the weather

but then, i also stay on an even keel until something sways me otherwise

so i thought about it a bit more, and i would have to say relationship with people and the events that take place with them


music to me, relaxes me though and helps me release all the pent up negative energies i had absorbed throughout the day

but usually, i act on impulse by my emotions

so in a way, my actions usually tell on my mood

but over the years, i have come to be able to disguise certain actions

[TheLastMohican]

what factors have the power to change your mood on a given day?

the weather?
the food you eat?
exercise?
relationships?
events?

what do you do voluntarily in order to change your mood for the better?

If I knew that, the world would be mine to control...

What I can do: Read a good book, write a better book, and read this forum. That's not all of course, but a start. :thumbsup:

[malefide]

On a more regular basis (i.e. excluding major events likes deaths, catastrophes, etc.), I'd say my own thoughts influence my moods the most. This may be related to my bouts of depression. I can over-think and brood about something (possibly relatively minor) in real life until it becomes something that inexplicably makes me uncomfortable/worried/melancholy. Melancholy is probably the most common emotion that I experience on a regular basis for this one reason.

But as for purely external forces, usually other people and/or my relationships with said people. Another that is closely connected to my moods is how much sleep and food I get. I have insomnia, but if I have enough food, I'm usually okay. And vice versa. Weather doesn't really affect my mood. I get enough exercise and drink enough water normally so that's not really an issue with me.