Being Moody

I’m moody. I always have been.

Instead of continuing to hate myself for it, or giving into the temptation to deny it, I’ve dedicated myself to accepting it and trying to listen to my mood and learn from what my mind and body are trying to tell me that I need.

Through nonjudgmental observation, I have found a whole new language in my temperament. For example, I have learned that when I am irritable, it is for a reason.

It often represents real physical symptoms that I have been subconsciously ignoring – such as hunger, exhaustion, or headache. Irritability often represents mental exhaustion as well – and forces me to think about applying self-care techniques, or taking a break.

I’ve come to realize that I am highly sensitive to the world around me and that my senses get overstimulated easily. When this happens, I can now recognize the signs and cater to my needs.

My point is that every part of us is a piece in a complex puzzle. Denying one piece of my existence cuts me off from who I am and creates a barrier to understanding myself.

There are so many parts to who I am. Some days, it feels like I completely contradict myself – I can be the stereotypical extrovert, loving life and socializing nonstop. Other days, people are just too much for me and I need my own space.

I can be loud, I sometimes get quiet. I am overly confident and hopelessly insecure. I am the epitome of organization and a hot freakin’ mess. I’m all over the map.

The point, I guess, is to take the time to embrace all the different facets of who I am – to get to know each one, and to celebrate it. Somehow, whether it feels like it fits or not, it’s just another piece of the puzzle.

One last thing I’ll say about moods:

The advantage of understanding yourself as a moody person and obtaining the awareness of being in touch with your moods gives you the power to choose whether you allow them to rule your life.

There is a difference between being cranky and taking it out on everybody around you, and acknowledging that you’re feeling cranky because you need some space and then taking the space that you need so that nobody else has to suffer on your account.

Moodiness gets a bad rap. In the face of a world that believes being emotional equals being hysterical, I try to celebrate my moods, meet them with love and kindness and acceptance, while also not allowing them to completely take over the wheel.

Today’s challenge: Celebrate your mood today. See what you learn about yourself.