How To Get Out Of A Bad Mood

Ian Thorpe, also known as ‘Thorpedo’, was a world champion swimmer who won eight gold medals in the 2000 Olympics. He had commented that the upcoming champion, Michael Phelps did have incredible ability, but would not be able to win eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, as the competitive spirit would be too intense. When Phelps was asked about this comment, he said there are three things that make him mad and put him in a bad mood, ‘fatigue, muscle soreness and taunts from Ian Thorpe’. However, Phelps did not let Thorpe get the better of him - he performed. In the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, he participated in eight events and won gold medals in each one of them! It is great to see the sportsmanship with which Phelps dealt with his negative feelings and constructively, diverted them to positive actions of achievement. But, not all of us have such a strong personality.

 

In most situations, when we are in a bad mood, we tend to lash out at others (through blatant or passive aggression) or become self destructive. This negative reaction is harmful for us as well as our loved ones and a conscious effort has to be made to change the mindset. It is a known fact that a person’s true personality comes out during bad moments. We have to inculcate in ourselves the ability to redirect our negative feelings, towards positive thoughts and actions. This will not only help us become more relaxed, but will also provide a less stressful environment for the people around. In order to deal with a bad mood, a whole mental paradigm shift has to take place. Discussed ahead are a few ways on how to get out of bad mood.