We've all been there: Things are just fine, and then suddenly your mood hits the skids, seemingly out of nowhere. What's going on?! Well, your mood is a balance of your thoughts, environmental influences (such as where you are and who is around), life events (a stressful meeting or a tiff with a friend), and your physiological state (maybe you're cold or hangry or you just need a nap). Often when one of these factors changes, you can find yourself on an unscheduled and unpleasant emotional ride and in an unsettled state of mind. The next time your mindset takes a turn, try these tricks to move you from a sour mood to a happier headspace.
THE SITUATION
YOUR FRIEND VENTED TO YOU, AND NOW YOU FEEL BUMMED.
This is a case of emotional contagion, an incredibly basic (even primitive) phenomenon. During conversations, humans naturally tend to mimic their companions' facial expressions, posture, body language, and speech rhythms without being consciously aware of it, says Elaine Hatfield, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of Hawaii and coauthor of the book Emotional Contagion. The incremental muscle movements involved in this mimicry (say, furrowing your brow or frowning after a friend does) trigger the actual feeling in your brain by causing the same neurons to fire that would if you were experiencing the emotion. While this contagion effect has a purpose-to make us feel empathy, which bonds usabsorbing your friends' emotions isn't going to help them or you, says Judith Orloff, M.D., a psychiatrist at UCLA and author of The Empath's Survival Guide.
MOOD BOOSTER
This story is from the February 2023 edition of Prevention US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2023 edition of Prevention US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The Hormone Specialist
Here's what an endocrinologist wants you to know about diabetes, weight, and more.
are you swiping right?
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO DATE AFTER 50 AND HOW TO ACTUALLY MEET SOMEONE GREAT
NATURAL FIXES Migraine Management
Try these holistic remedies for frequent headaches.
5 MYTHS ABOUT PET HEALTH
Many of us fret more about our furry family members' well-being than about our own. That's all the more reason to clear up fuzzy thinking.
EAT for better skin
YOU CAN HAVE A PERFECTLY CURATED SKINCARE LINEUP and still feel as if you're missing a piece of the healthy-skin puzzle.
Beauty TOOLS and TECH
If you don't like the look and feel of peach fuzz on your face, dermaplaning may be a solution.
Craft your perfect SKINCARE ROUTINE
Applying products in the wrong sequence can diminish efficacy and therefore results, because of either the texture or the ingredients.
Let's Talk About WRINKLES
I've kept that video handy these last 12 years because it is hilarious, but also as a reminder: Caring more than fleetingly about my wrinkles (and gray hair and menobod) feels out of sync with my values.
Common SKIN CONCERNS, solved
Eczema is an umbrella term for a group of conditions that cause dry, itchy skin
The Skin You LIVE IN
Along with your hair, nails, and sweat glands, your skin is part of your integumentary system, the protective outer layer of the body.