Moods & Feelings: Prolonged States and Personal Experiences
Ever have a day where you just feel "off," even when nothing big happened? That might be your mood at work. Join us as we explore moods and feelings—the hidden forces shaping our daily lives!
Brief, intense reactions to specific triggers. They're like lightning—quick, powerful, and directly caused by events.
Moods
Longer-lasting, less intense states that linger in the background. Think of them as your emotional weather forecast.
Feelings
Your subjective, personal experience of emotions and moods. How you uniquely interpret what's happening inside you.
While emotions flash brightly then fade, moods color your entire day. Feelings are how you make sense of it all.
Understanding Moods vs. Emotions
Welcome back! Last time, we talked about emotions—short bursts of change triggered by specific events. Now, we'll see how moods and feelings differ. While emotions can come and go quickly—like a flash of excitement—moods last longer and are less intense. Feelings are the personal side of what we experience.
Duration
Emotions are brief, while moods can last for hours or days
Intensity
Emotions are intense bursts, moods are more subtle background states
Personal Experience
Feelings represent our conscious awareness of our emotional states
Moods: The Emotional Background
A mood can stick around for hours, even days. It's not as strong as a burst of anger or joy, but it colors how we see the world. Imagine wearing tinted glasses all day—whether pink or gray—that's like a mood setting the tone.
Biological Influences
Hormones, brain chemistry, and physical health can account for about 30% of what shapes our daily moods.
Psychological Influences
Our thoughts, beliefs, and past experiences contribute around 25% to our ongoing mood states.
Social Influences
Relationships, social interactions, and belonging needs make up approximately 25% of our mood influences.
Environmental Influences
Weather, lighting, noise levels, and our physical surroundings account for about 20% of mood factors.
Moods: Valence and Arousal
Experts often talk about moods along two main dimensions: Valence (positive vs. negative) and Arousal (high vs. low). So you could be in a positive, high-energy mood—like feeling excited or in a negative, low-energy mood—like feeling down or tired.
Positive, High-Energy
Excitement, enthusiasm, and feeling animated are examples of positive moods with high arousal.
Positive, Low-Energy
Contentment, serenity, and relaxation reflect positive moods with lower arousal levels.
Negative, High-Energy
Anxiety, irritability, and tension are examples of negative moods with higher arousal.
Negative, Low-Energy
Sadness, lethargy, and feeling down characterize negative moods with lower arousal.
Feelings: The Subjective Experience
Feelings are what we say when we're aware of how we're doing inside. They're that personal sense—like, "I feel anxious" or "I feel content." It's the mind's way of telling us, "Hey, something's going on in here."
Emotions
Quick, often tied to a clear trigger (like fear of a spider)
Have physiological changes in heart rate or facial expressions
More universal across cultures
Feelings
More about how we interpret or name those emotions
The inner label you give to physiological responses
Influenced by personal history and cultural context
Our thoughts play a big role in shaping feelings through cognitive appraisal: we judge a situation and decide how to feel about it. If you see a puppy, you might label it as "cute"—leading to happy feelings. If you see a dog as dangerous, you label it "scary"—leading to fearful feelings.
How Moods and Feelings Interact
Here's the tricky part: a mood can tint how we label our feelings. If you're already in a gloomy mood, even small bumps in the road might feel worse—like a friend canceling lunch could spark stronger disappointment than usual. Or, if you're in a sunny mood, you might brush off the setback easily.
Mood State
Background emotional tone that persists over time
Perception Filter
Colors how we interpret events and situations
Feeling Response
Our conscious emotional reaction to events
Feedback Loop
Feelings can reinforce or shift the underlying mood
These interactions impact our daily life through productivity (hard to focus when in a negative mood), social encounters (our tone might show, even unintentionally), and mental health (chronic low moods can lead to deeper issues like depression).
Understanding Your Emotional Landscape
Moods are like the background color in your painting of life, hanging around for a while. Feelings are the more personal, conscious notes in that picture—how we interpret what's happening inside. Both shape who we are and how we act. Understanding them can improve our well-being and relationships.
Self-awareness
Recognizing your moods and feelings
Pattern recognition
Identifying triggers and influences
Emotional regulation
Developing strategies to manage states
Improved relationships
Better communication and empathy
Next time, we'll talk about emotional plasticity—how our brains can change the way we react over time. If you found this helpful, hit that like button and subscribe so you don't miss what's next!
Take a Moment for Emotional Check-ins
Thanks for joining! Remember, moods and feelings guide us in ways we often don't notice. Take a moment to check in with yourself each day. You might be amazed at what you learn about your own mind.
How to do a quick mood check-in
Pause for 30 seconds and ask yourself: "How am I feeling right now? What's my overall mood today?" Notice without judgment, just awareness.
When to seek professional help
If you notice persistent negative moods lasting weeks or months, or if your feelings are interfering with daily functioning, consider speaking with a mental health professional.
Simple mood-lifting activities
Physical movement, spending time in nature, connecting with loved ones, or practicing gratitude can all help shift your mood in a positive direction.
I'll see you in the next video about emotional plasticity—take care!
The information shared about moods, feelings, and emotional regulation is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment. Your wellbeing matters to us.
Always consult licensed mental health professionals for psychological or medical conditions. Never delay seeking professional help based on our website information.
By applying these concepts of emotional awareness, you gain valuable insights—but remember that clinical issues require clinical expertise.