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Theme of Zoom Meeting: Uplifting Moods
©2020 by Richard E. Gordon. Duplication prohibited without author’s
permission,
rgordon118@tampabay.rr.com Last updated: December 3, 2020
Introduction
No matter how happy we try to be, sad moods can sometimes pull us down. But perhaps we have discovered ways to turn our frowns into smiles. That is the heart of our discussion today – uplifting our sad moods. As we talk about uplifting our moods, let’s bypass mentioning medications, any drugs or alcohol, or even professional therapy. Let’s stick to natural ways to buoy our spirits.
For several questions, I have provided underlined links that will take you to related online information. Try coming up with your own thoughts first – then investigate the links or ignore them – whatever you wish. To get a link to work, you may have to hold down the Ctrl key as you click the underlined text.
Questions
1. When you are in a sad mood, what have you found that uplifts you, perhaps even putting a smile on your face?
2. Think of a friend who manages always to make you feel good? What is there about her/him that uplifts you?
3. What is the difference between sadness and depression?
4. Does experience of a sad mood have any advantages?
5. If you were a parent of a young child who too often seems sad, what might you try to help your child?
6. How can you deal with bad weather so that it less likely to affect your mood?
7. Can participating in activities with friends and family especially helping in uplifting moods? How about if a pandemic restricts your participation only by zoom?
8. Are women more likely than men to be in happy moods? If your answer is “Women”, do you think the women’s liberation movement is the cause?
9. If someone has the tendency to always seem sad, what is more likely to be the root of her sadness? Her genes? The way she was treated as a child? Her present environment? Her personal relationships?
10. Can music uplift your moods? What kind of music? Another link on the subject.
11. Can meditation help? What kind of meditation?
12. Have you seen a movie, read a book or a poem that put a smile on your face? If so, then share with us the titles so that we too might enjoy it?
13. Think of the most happy-go-lucky person you ever knew. How did she/he show this characteristic? How did this happy mood affect you and others?
14. What’s interesting about the spelling of the word “mood”? Hint: Try turning it around.
15. From our discussion, did you get some new ideas about mood? If you did, what was the most important new idea?
Quotations
“Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought.”
“Being in a bad mood with
your friends beats being in a bad mood without them.”
―
3. Evolutionary theory suggests that we should embrace all of our emotions, as each has an important role to play under the right circumstances. So, though you may seek ways to increase happiness, don’t haphazardly push away your sadness. No doubt, it’s there for good reason.” – Joseph P. Forgas
“There are moments when I wish I could roll back the clock and take all the sadness away, but I have the feeling that if I did, the joy would be gone as well.”
“There is no point treating a depressed person as though she were just feeling sad, saying, ‘There now, hang on, you’ll get over it.’ Sadness is more or less like a head cold- with patience, it passes. Depression is like cancer.”
“Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.”―
7. “Spending time with negative people can be the fastest way to ruin a good mood. Their pessimistic outlooks and gloomy attitude can decrease our motivation and change the way we feel. But allowing a negative person to dictate your emotions gives them too much power in your life. Make a conscious effort to choose your attitude”--. Amy Morin
8. “Exercise, prayer, and meditation are examples of calming rituals. They have been shown to induce a happier mood and provide a positive pathway through life's daily frustrations” --. Chuck Norris
9. “You know, a dog can snap you out of any kind of bad mood that you're in faster than you can think of.”-- Jill Abramson
“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the
life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being
shared.” – Buddha