Have you ever gotten up in the morning and felt your mood left something to be desired? You felt blah, or melancholy, depressed or had low energy? All of ‘em?! Hope it does not happen too often.

On a recent Monday I had the “blahs.” On Mondays I drive to Atlanta for two days in my office there. I was having difficulty leaving “Paradise” to go to the city. Anybody relate to that? Sure glad I don’t live there anymore.

I said to myself, this mood doesn’t get it. I need to do something. “Music therapy” came to my aid. Using my deft male dial changing skills I was able to capture a lot of music (carefully avoiding the downer of Boortz), thus, energizing myself. I even sang along to a few songs. (Did I mention that I drive alone?)

To illustrate my eclectic and consummate dial changing skills, these three songs helped get me going so that my patients/clients in Atlanta had an energized therapist:

“Boot Scootin’ Boogie (Brooks and Dunn) — I tap my feet!

“We are the Champions” (Queen) — I hold my head high in confidence!

“Ode to Joy (Beethoven) — I transcend the mundane!

I even put in my CD of Gregorian Chant. I connect with my soul!

Try them, or one genre, and you might be surprised at how well this “music therapy” can change your mood. Music works for most people. You cannot let the bad mood win!

Other complementary ways to enhance your mood might include prayer, meditation, humor, exercise, “changing the channel” of your thoughts to something positive, etc. If those methods do not work, you may want to consider appropriate therapy and/or medication.

A negative mood does not need to rule. Emotions are the underlying energy of all behavior. If the mood is negative, it is very difficult to continually do positive behaviors necessary for a high quality personal, relational, academic or vocational life.

Please be proactive if you struggle with down moods and find appropriate mood changers that work for you. Excessive use of alcohol and food, illegal drugs, tobacco, unnecessary shopping and pornography are not helpful for mood changes. They might give you a moments of pleasure but you will have increased psychological pain, monetary loss and diminishment of character as a consequence.

Particular days or events may present special challenges to you regarding your moods. Try to be as aware as possible of what you are feeling and be proactive in creating a positive mood that brings out that special inner glow that you possess!



—Dr. Stathas is a counseling psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist, in the Lake Oconee area. He is the founder of the Stathas Life Development Center. He can be reached at (706) 473-1780. E-mail:Stathas@plantationcable.net. Web site: drstathas.googlepages.com.