HEALTH, WELLBEING.

Mood.

Like its close sister emotions, mood serves a strong evolutionary purpose in our lives, uniting body and mind and forming a foundation for how feel.

However unlike emotion, which is typically specific and fleeting, mood is a more generalised and enduring state that we may experience simply as comfort or discomfort, a sense of ease or dis-ease.

Arising through an interplay between the communication systems of the body and brain, mood, helps to support the essential body functions that sustain life; oxygen regulation, temperature balance blood flow, hydration, amoungst others. Through an unknown medium this internal knoweledge is translated by the body into the background sensations we come to understand as mood.

Scientifically known as affect these generalised and often vague feelings are significant influencers for how we act, and for our how wee percieve the world. Far from something to subvert or ignore, our moods are influential and attuning to them can be life changing. These subtle indications enhance our sense of self, our wellbeing and relationships, creating a sense of synchrony. As Lisa Feldman Barret articulates in an illuminating TED talk- our moods have the capacity to cultivate wisdom.

12,Jun.2025.

References and Further Reading/ Listening.

Barret Feldman Lisa, Cultivating Wisdom: The Power Of Mood.TEDxCambridge Accessed online 10.Jun 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYAEh3T5a80

Huberman Andrew. Mental Health Toolkit: Tools to Bolster Your Mood & Mental Health. Oct 2023. Huberman Lab Accessed online Jun 10 https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/mental-health-toolkit-tools-to-bolster-your-mood-mental-health

Image Lottie Hampson.