Being a little in the red (ex. tense) helps you rise to a challenge or stand up for something important, like advocating. But it's easy for red moods to get in our way (mad, frustrated, scared, etc.).
If you want to move your mood and feel calm, chill, mellow, etc. here are a few tools you can try!
Choose the Mood Movers by voting for your favorites!
Deep breaths help our muscles relax. They also help to turn back on the parts of the brain that power down when we get upset.
Tense and relax different muscle groups, one at a time. This helps you to relax your body and also makes upset feelings less intense.
Cross your arms over your chest. Close your eyes and tap slowly: Left... Right... Left... Right. Tap at the speed of a slow heartbeat.
The "story" you keep telling yourself might be untrue and unhelpful. "Reframing" the story means finding a new way to look at the situation.
Top 10 Types of Distorted Negative Thoughts (Handout)
Positive Self-Talk Poster (Calming Strategies Toolbox).pdf
Counting gives your brain a short break, a chance for your "wise mind" to get its hands back on the steering wheel.
Counting Poster (Calming Strategies Toolbox).pdf
The simple phrase acts as a mental anchor, helping you focus on manageable steps rather than the entire problem.
Example Positive Affirmations
It's easy to get lost worrying about the past or the future. "Grounding" yourself in the moment gives you more control over your thoughts, feelings, choices, etc.
This gives your body a quiet way to release energy while keeping your mind on the present.
Because you're focusing on your colors and staying inside the lines, you're only thinking about the present moment.
Focusing on what you can control helps you stop worrying about the "whole world" and lets you handle the small things right in front of you.
Visualizing a calm place allows your mind to take a "mental break" from a stressful situation. This shift in scenery helps your body feel safe.
The steady rhythm helps your body burn off extra tension, making it easier for your mind to find a calmer path forward.
This helps you step out of a stressful "loop" and gain a fresh perspective.
Moving it out of your head and onto the paper gives you a clearer view, making it easier to handle the story instead of feeling stuck inside it.
Splashing your face with cold water sends a "reset" signal that tells your body to slow down immediately.
