DRAWING ON MOODS FOR SELF-REGULATION
4 illustrations and some reflections on moods.
Overview
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I've taken to creating small illustrations of mood. They serve as
visual reminders of how I feel, what I need, or why I'm behaving a
certain way. I'll pull them out and place them on the desk so I can
communicate a mood to myself and my living partner. This has been a
fun, playful way to get to know my emotions while having the enjoyable
artistic experiences of rendering illustrations of how the feelings
look.
Mood: /Buzzing, energetic, ecstatic, playful/
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*High-octane hour* is characterized by a bleeding excess of
energy. This energy often accumulate from a high-energy workday,
memorable daytime experience, or successful task accomplishment. With
this mood I feel quite positive and able to actualize myself towards
activities like dancing or cleaning (and sometimes both). I tend to
listen to high-energy music when I'm in high-octane hour.
IMG illustration-12.png
Mood: /Pensive, sensitive/
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*Quiet time* is a time to be interior. Usually I like to spend time in
my head, doing a task that requires a lot of my concentration. I
don't seek or desire much stimulation. Distractions are kept to a
minimum. If I'm bothered during quiet time it can (but not always)
feel quite uncomfortable and distressing to have to engaged another
person.
IMG illustration-13.png
Mood: /Sensitive, hostile, powerless, loathing, bored/
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*M-x grump-mode* is not pleasant for me. I end up here if I've
neglected some physical or mental need. Maybe I didn't eat well or
eat enough. Maybe I've been triggered or had a distressing
experience. I'm often seeking ways to feel better in this mood, but
tend to thwart my own best efforts. Instead of looking inward I look
away towards distractions. This mood can become a wrapper for other
moods like *quiet time*.
IMG illustration-14.png
Mood: /Aware/
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*Snack & movement* is a wholesome place for me to be. It's a mood that
recognizes the need for me to nourish myself. It's a self-care kind
of mood, where I drop what's before me and tend to my biological
needs. This mood also helps me restore focus mana. If I've been
tending to a task for a long time and feel my energy dipping low,
snack & movement can be a source of regeneration.
IMG illustration-15.png