“Make your mood or it makes you.”

—Shane Parrish, author of the Farnum Street Blog

Image from Unsplash by Jessica Furtney

Moods are not just fleeting feelings — they’re steering wheels. Left unchecked, a sour mood can quietly drive your choices, color your conversations, and shape how others respond to you.

But when you step in as the driver, intentionally setting the tone, you shift the entire ride. A smile on purpose, a pause before reacting, or gratitude whispered in the middle of frustration — these are small levers with big power.

Your mood becomes a tool, not a trap. The choice is always present: be shaped by circumstance or shape it yourself.

Each day ask yourself: Who’s driving, you or your mood?

EXERCISE:

When negative thought arises, consciously reframe them in a positive way to build emotional resilience and foster a more hopeful outlook.