Mood Swings: Why Do We Move Between Happiness & Sadness, Anger & Fear?
Life feels like a roller coaster 🎢 for many of us. One day we are happy and full of energy 😃, the next day sadness takes over 😔. Sometimes we burst into anger 😡, and other times we shiver in fear 😨. At moments, we look forward with excitement 🤩, only to be surprised 😲 or even disgusted 🤢. Then, out of nowhere, trust and hope 🤝 return.
But why do humans swing so wildly between these moods? And is there a way to find balance so that we don’t feel trapped in emotional storms 🌪️?
This is where the path of Chetasyog — the synergy of Self-Me and Life-Is — helps us see emotions differently.
🎭 The Emotional Pendulum
Think of human emotions like a pendulum clock 🕰️. The pendulum swings left and right, and just like that, our moods swing between opposite states:
- Happiness 😃 ↔ Sadness 😔
- Anger 😡 ↔ Fear 😨
- Anticipation 🤔 ↔ Surprise 😲
- Disgust 🤢 ↔ Trust 🤝
If we live only from Self-Me (our mind, ego, body, and personality), we get caught in these swings without pause. It feels as if someone else is controlling the strings of our heart 💔.
But when we connect with Life-Is (cosmic consciousness that simply is), we notice the pendulum but do not become the pendulum. We watch with awareness 👀, like a lighthouse 🏝️ watching waves, unmoved by every swing.
🌦️ Analogy 1: Weather vs. Sky
- Emotions are like weather 🌧️☀️⛈️.
- Happiness is like bright sunshine ☀️.
- Sadness is like rain 🌧️.
- Anger is like a thunderstorm ⛈️.
- Fear is like fog 🌫️.
But the sky 🌌 is always there — vast, open, and untouched. That sky is our Life-Is.
Most of us identify only with the weather 🌦️ (Self-Me). That’s why we feel shaken, tossed, and helpless. But when we remember that beyond all weather lies the eternal sky 🌌, we discover peace even in storms.
This is Chetasyog — recognizing the union of weather and sky, Self-Me and Life-Is.
🛶 Analogy 2: Boat in the Ocean.
- Imagine you are a small boat 🚤 floating in the ocean 🌊.
- When waves rise, you get shaken.
- When storms come, you panic.
- When the sea is calm, you feel happy.
This boat is your Self-Me — your individual life with all its moods.
But beneath the surface lies the vast ocean floor 🌊🪨 — unmoved, stable, eternal. That is Life-Is. When the boat (Self-Me) remembers it is supported by the ocean itself (Life-Is), it no longer fears the waves.
🔄 Why Do Mood Swings Happen?
Mood swings are not enemies. They are signals 📡.
- Happiness 😃 tells us we are aligned with our needs or values.
- Sadness 😔 signals loss or disconnection.
- Anger 😡 shows a boundary is crossed.
- Fear 😨 warns of possible danger.
- Anticipation 🤔 gives motivation.
- Surprise 😲 helps us adapt to change.
- Disgust 🤢 protects us from harm.
- Trust 🤝 builds connection and safety.
The problem is not the emotions themselves, but our identification with them. When Self-Me forgets Life-Is, emotions become overwhelming, pulling us like puppets 🎭.
🪞 The Chetasyog Way: Watch, Don’t Get Caught.
Chetasyog is not about controlling emotions or forcing positivity. Instead, it is about watching with awareness 👁️.
Let’s see some practical examples:
1. When Anger 😡 arises
- Self-Me wants to shout, fight, or react.
- Life-Is simply notices: “Anger is rising. The body is hot, the breath is fast.”
This awareness itself cools the fire 🔥.
2. When Fear 😨 arises
- Self-Me feels trapped.
- Life-Is sees: “Fear is energy preparing me to protect myself.”
Instead of panic, there is cautious wisdom.
3. When Sadness 😔 comes
- Self-Me feels broken.
- Life-Is whispers: “Sadness is a rain cloud, it will pass.”
The weight becomes lighter.
This watchfulness transforms emotional storms 🌪️ into opportunities for growth 🌱.
🌱 Daily Practice of Balance
Here are small practices for layperson living:
1. Pause and Name It 🛑
When a mood arises, say: “This is anger… This is sadness… This is joy.”
Naming separates you from drowning in it.
2. Breathe with It 🌬️
Take three slow breaths. Imagine inhaling calm 🌿 and exhaling tension 💨.
3. See the Sky 🌌
Remember: “I am the sky (Life-Is), not just the weather (Self-Me).”
4. Shift the Anchor ⚓
When Self-Me panics, anchor yourself in awareness: feel your feet on the ground 👣, notice your breath, or touch your heart ❤️.
5. Gratitude 🙏
Even for difficult emotions, thank them. They are teachers guiding Self-Me to align with Life-Is.
🌟 Story: Ramesh and His Mood Swings.
Ramesh, a shopkeeper 🛍️, often felt like a victim of moods.
If sales were good, he was happy 😃.
If a customer shouted, he became angry 😡.
If money was short, he panicked in fear 😨.
If a friend betrayed him, he felt disgust 🤢.
He once heard about Chetasyog and began practicing simple watchfulness. Instead of immediately reacting, he started pausing, breathing, and saying to himself:
👉 “This is Self-Me swinging. Life-Is is watching.”
Over time, he noticed something magical ✨:
- His anger cooled faster.
- Fear became courage.
- Sadness turned into compassion.
- Trust grew stronger in relationships.
Ramesh’s life did not become free of emotions — but he was no longer a slave to them. He discovered the joy of whole Oneself well-being.
💡 Key Takeaway
Mood swings are not problems to be solved ❌. They are natural waves 🌊 of Self-Me.
The real suffering comes when we forget the deeper anchor ⚓ of Life-Is. By practicing Chetasyog — mindful awareness of Self-Me in harmony with Life-Is — we move from being tossed around to sailing steadily, no matter the weather.
🌤️ Happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, disgust, trust — all become colors in the painting 🎨 of life, instead of chains around the heart.
🌺 Closing Reflection
Next time you feel caught in a mood swing, pause and ask:
👉 “Am I just the boat (Self-Me), or am I also the ocean (Life-Is)?”
That awareness itself is the beginning of freedom. 🌈