The most significant hindrance to maintaining consistency towards achieving goals is the fluctuation of moods. Fluctuating moods can derail the best of intentions and commitments. The psychological consequences of fluctuating and often times spontaneous shifts in emotional states typically include guilt, harsh self-judgment and feelings of exasperation wrought from this seemingly endless cycle of high motivation into deflating stagnation. The toil of this guilt, judgment and futility then exacerbates the very moods that trigger these toxic reactions. We find ourselves in an endless battle to fight our mood shifts or simply suffering the wind it takes out of our productive sails.

There is, however, effective recourse to permanently neutralize this cycle that ultimately sustains stagnation. The solution to this dilemma is to understand the “emotional body” rather than to fight it. Unfortunately, attempts to discipline, coerce or force yourself out of undermining emotional states establishes a world-weary narrative about life rather than serve as a means of transcendence.

To understand the nature of emotional fluidity releases you from becoming the victim of its nature. On balance, emotional states bounce between the parameters of the narrative a person imposes on their life. If you view life, consciously or unconsciously, as a struggle – because you have struggled – this creates a greater tendency for your emotions to be vulnerable to quick mood shifts or depression. It is necessary to understand what is meant by “your narrative” in order to appreciate the emotional vulnerability that occurs as a result of it.

The narrative of one’s life is essentially the “story” one attaches to the occurrences experienced in life. Circumstances, in and of themselves, are largely neutral, however, the meaning one gives to the circumstances creates the narrative, the idea, about one’s life that circumstances represent. The narrative in turn sets the stage for future possibilities – or the lack thereof. For example, a person can find that, objectively speaking, money appears to be available when crucially necessary. One narrative about this would be, “Every time I get a little bit of money, a demand in my life takes it away,” On the other hand, the same experience could be viewed from this narrative, “I always have whatever is needed when a demand is presented.” Same circumstance, big difference in meaning of said circumstance. The former narrative can elicit the feelings of frustration, pessimism and worry – certainly, attitudes of thought that cannot bode well for attracting positive occurrences into one’s life. However, the latter narrative can elicit feelings of gratitude, possibility and optimism generating thoughts that radiate and potentially attract greater positive occurrences into one’s life.

The above example illustrates how a narrative can potentiate feelings that tend towards a steady and healthy emotional equilibrium or can create an easily vacillating emotional spectrum of pessimism and doubt with the occasional spike of hopefulness.

The narrative you impose on events and occurrences directly impacts the tendency for mood shifts. The more positive the narrative chosen regarding your circumstances the steadier is the mood of optimism, which is a key trait for remaining consistent in your commitments.

The purpose of deciding intentionally what the narrative to your circumstances will be is not about putting a positive spin on dire or unsatisfactory conditions, but rather, it is so that the very narrative potentiates increasingly improving circumstances. A negative narrative about your affairs will most certainly filter out positive possibilities occurring in your life. Conversely, a positive narrative creates positive momentum towards positive developments occurring.

The important point to remember is that you always have the power to change the narrative even before circumstances themselves improve or are more satisfactory. This puts the power of change back into your hands even when appearances seem constricting.

You always have the power to decide what to think regardless of how mitigating the conditions before you. The defining factor in altering the quality of your experience in life is to realize that life happens through you, not to you.