It happens to all of us  – often times very subtly and without notice. You wake up in a good mood and you’re moving through your day and all of a sudden it is as if a dark cloud comes over your mind and you realize you’re in a funk. As you reflect on what happened from going from happy to a more negative mood – you notice that you have fear and doubt swimming around. Welcome to the nasty “take-outs.” A take out is when negative internal self-talk creates a limiting belief that often times is corded to heavy emotions of fear, doubt, anxiety or feeling scared.

And – as subtle as clouds moving in to cover the sun, so do limiting beliefs darken our mood and move us to pessimistic thinking. Obviously, for most leaders and contributors, it does not offer our best work when we have been taken out.

In the 15 years I’ve been working with top performers around the world, I have noticed that if we can proactively manage and take responsibility for “mood management” – we are better able to be in our optimal operating state and enjoy life more and have better relationships with others.

Seven Steps to Mood Management and Minimizing the Impact of a Take Out:

1. Schedule regular mood checks throughout the day where you pause and ask yourself “how’s my mood?” (some clients set an alarm!)

2. If you notice you are in a funk and your mood has shifted from your more optimistic and happy self, ask, “what am I am feeling right now?”

3. Normally, feelings of fear, doubt, anxiousness, or sadness come in when we are in a funk and feeling down. Ask yourself, what limiting belief has been created in my mind that is corded to the negative emotions (i.e., I will fail at the presentation I am to deliver next week and I am flooded with fear and doubt.)

4. Ask yourself, “Is there any physical truth to justify the liming belief that has caused the take-out? Most likely, there is absolutely NO physical evidence to the belief that was created – thus the belief is made-up.

5. Reverse the limiting belief by creating a Powerful Assumption (a positive belief that is corded to positive feelings when you think about it). For example, if the limiting belief is “I’m afraid to take my entitled vacation for fear of losing my job” –  a Powerful Assumption may read “With my talents, drive and achievements I have made at my work, I can enthusiastically take the vacation knowing I am a valuable and highly regarded team player.”

6. Notice if your body has a funny reaction (in a good way) to the Powerful Assumption (i.e., if the Powerful Assumption feels a little over the top – you have created a great powerful assumption – if it falls a bit flat when you read it – you have most likely created a “positive” assumption and it is recommend you fuel the assumption to make it more powerful.

7. Yes, the Powerful Assumption is also made up – but, imagine when you get into funk or you are starting your day by reading a list of Powerful Assumptions that have replaced limiting beliefs the impact it would have on your mood. It is a guaranteed mood changer that will allow you to get back on to your optimal operating state.