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