When You're Not Sure What to Do With a Low Mood
A gentle reminder that the feeling isn’t the problem — misunderstanding is
I was thinking about something recently that left me a little puzzled — and I figured, if it’s confusing for me, it might be confusing for others too.
In the Three Principles world, there’s a lot of talk about the thought-feeling connection. We often hear:
“Moods are normal. They’ll pass. Go for a walk, look out the window, get some fresh perspective. Your system will reset on its own.”
That makes sense to me. I’ve experienced it.
But then I also hear from nondual or spiritual teachings:
“Feelings are natural. Don’t resist them. Let them be there. Don’t avoid — feel into them.”
That also makes sense. And I’ve experienced that, too.
So I found myself wondering:
Should I be sitting with my feelings or shaking them off?
Here’s the little piece of gold that came through as I reflected on it:
The real question isn’t about what to do. It’s about whether we’re seeing our experience through resistance or acceptance.
Whether I sit with a mood or go for a walk, the key isn’t the behavior. The key is what’s behind it.
Am I doing it to escape a feeling I think shouldn’t be there?
Or am I simply following a quiet nudge — a natural impulse from within — that says, “Hey, let’s go outside for a bit”?
When we’re caught up in outside-in thinking, it’s easy to believe that some actions are better than others — that “feeling the feeling” is the more spiritual path, or that “getting distracted” is more practical.
But when we come back to the inside-out understanding, we realize that peace isn’t found in choosing the “right” response.
It’s found in not resisting whatever’s showing up, and knowing it’s all coming from thought in the moment — and it will shift on its own.
And often, when we see that clearly, a lighter mood returns — not because we chased it, but because we stopped trying to fix what was never broken.
What’s your take on this? Ever found yourself stuck between feeling the feeling and shaking it off? Hit reply — I’d love to hear your insights.