A gloomy external environment can contrast sharply with a bright internal environment.
The weather looks depressing, which tends to influence how we feel at that moment, but sometimes, it's quite the opposite, as in feeling elated, cheerful, at least, internally, while the weather out there is threatening to start dropping tears, i.e., rain.
Perhaps the variable of sorts this time around from my part is I've just finished a meditation and still retaining those high spaces of peace and clarity that come from such an experience.
I think nothing influences our mood more than the subtle undercurrents of just living in the present moment and having activities to do, or not do.
I mean, I notice that a friend of mine tends to get tensed up whenever there's a lot to do but there isn't enough clarity on how to get it done within a relatively short amount of time.
I've also noticed that my stress levels figuratively climb up to my neck on bright sunny days when temperatures are hovering about 37°C plus. The heat just knows which buttons to press to get me at that level and I have to find ways to bring it back down to manageable levels.
Taking a nap usually is the last resort that solves the problem. Not always available though, as there are activities waiting to be done, the ones that are oblivious of what's happening out there IRL.
Bright sunny days are one of the best times to appreciate the beauty of nature, the vividness, so full of life. But you can't get too close to the sun's intensity lest you get overheated or burnt. Such an ironic beauty.
Perhaps beauty should be admired from afar. Perhaps not.
Somehow everything with regards to well-being circles back to moderation. So many factors influence how we feel.
The fact that intense heat can be a major stressor, even while the rest of the world celebrates a "beautiful day," is a key point that tells a lot about subjective experiences of the environment.
Our physical response to heat is a biological mechanism overriding the aesthetic appreciation of a sunny day.
And it all points to something fundamental, which is control. As in we can't always control what's happening around us, however learning to navigate our reactions/responses which in this case is the real work worth doing.
Very simple, but true.
The tears dropped, not for long though, the dark clouds are now dispersing to give way to the bright ones, which bring with them a softer light and cooler air.
It looks like it will be a good sunny day after all.
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