Mood follows action

You can’t think your way into the mood you want or the state of mind you hope to be in. You can sit around waiting for motivation, for the right vibe, for your head to feel clear. But it almost never shows up on its own. The only thing that shifts your state is action.

Behaviour comes first. Thoughts, feelings, momentum—they follow. You start moving and the energy kicks in. You open the laptop and the ideas start coming. You make the call and suddenly the words are there. It’s the doing that creates the feeling, not the other way around.

The problem is we keep falling into the same loop. “I’ll do it later when I’m in the mood.” Later doesn’t come. Or it comes in the wrong mood again. And before you know it, the thing never gets done.

Mood is a result, not a starting point. If you want to feel like it, start doing it. The rest will catch up.

2025 Edit

Rumi said: “As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.” Clarity doesn’t come before action. It comes from action.