Fighting Negative Moods

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(2 minute read)

A Powerful Quote
I recently shared a powerful quote with a friend of mine, and he asked me to make a video and talk about it. This is a quote I often refer to for myself, and I love to share. It’s from Venerable Bruno Lanteri, who says, "I beg of you to wage continual warfare against negative moods and never fail to begin again."
The Battle Against Moods
What stands out to me is how Lanteri calls us to "wage continual warfare against negative moods". While saints like St. Teresa and the doctors of the Church often discuss battling temptations, I’ve rarely heard specific mention of combating our moods. We’re more accustomed to waging warfare against negative thoughts and discerning the spirit behind them, but we don’t always recognize our mood as something we need to address.
Vigilance in Awareness
What I love most is the awareness this quote encourages. When we find ourselves in a negative mood—whether it’s discouragement, grumpiness, irritation, impatience, or being curt with others—it’s a call to remain vigilant.  We need to pause and ask, "What mood do I need to step into?" and "What grace do I need to ask from the Lord?"
Seeking Joy and Charity
Perhaps we notice a spirit of irritation or negativity and realize we need to pray for joy. I’ve found that when I catch myself in these moments, slowing down and praying helps me avoid responding with a lack of charity. Sometimes I feel rushed, and my mood shifts to irritation because I’m focused on getting somewhere too quickly, neglecting to give my current task or interactions—whether with my wife or children—the attention and generosity of spirit they deserve.
Choosing a Better Mood
We must be aware of our moods and not simply accept them as they are. Just as we discern our thoughts, we should **discern our mood and replace it with something more helpful through prayer. We can choose to be cheerful, grateful, and charitable, even when we don’t feel that way initially. It’s possible to shift our mood through our actions, by intentionally stepping into the grace God is offering.
A Call to Continual Warfare
This is a reminder for all of us—and for myself—to remain aware of our moods and the temptations they bring. It’s so easy to stay in a negative mood for too long without waging war against it. We need to pray through it, discern what mood and attitude the Lord wants us to embrace, and work toward that through prayer, changed thoughts, and actions.
 
I hope you found this reflection helpful. May we all strive to wage that continual warfare against negative moods and never fail to begin again. God bless.

 

Summery 

 
I discussed a quote from Venerable Bruno Lanteri, emphasizing the importance of combating negative moods. While negative thoughts are often recognized as temptations, I pointed out that moods are less frequently addressed. I encourage vigilance in recognizing and addressing negative moods, such as irritation and impatience, and suggest praying for joy and other positive emotions. I stress the need to discern and replace negative moods with more charitable and cheerful attitudes through prayer and conscious choice.
 
Practical Takeaways:
  1. Be more aware of my own moods and the temptations they can present.
  2. When I find myself in a negative mood, pray and ask God for the grace of a more positive mood like joy, gratitude, or charity. Replace negative thoughts and actions with those that lead to a change in mood.
  3. Slow down when I feel rushed or irritated, giving the current task or interaction the time it needs and doing so with charity and generosity of spirit.
  4. Choose to be cheerful, grateful, and charitable, even when I don’t feel that way initially, and work toward embracing the attitude and mood God wants for me.

 

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