The Book of Moods: How I Turned My Worst Emotions Into My Best Life

by Lauren Martin

Overview

The Happiness Project meets So Sad Today in this "hilariously witty, unflinchingly honest" book from Words of Women founder Lauren Martin, as she contemplates the nature of negative emotions -- and the insights that helped her to take control of her life (Bobbi Brown).
Five years ago, Lauren Martin was sure something was wrong with her. She had a good job in New York, an apartment in Brooklyn, a boyfriend, yet every day she wrestled with feelings of inferiority, anxiety and irritability. It wasn't until a chance encounter with a (charming, successful) stranger who revealed that she also felt these things, that Lauren set out to better understand the hold that these moods had on her, how she could change them, and began to blog about the wisdom she uncovered. It quickly exploded into an international online community of women who felt like she did: lost, depressed, moody, and desirous of change.
Inspired by her audience to press even deeper, The Book of Moodsshares Lauren's journey to infuse her life with a sense of peace and stability. With observations that will resonate and inspire, she dives into the universal triggers every woman faces -- whether it's a comment from your mother, the relentless grind at your job, days when you wish the mirror had a Valencia filter, or all of the above. Blending cutting-edge science, timeless philosophy, witty anecdotes and effective forms of self-care, Martin has written a powerful, intimate, and incredibly relatable chronicle of transformation, proving that you really can turn your worst moods into your best life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538733615
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	12/08/2020
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	134,939
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Lauren Martin is a writer and the founder of Words of Women -- an online and physical community dedicated to the growth and development of women. By providing entertaining, enlightening and supportive content related to the female condition, it has transformed the feeds and lives of its 300,000 women followers across Instagram, Facebook and Newsletter subscribers.

Table of Contents

Disclaimer vii

What Are Moods? xxii

Where Do Moods Come From? xxviii

The Mood: The Past and Future

The Mood Described 3

What the Mood Is Telling You 7

Remember the Writers 12

Swipe Left 16

Accept the Worst 19

See the Past as a Story 25

See Stress as a Challenge 29

The Mood Transformed 35

The Mood: Beauty

The Mood Described 39

What the Mood Is Telling You 43

Go Visit Your Grandmother 47

Stop Thinking You Know What You Look Like 52

Stop Self-Cherishing 57

Stop Looking in Mirrors 61

You're Not Pretty Like Her, You're Pretty Like You 66

The Mood Transformed 71

The Mood: Work

The Mood Described 75

What the Mood Is Telling You 81

Regretfully Decline 86

Build Indulgent Rituals 91

Remove Excess Choice 99

Change the Wording 104

The Mood Transformed 111

The Mood: Friends

The Mood Described 115

What the Mood Is Telling You 120

Find Your Plow 124

Rejection Isn't Rejection 132

Everyone's a Freak 137

Doing Things You Don't Want to Do 143

The Mood Transformed 149

The Mood: Family

The Mood Described 153

What the Mood Is Telling You 158

Realize Everyone's Role 160

Communication versus Conversation 165

Understand You Don't Understand 175

Learn to Apologize 180

The Mood Transformed 187

The Mood: The Body

The Mood Described 191

What the Mood Is Telling You 196

Acknowledge Your Cycles 198

Find Your True Bedtime 204

Give Your Body a Routine 212

The Mood Transformed 219

The Mood: Unforeseen Circumstances

The Mood Described 223

What the Mood Is Telling You 227

Think of the Feathers You'll Get 234

Moment of Appreciation 240

Realize Your Path Is Somewhere Else 243

Remember Down Is Part of Up 247

The Mood Transformed 253

Acknowledgments 254

Editorial Reviews

11/09/2020

Martin, founder of online writing community Words of Women, debuts with a thoughtful take on how to prevent emotional responses from becoming negative moods. Feeling frustrated or anxious is universal, Martin writes, and overcoming such feelings is the key to living one’s best life. To that end, she outlines strategies to mentally and emotionally reset, through small acts like taking the time to spoil oneself or giving oneself permission to walk away from an aggravating situation. Martin also shares how she came to recognize and deal with emotional triggers: “My triggers were the unique set of things that had the power to push my buttons. If I could avoid my triggers, I could avoid the emotions that would follow.” While many of the tactics are elementary (taking deep breaths, developing a daily routine), Martin’s buoyant tone will help any reader break out of a funk: “Becoming a strong woman is like becoming a self-made millionaire: It doesn’t happen overnight.” Self-help readers who enjoy the work of Gretchen Rubin should take a look. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

[A]uthor Lauren Martin asks us to think much more, and much more deeply, about moods… In Martin’s view, ‘moody women’ aren’t bound to stigmas. They aren’t irascible, irrational or hormonal in a vacuum. (Although she argues that hormonally charged reactions are real and should be honored, rather than tamped down and shamed). . . Martin's message is relatable.”—The Washington Post

“In her engaging and informative new memoir, The Book of Moods (2020), New York writer Lauren Martin tells of her personal journey from debilitating moodiness and anxiety to greater peace of mind... feels like a conversation with a close friend.”—Psychology Today

"Hilariously witty, unflinchingly honest, and brimming with hope, THE BOOK OF MOODS teaches that with authenticity and a little self-coaching, you can take ownership of your emotions-and your own life. Lauren Martin's contagious curiosity leads straight to what she calls "the cornerstone of chill." And you know what? The journey is half the fun."—Bobbi Brown, bestselling author and renowned makeup artist

"Lauren Martin names those feelings that we all have, explains why we have them, and how we can keep them from defining and dictating our lives. A fascinating, thorough, and truly helpful book. I loved it!"—Sarah Knight, New York Times bestselling author of Calm the F*ck Down

"A deeply relatable how-to-guide for managing your moods from a woman who gets it. This is a funny, moving memoir filled with so many a-ha moments that I had a hard time putting it down. A real asset for anyone on the quest for better emotion regulation and inner peace."—Laurie Santos, Professor of Psychology at Yale University and Host of The Happiness Lab podcast

“In a memoir that is transparent and authentic, Martin walks us through all of the moods…Martin’s prose also embraces and celebrates womanhood, just when we need it most.”—Shondaland

“In addition to sharing her own struggles with anxiety, angst, and self-doubt, Martin calls upon clinical studies and stories from inspiring women (i.e. Audrey Hepburn, Princess Diana) to offer readers tangible tools for navigating their own whirlwind of emotions. Think of her book as a series of tried-and-true tactics for practicing self-care and emotional stability.”—Shape Magazine

“Martin blends science, philosophy, witty anecdotes and effective forms of self-care to show readers that you can turn your worst moods into your best life.”—PureWow

"Words of Women founder Lauren Martin delves into the relationship women have with negativity in her smart and often funny self-help tome The Book of Moods. Martin explores her own struggles with anxiety and feelings of inferiority, alongside the science behind moods, to offer practical advice on how to practice effective self-care when negativity starts creeping in."—PopSugar

From the Publisher

07/01/2020

Astonished to meet a beautiful and accomplished woman who shared her moody blues and feelings of self-doubt, Martin began studying the roots of her wayward emotions and blogging about what she found. Eventually, she built the Words of Women online community, which boasts a 125,000-member newsletter and adherents like Brie Larson and Bobbi Brown.

Library Journal