In 2022, Selena Gomez launched her mental health platform, Wondermind. On the website, you can find all sorts of articles on the subject, from self-care strategies to journaling prompts to advice on how to ease anxiety. The latest to be shared is a “Mood Meter,” which Gomez shared on January 25 on her Instagram Stories. It’s basically a mood board with 100 different choices of adjectives to describe how you’re feeling, in terms of energy, as well as how happy you are right now. So, at one end of the spectrum, you may feel furious; on the other end you can feel ecstatic; and if you’re somewhere in between, you can feel shocked.
The Instagram post describes it well, stating, “If you feel like you’re going on an emotional rollercoaster some days, you’re not alone! No matter how you feel right now, remember that it’s not permanent and can change at any moment. Using this mood tracker can help you focus on your feelings throughout the day. (Hello emotional awareness!).” The post also notes the ability to experience multiple feelings at once and recommends checking in with yourself often to see how your mood has changed. And the chart is legit – it was created by Marc Brackett, professor and director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence.
Likewise, research has found that many people use mood tracking apps to see what mood patterns are emerging, better manage their emotions, and make informed decisions to increase their emotional well-being. Some therapists also recommend that their clients track their mood. This way, they can better understand the person’s mental health and state of mind, as well as come up with an appropriate treatment plan and coping mechanisms for them. After all, many factors can impact a person’s mood, from stress levels to sleep to diet and more.
But if you’re not quite ready to start tracking your moods, in the meantime, you can “Filter by Feelings” on the Wondermind site. Whatever page you’re on, there’s a little icon that says “Filter by Feelings” – Happy, Sad, Angry, Anxious, Stuck, Envious, Lonely. When you click on it, you will find related articles about how you are feeling right now. It’s a great way to navigate the site and find the stuff that’s most relevant to you and what you might be going through right now.
Speaking of Wondermind, one of its goals is to help people improve their mental fitness. Gomez created it with her mother, famed producer Mandy Teefey, and Daniella Pierson, founder and CEO of The Newsette. They wanted it to be a “mental fitness ecosystem” and a place where people feel included and safe, Pierson told TZR in November 2021. Wondermind was also inspired by each of the founders’ mental health journeys. Gomez, for example, has been transparent about her depression and anxiety for years, a topic that is also featured in her documentary, Selena Gomez: my mind and me.
So the next time you feel alone in your emotions and thoughts, don’t. “Filter by sensations” will show you that you are certainly not alone. And, by checking the Mood Meter, you can try to understand Why you feel the way you do and what may have triggered that feeling. And I hope you soon feel the positive adjectives on the Mood Meter more than the negative ones.
Disclosure: Bustle Digital Group is an investor in Wondermind.
