The Secret Bias in Your Mood Swings Revealed

When a multinational team hit record revenue in Q2, morale soared. Yet two weeks later, a missed forecast plunged the group into self-doubt. Project manager Anya noticed the same dynamic unfolding: first the thrill of ‘gain’ then the slump of ‘loss,’ each wave dragging productivity up and down.

Rather than spinning out, Anya introduced the eight worldly dharmas framework at their next huddle. She asked everyone to map their emotional reactions to the last quarter on a whiteboard under categories: pleasure/pain, gain/loss, fame/disgrace, praise/blame. Team members wrote ‘praise overload’ next to their bonuses and ‘blame avalanche’ by the forecast miss.

They stayed with each mood for two minutes of guided reflection, noting how their narratives amplified stress—’We’re invincible!’ turned into ‘We’re doomed!’ Then they practiced a neutral reset: three collective breaths and a focus back on the next sprint goals.

Within one month, the team’s mood volatility decreased by 40% and on-time delivery climbed by 25%. They reported feeling less reactive and more purposeful. By recognizing how attachment to fleeting highs and lows fueled their swings, they built steadier ground for performance.

Behavioral economics and organizational psychology confirm this approach: awareness of these emotional loops enhances decision-making and team cohesion. When pleasure and pain are seen as part of a cycle, leaders can coach toward sustainable motivation rather than hype-driven pushes.

Whenever you or your team experience emotional highs or lows, immediately note the trigger and classify it under pleasure, pain, fame, disgrace, gain, loss, praise, or blame. Take two silent minutes to observe how the narrative around that event amplifies your mood, and then reset with three deep, synchronized breaths. This quick loop recognition and reset helps stabilize emotions and keeps focus on actionable goals. Try it at your next meeting.