Are you thinking yourself into a bad mood?

It is unlikely that you have a feeling without first having a thought.  It’s time to take responsibility for your thoughts and consider that your negative thinking patterns might be causing your low mood.
 
Do you have unrealistic expectations? If you think that everything and everyone needs to be perfect, that you’re entitled to everything you want, or that everyone should be nice to you all the time, you may get depressed when reality sets in.  It might be time to adjust your expectations to avoid disappointments.
 
Do you have automatic negative thoughts? If you assume that another person is thinking negative thoughts about you, that you’re a total failure, that everyone hates you, or that nothing you do can improve your life, you may be setting up some self-fulfilling prophecies (prediction that causes itself to become true).
 
Do you have maladaptive assumptions (a belief that is false or irrational)? Forming negative beliefs about life or what you should do often leads to depression. Thinking that you need everyone’s approval, that you can’t succeed without the help of another person, or that you’re stuck in a dead-end job are maladaptive assumptions. When you begin to recognize them and realize that they’re true only to the degree that you believe them, you can get rid of them.
 
Do you have low self-esteem? Beating yourself up over your perceived shortcomings can drive your self-esteem into the ground. Focusing on your talents and abilities raises your self-esteem and your mood.