When the sun shines most people notice that their mood is enhanced. Scientists have also noted the automatic physiological response in our brains and bodies as endorphins are released when we are bathed in sunlight; endorphins which provide us with a soothing feel-good factor.

A friend was commenting the other day that if she doesn't see a blue sky for a few days she feels really low. As she said, the weather doesn't even have to be warm; she just needs to see the brightness of a blue sky. I agree. I like brightness. Most people prefer to see a bright landscape as opposed to a dull and dark one. Your mood is affected considerably by your environment; this is an inevitable and inescapable fact.

It's not just the sun which affects your psyche and sense of well-being. Other aspects of the weather can affect you too. Think of Aesop's fable about the competition which the wind and the sun had over the traveler who was walking along the road wearing a coat. The wind blew ever stronger and the traveler wrapped the coat closer to his body. The sun came out and very quickly the traveler took off his coat.

How does the wind affect you? Some people love the wind, other people do not. I personally find that the wind irritates me; I dislike the feeling of being pushed around (especially when I'm trying to putt and want to stay still and stroke the ball gently along the line!). If there is a lot of wind I feel as if it's fighting me; it disturbs my calm and tranquility, and in a sense interferes with my peace of mind.

I know that this is not the point of Aesop's fable; that is to do with kindness affecting more than severity. But even in this fable, the wind is portrayed as severity and negativity whilst the sun represents kindness and positivity.

We use many terms in day to day language which reflect our instinctive reactions to the weather's effect on our psyche. We say "he's a warm person" or "she's a cold person", "I'm feeling bright today" or "I'm feeling dull today" or we may observe that a person is "whipping up a storm". These are just a few examples of us acknowledging that the weather has an intrinsic effect upon us.

For most of us we can do little about the weather conditions in which we live. We take holidays when we can; we "travel to the sun" to get a winter time break if we have the necessary resources to do so, in terms of both time and money. But what can you do if you are stuck in a dark, damp, windy place and just cannot get away? How can you boost your mood and lift your spirits to counteract the instinctive effect of the weather upon your psyche?

Many people who suffer from SAD use light boxes. That's one thing that you can do. Other people focus on exercise to lift their spirits and to release endorphins for a boost to their sense of well-being. Some people eat their favorite foods or go to the movies or watch a comedy.

There are in fact many things that you can do to help yourself to feel a little brighter. One of the easiest things is to use your imagination to allow yourself to mentally drift off to a warm and sunny place. This is amazingly effective and easy to do with the help of self hypnosis mp3 downloads.

Roseanna Leaton, specialist in self hypnosis mp3 downloads for health and well being.

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