Mood Board and Taxonomy
For reference, we’ve included the Mood Board and the taxonomy we use in our work. We are deeply grateful to Fernando Flores, Chauncey Bell, and the colleagues whose shoulders we stand on. For a deeper understanding, we recommend Learning to Learn and Navigation of Moods by Gloria Flores.
Taxonomy Of Moods
This is not meant to be a comprehensive list but a work in progress. Check back as we research, design, and add new moods.
BLOCKERS
The Mood of a Road Runner
It is a mood that says…
I am fast, clever, always moving, but never grounded.
If I stop, I might see too much — so I keep running.
Motion is my escape from responsibility, reflection, and commitment.
Resignation
It is a mood that says…
Nothing new is possible here.
I have tried, it didn’t work, and nothing I do will matter now.
My future is already cancelled, so why bother.
Heroism
It is a mood that says…
I alone must fix this because no one else will.
I don’t need help — others are unreliable or incapable.
My heroic intention justifies my messes and my self-inflicted suffering.
Anxiety
It is a mood that says…
If I make a mistake, I may never recover.
I should avoid acting because uncertainty is dangerous.
Not trying is safer than failing.
Frustration
It is a mood that says…
I should already know how to do this.
This should be easier than it is.
My progress is too slow, so something is wrong — maybe with me.
Powerlessness
It is a mood that says…
Nothing I do will change anything.
There is no value here for me.
The situation is fixed, and I am stuck inside it.
Hysterical Industriousness
It is a mood that says…
I have no time to think — only to execute.
Slowing down feels dangerous, inefficient, or irresponsible.
There is so much to do that I must keep going, even if I’m breaking.
Confusion
It is a mood that says…
I don’t know what’s going on, and I hate not knowing.
This lack of clarity is bad and must be escaped.
There is nothing valuable for me here — I want out.
Inauthentic Serenity
It is a mood that says…
I will smile no matter what, even if I’m collapsing inside.
I must appear calm, peaceful, and “fine.”
My real concerns are unacceptable, so I will hide them.
My Way or the Highway
It is a mood that says…
There is only one correct path — mine.
You are either with me or against me.
Agreement is mandatory; disagreement is betrayal.
Victimhood
It is a mood that says…
I am alone, scared, and stuck in a situation I cannot change.
Others are responsible for everything that’s wrong.
I am doing my best, but the world is against me.
Victim of Personality
It is a mood that says…
I am trapped by the personality I developed.
This is who I am and I cannot change.
New possibilities do not exist for someone like me.
The Mood of a Specialist
It is a mood that says…
My dignity and power come only from technical expertise.
Being a specialist is my identity and my only safety.
I will wake up later realizing I traded possibility for early comfort.
The Mood of a Telemarketer
It is a mood that says…
If I spit out perfect scripts, I will win.
I am not in a real relationship — I’m just pushing information.
Listening is optional; performance is everything.
Frozen in Avignon
It is a mood that says…
My life is comfortable, predictable, and fixed — no need to move.
I earned what I have, and it is mine.
Possibility can wait; I am content inside my small world.
The Morning After Mood
It is a mood that says…
My past self ruined everything.
I am trapped in regret and cannot undo the damage.
I cannot move forward because the past keeps defining me.
BUILDERS
Exploding Sun
It is a mood that says…
This is how it is — be a legend or sink with the crowd.
The stakes are high, and I am ready for the heat.
My intensity is fuel, not a burden.
Astonishment
It is a mood that says…
What I am witnessing is bigger than expected.
I am momentarily stunned by what is possible.
The world just revealed something extraordinary.
Acceptance
It is a mood that says…
The past is unchangeable, and I release it.
The future is uncertain, but I am willing to move.
Life brings both gifts and storms, and I will meet them.
Gratitude
It is a mood that says…
Good has come to me, and more can come.
I am aware of what I have received.
I am open to being surprised by life’s generosity.
Humility
It is a mood that says…
I may not know — and that is okay.
I take full responsibility for what I do know and what I don’t.
I enter conversations as a new beginner, without self-negation.
Ambition
It is a mood that says…
Opportunities exist here for me.
I am committed to acting even without full certainty.
My effort matters — and I will move.
Responsibility
It is a mood that says…
I choose this freely, not out of duty.
I stand here because I said I would.
What happens next includes me.
Confidence
It is a mood that says…
I have succeeded before, and I can learn again.
I am competent to act in this situation.
I can ask for help without losing dignity.
Wonder / Awe
It is a mood that says…
I don’t know what’s going on, but I love being here.
The world is full of openings and possibility.
Ignorance is a frontier, not a threat.
Rage
It is a mood that says…
This injustice cannot stand.
I will not suffer this silently or politely.
My fury is a commitment to protect what matters.
Radical Hope
It is a mood that says…
Even in devastation, something new can be born.
A different future is possible, even if I cannot see it yet.
I stand for creation while standing in the ashes.
The Mood of a New Beginner
It is a mood that says…
I don’t know yet, but I want to learn.
I am willing to make mistakes and stay in the discomfort.
I am committed to the journey, not instant mastery.
Perplexed
It is a mood that says…
I am deeply puzzled, and it matters that I understand.
I will not escape this confusion — I will work through it.
Something important is hidden here, and I want to find it.
Perturbed
It is a mood that says…
Something here is bothering me for a good reason.
I will not ignore this disturbance.
I am willing to investigate what others avoid.
Love
It is a mood that says…
I care so deeply that I will show up fully.
My care can ignite care in others who believe no one sees them.
I will not abandon people when breakdowns appear.
Respect
It is a mood that says…
Others are well-intentioned human beings with real concerns.
I want to learn what they see before insisting on what I see.
With respect, agreement is possible; without it, nothing works.
Mood of a Small Hungry Crocodile
It is a mood that says…
I am hungry and alert in muddy waters.
I will bite into any opportunity, any game that my nose touches, even if visibility is low.
Once I commit, I will not let go, no matter the consequences.
Joy for Being a Fighter in the Fight
It is a mood that says…
This is hard, but I am grateful to be in the arena.
I am bruised but not broken — I am alive.
The struggle itself is part of my dignity.
Courage
It is a mood that says…
I will act without guarantees.
Being reasonable is too small for my life.
Boldness opens doors that caution never will.
Being of Service
It is a mood that says…
I am here to contribute, not to perform.
I am listening for what others truly need.
Caring is not naive — it is powerful.
DESTROYERS
Vengeful Lover
It is a mood that says…
Love hurt me, so I will hurt love.
If I were wounded, others should feel my wound.
My revenge feels righteous — even when it destroys.
Mistrust
It is a mood that says…
I don’t believe you will take care of me.
Your promises are empty until proven otherwise.
I expect disappointment, so I will not open myself.
Resentment
It is a mood that says…
You limited my future, and complaining to you is useless.
Life has denied me what I deserved.
I remain separate because union feels impossible.
Skepticism
It is a mood that says…
I doubt your competence and your intentions.
This may work for others, but not for me.
I won’t ask for help because I don’t trust you know anything useful.
Cynicism
It is a mood that says…
Nothing will change — why pretend otherwise.
I stay only for the benefits, not the possibility.
I’m done believing in anything new.
Overwhelm
It is a mood that says…
There is too much to do and not enough of me.
I must work harder just to survive.
I will probably fail anyway.
Arrogance
It is a mood that says…
There is nothing here for me to learn.
I already know what is going on.
Others’ perspectives are irrelevant — mine is the truth.
Playing Small / Being Scared
It is a mood that says…
I only choose from what is safe, known, and proven.
I avoid the future by repeating my past.
I protect myself by shrinking my life.
Victimized Criminal
It is a mood that says…
I was wronged, so anything I do now is justified.
Fairness no longer matters — I must strike back.
My protection requires others’ suffering.
Active Self-Saboteur
It is a mood that says…
I will destroy the new possibility before it can fail me.
I fear success as much as failure.
I interfere with my own future to avoid responsibility.
Hubris
It is a mood that says…
Everything is possible for me, and gratitude is unnecessary.
I am bigger than consequences.
My brilliance exempts me from humility, care, or listening.
If you want to examine and shift the mood shaping your future, schedule a coaching call. Your first conversation is our gift. If the dialogue reveals a fit, we will explore continuing the work together.
