Different moods bring about different physical manifestations and perspectives, but is it possible to exercise more control over them?

Surprise tugs eyebrows into high arches, anger balls up fists and pride thrusts out chests – reactions and emotions are embodied. They reflect the nuances of experience and sculpt them into universally recognisable shapes.

According to Richard Bandler and John Grinder – creators of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), a discipline that assumes there’s a link between neurological processes, language and behaviour – how we are in any given moment depends on focus, physiology and self-talk. Changing what you’re picturing in your head, the way you’re holding your body or what you’re saying to yourself can alter perspective. An NLP premise is that a state only lasts for 90 seconds before it needs to be topped up with whatever triggered it in the first place. If delight, disgust or daring linger, it means they are being continuously fired off. It’s helpful to recognise the cause, take appropriate action and then make adjustments.