We all have off days. The real trouble is when we start making too much of them.

Usually, when we feel sad, frustrated, or angry—those pesky emotions we’re so quick to want to get rid of—we can point to a reason. Something went wrong. Something's off. There's a cause, and that gives us a sense of control.

But what happens when there's nothing to point to? When nothing is actually wrong? Just... the feeling.

If you're like me, you might go inward. Start to wonder: Is there something wrong with me? If everything around me is going fine, why do I still feel off?

It took me a long time to arrive at a certain wisdom: Your mood won’t always match your good day.

Yesterday was one of those days for me. By all accounts, it was great. Wrote in the morning. Made videos and music with friends. Took a long walk by Lake Merritt with a friend. Hit the gym, sat in the sauna talking about life. Dinner with another friend to end the day. Full. Rich.

And still, underneath it all, a frustration. A weird little fog. My mood didn’t match the quality of my day.

A few years ago, I might’ve spun out trying to solve it. What caused this mismatch? Am I ungrateful? Should I start a gratitude journal? Maybe a digital detox? Or yoga teacher training? Is this something I should bring to therapy?

There’s a place for introspection. It can be a powerful steed—capable of carrying us into insight.

But not everything needs to be ridden into the sunset.

Sometimes it’s better to let the steed rest. No digging. No spiraling. Just: I had an off day. That’s all.

Of course, if your off days stretch into something more—an off-week, an off-month—or you sense a deeper weight, then yes, check in with yourself. Get sleep. Seek help. Go deeper.

But today I’m speaking to the overthinkers and fixers. The ones who try to logic their way out of every mood shift like it’s a riddle with a prize at the end.

Sometimes your mood won’t match your good day. And that’s okay. Let it be.