Fake It Till You Feel It

Things That Went Right Today:

1) Toastmasters meeting again tonight. I'm the timer!
2) Master bathroom fully functioning (other than that I'm still looking for mirrors I like).
3) Have official students for my home preschool next fall! It's on!

An important life lesson I am learning lately is to "fake it till you feel it." What I mean by that is this...our emotions are often ruled by our behavior as much as by what is actually happening in our lives. Ever notice how two people can have the same experience and react to it entirely differently? As we go through our lives day by day, and even moment by moment, we must constantly choose how to respond to whatever comes our way. Not all of life's experiences are wonderful. Some are hum drum, or scary or even painful. But we have the ability to train ourselves to be happy people in spite of our circumstances.  How? By acting the way happy people act. Holding our bodies upright. Putting a smile on our lips. Skipping and twirling instead of dragging our feet.  Laughing out loud instead of grumbling. Changing what we DO and letting the emotions follow. They most often will.

Think that's wrong? Ridiculous you say? You have real problems right and pretending won't make them go away!!!  Life is indeed full of troubles. Happy people have them too.  But all the grouching in the world doesn't usually solve a thing, and so we may as well have joy in our lives anyway. We can.

Ever had a hard day when you felt pretty low and then something jarred you out of that? Suddenly noticing the warmth of the sun on your face or a joke you heard on the radio that made you giggle? Nothing really changed except your perception. I dare you to put me to the test on this next time you feel depressed. Even though it's the last thing you feel like doing at that moment...stand up. Do a little dance. Laugh out loud even though nothing seems funny. Plaster a silly grin on your face. Go for a walk and look at the flowers. Wave at everyone you see and wish them a good day. Shout out loud to the universe a list of things you are grateful for...even if you can't think of many there is always something...the ability to holler loudly if nothing else. :-) Deliberately ACT like you are happy and see if you don't actually feel better along the way. By changing what you choose to focus your attention on and the way you carry yourself, it alters your vision to where joyful things are in more prominent view than troublesome ones. Doesn't make the problems go away. But brings you a measure of peace and  contentment in the midst of them. Fake it at first if need be, and you will feel it by and by. Today I am sitting tall in my chair with a smile on my face feeling grateful for my many blessings. Let hardships swirl around me as they will. Today I am a happy person!