Smile!
We're always told to put on a smile or give one away. It's hard to smile when you don't feel like it, but sure enough, if you just try it for more than two seconds, you put yourself in a better disposition.
Biologically, the act of smiling increases blood flow and oxygen to your brain. This helps to alter your perception so that what you perceive is the impression that you are supposed to be feeling good. And then you do! Smiling when you don't feel like it really can change your attitude.
Laugh!
Taking smiling one step further, Norman Cousins proved that laughter truly is the best medicine. In 1964, Cousins was diagnosed with a terminal illness affecting his connective tissue. By 1976, an article detailing his complete recovery appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine (and later became the first chapter in his book, "Anatomy of an Illness").
How did he do it, when his physical pain was so unbearable he couldn't sleep, and his mental and emotional anguish was so great from knowing he was terminally ill?
He laughed! Cousins fervently watched comedic movies, had friends call to tell him jokes, read as many funny stories as he could . . . all in an effort to laugh. Do you think he felt like laughing all the time, especially at first? Probably not, but he made himself do it, and ended up helping his body to heal.
Watch Your Posture!
Your mother had good reason to tell you not to slouch. Slouching invites deeper sadness when you're already feeling down. Why not just sit up a little straighter to feel your mood improve? Sit straight up and sense a heavy weight slide right off of your shoulders! If you change your poses and postures, your mind will follow that lead.
Do It Now!
Major undertakings require planning, but so many activities that we procrastinate about don't. These activities are simple ones that we can and should do as soon as we think about them.
For example, doing laundry or dishes, taking out the trash, clearing up papers and mail . . . these chores can be done in a few minutes. We just need to train ourselves to breeze through them as soon as the thought "that needs to be done" crosses our minds, instead of letting out a groan.
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