Act It Out

[Ann]

To quickly get beyond self-defeating thoughts, get yourself busy with empowering behavior. When you can't think your way out of a despairing mindset, start acting your way out.

One positive action can neutralize several hours worth of negative feelings. Get your body moving and doing something useful, and your mind will quickly follow along.


If you don't feel like helping yourself, then find someone else for whom you can do something positive and useful. Even a gesture as easy and seemingly insignificant as a genuine smile can make a big difference.


When you want to start feeling more positive, then act like it. Stand up straight, hold your head high, walk confidently forward, and you can literally feel the difference it makes.


You may not believe your own thoughts, yet you cannot help but believe your own actions. When you take positive action, your whole being takes notice.


Get up, get going, and act the way you would like to feel. And suddenly, that's exactly the way you'll be.


-- Ralph Marston