Act Happy Week, Day 4: Fake It to Feel It
Published: Thu, 03/22/12
|
 |
|
The focus of Act Happy Week is to educate the public about purposeful actions you can take to create chemical shifts in your body that drive Positive Emotions. Here is today's exercise: |
 |
|
|
Day 4: Fake It to Feel It Every emotion you live in corresponds to different body postures, breathing, and energy. If you want to live in a different mood or emotion start with your body - thus reversing from mind-body to a Body-Mind connection: a different body will support different emotional responses, which will in turn affect your brain chemistry and thoughts. Act like a different mood. Every mood comes from a different body posture. Stand in front of a mirror and notice the way your body looks when you are worried, fearful, sad, or frustrated. Shift yourself to embody what you want more of, e.g. calm, confidence, happiness, or patience. Straighten up, open up, uncurl, unfold, or relax your body/posture. Remember to shift your facial expression to match the mood you want. Breathe deeply. Emotions related to fear, sadness, or anger pull the breath higher into the chest or throat, whereas connecting emotions like happiness and love drop the breath. You can stimulate more positive emotional energy when you breathe in to your lower belly - slow, deep, and calm. Notice how you feel in different postures. Remember, different positions may feel unfamiliar at first. Practice that adjusted posture multiple times daily. If you are unsure of what mood you are putting out, do this exercise with a friend who can help you "re-sculpt" your body, facial expression, and breathing. Fake it till you really "get it" in your body. Then you can access it when you need it. Stand Tall, Breathe Deeply, Smile Often. |
|
|
|
About the Coach
I have helped thousands of leaders and business owners just like you to increase effectiveness at work AND live a happier, more balanced life. Contact me to learn how you can create a less-stress leadership presence. If you received this from a friend, SUBSCRIBE now to get your own copy in the future, plus you'll get a valuable leadership report! All things Happiness Coach: Blog: www.LifeWithHappiness.com. Connect on LinkedIn, Facebook.    
View past editions at http://www.TheExecutiveHappinessCoach.com/newsletter/archives.cfm. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Happiness is a decision,
not an event.
How will YOU decide
today?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Copyright © 2012, All Rights Reserved. Reproduction for publication is
encouraged, with the following attribution: "From HAPPINESS@THESPEEDOFLIFE,
by Jim Smith, PCC, The Executive Happiness Coach®. For more tips on Leading with Less Stress, visit www.TheExecutiveHappinessCoach.com."
If you choose to do otherwise, I will be very unhappy. |
|
Hi, I'm Jim Smith, PCC, The Executive Happiness Coach®. I work with smart, successful people like you, who secretly struggle with stress and overwhelm as you strive to succeed at the next level. I help you become a better leader AND dump the stress.