Gratitude: Acting as if

Feeling blue, yet smiling...   (Photo by Jersyko)

Perhaps you’re not brimming over with gratitude.  Perhaps you’re feeling kind of fed up with life.

Nevertheless, you can act as if.  Some might rebel against such alleged hypocrisy. Others might claim that acting as if can eventually produce the target feeling.

Arthur C. Brooks of The New York Times is one such other.  He contends that “building the best life does not require fealty to feelings in the name of authenticity, but rather rebelling against negative impulses and acting right even when we don’t feel like it.”

When we act grateful, the brain is actually coaxed into “processing positive emotions.” Even faking a smile can have that desired effect.

So there you go.  Put on your best outfit, and with it your best smile.  Then head on over to Thanksgiving dinner, and see how many “Thanks!” you can squeeze into one event.

Who knows?  You might walk out of there smiling for real. 

Resources

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/22/opinion/sunday/choose-to-be-grateful-it-will-make-you-happier.html?_r=0

Copyright November 24, 2015 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved