Are you negative? Impatient? Wouldn't it be lovely to adopt someone's positive attitude toward life or perhaps patience? How about thoughtfulness, kindness, being a good listener?
There is a way to adopt these traits without becoming discouraged.
Act as if.
Being a Catholic, I like to refer to the Saints because they have been-there-done-that. They are not perfect folks, just ones who persevered in good with "heroic virtue". Many of them give instructions on how to do just what I am writing about, change some quality we don't like about ourselves or adopt one we'd like to have. They say to "Act as if".
Are you moody? A brooder? Act as if you are in a good mood, even when you are not. What does that look like to you? How do people who are naturally cheerful look? Behave? It's a proven fact that if you smile, even a fake one, it will lighten your mood.
Are you grumpy and impatient? Act as if you are happy-go-lucky.... Say "Hello" to a passing stranger. Say "Thank You" and "Have a nice day" with a big smile.....or a little smile. Smile and wave someone through a stop sign instead of yelling. Look for ways to do good, step outside your comfort zone. Fake it until it is natural.
Let's take positivity (insert the characteristic you want). Yes, you act as if you are someone positive even if it doesn't quite feel right. Try it on strangers before trying it on folks who know you (obviously they'll fall over since they know you too well!). Only you know it isn't your natural state so strangers work better at first. You don't have to do it all the time, just keep trying when it comes to mind. Perhaps a little at a time.
Try it on.
Wear it awhile.
Do it more and more and you will become positive. I know this because I did it years ago. People comment to me all the time how positive I am ......little do they know I was Negative Nellie for my first 25 years. It was a trait my Mom gently tried to train out of me my whole childhood, but it took me seeing how unattractive it was in me to work on it myself. It really didn't take long at all. I was surprised that after "faking" it for awhile I began to THINK like a positive person....it was awesome!! Then I tried it on some other virtues I wanted to acquire and gosh darn....if it didn't work again!
It's so simple it seems ridiculous, but it works. Try it!
Are you moody? A brooder? Act as if you are in a good mood, even when you are not. What does that look like to you? How do people who are naturally cheerful look? Behave? It's a proven fact that if you smile, even a fake one, it will lighten your mood.
Are you grumpy and impatient? Act as if you are happy-go-lucky.... Say "Hello" to a passing stranger. Say "Thank You" and "Have a nice day" with a big smile.....or a little smile. Smile and wave someone through a stop sign instead of yelling. Look for ways to do good, step outside your comfort zone. Fake it until it is natural.
Let's take positivity (insert the characteristic you want). Yes, you act as if you are someone positive even if it doesn't quite feel right. Try it on strangers before trying it on folks who know you (obviously they'll fall over since they know you too well!). Only you know it isn't your natural state so strangers work better at first. You don't have to do it all the time, just keep trying when it comes to mind. Perhaps a little at a time.
Try it on.
Wear it awhile.
Do it more and more and you will become positive. I know this because I did it years ago. People comment to me all the time how positive I am ......little do they know I was Negative Nellie for my first 25 years. It was a trait my Mom gently tried to train out of me my whole childhood, but it took me seeing how unattractive it was in me to work on it myself. It really didn't take long at all. I was surprised that after "faking" it for awhile I began to THINK like a positive person....it was awesome!! Then I tried it on some other virtues I wanted to acquire and gosh darn....if it didn't work again!
It's so simple it seems ridiculous, but it works. Try it!
~Blessings~
Lisa
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