First of all I just want to thank all the people who have been commenting on my blogs. Thank you for your support!
I don't have much to say except about one of the quotes in today's lesson.
"By regulating the action, which is under the more direct control of the will, we can indirectly regulate the feeling, which is not. Thus the sovereign voluntary path to cheerfulness, if your cheerfulness be lost, is to sit up cheerfully and act and speak as if cheerfulness were already there."
-William James
In my opinion this is a piece of wisdom to be treasured. Through experience I have found what is said to be true, but I was never full conscious of it until I read this quote. It completely verifies my experience consciously (and I hope unconsciously) and gives me something to hold onto when I am feeling down.
It also implies that, as Coach Steele says, attitude is a choice. When a negative feeling gets you down, act as if you were already feeling the counter emotion - peace or love for anger, generosity for jealousy or greed (although I highly recommend not feeling wise when you feel foolish or justified when you feel guilty because that is counter productive and is not conducive to learning from experiences) - and you will feel that emotion.
I dare say that this will always work if you are persistent in acting as if the desired emotion were already there AND able to let go of that which you are trying to get rid of. If you are unable to let go of that which you are trying to get rid of then it will constantly plague you.
So in conclusion:
1) Keep in mind this quote when feeling down
2) Act as if the counter emotion were already there
3) Let go of whatever emotion it is that you do not want to feel
comments
Brilliant suggestion Blithe
Act as if......that will work for me and I am going to try to remember to do that every time from now on. Thanks