I feel pretty, oh so pretty!

There is a vast difference (at least for me!) between knowing something intellectually and knowing something emotionally.  When I know something emotionally, I understand it and the knowledge gives me clarity.  On the other hand, knowing something intellectually feels similar to knowing something academically.  I guess one is the theory while the other is the practical application of the theory.

Recently, I was reminded about how powerful that can be to help lift my moods.

One of the life-skills we are taught is that talking about stuff is better than letting it sit in your head.  "Naming the beast" is what some people call it. Usually, this is used for "bad" things.  By articulating the "bad" thing, you realise that your mind has made it bigger and more complex than it actually is.  A useful exercise, no doubt about it - when you actually do it!

But here's a new theory for you to put into practice.  Have you considered using it for good things as well?  Articulating and focusing on the good things is an existing theory.  But here's a new spin to the practice.  Try using it to convince someone that things are OK.  Imagine that you are now the salesperson of the good things in your life, with all the skills of a successful salesperson. Your aim is to convince your audience to want to be you! 

Crazy huh?  Here's how I came to this realisation.

Someone who I hadn't seen for awhile visited.  We had a great catch up.  He asked me how things are going.  Because he wasn't a confidante, I didn't want to tell him about the worries constantly running around in my head.  Instead I focused on all the good things going on in my life.  I told him about the successes that I have managed at work, the holiday that I have planned, the great movies/tv shows that I have watched...  the list went on.  I kept thinking of all the good, even managing to put a "good" spin on some of the things I would have regarded as "bad" things in my head.

My sell-job was so good that it changed my view on the "negative" things going on in my life!  Putting it into words convinced me, and also helped put many things into perspective.

If you are feeling a little down about things in your life, find someone and give this exercise a go.  I'm not saying it is a silver bullet for all your woes, but it is something to add to your armoury right?