If Acting Happy Can Make One Feel Good, What MORE Could Hoping, Dreaming and Reaching for the Stars Do?

The Wall Street Journal once reported that walking in an upbeat way could improve one’s mood – and that swaying from side to side while walking would cause one to be more depressed. Resisting temptations such as chocolate, fats, and “indulgent” foods elevated one’s self-perception while succumbing to those temptations created an attitude of failure.  Talking to a total stranger while travelling rather than isolating yourself within your own thoughts and sitting with good posture rather than in a slumped-over fashion also caused individuals to be more positive in their reaction to life. It seems that many of the “right things” we do have a positive affect on our health and demeanor while the “wrong” or “questionable” things we do lead us to more unhealthy destinations. While these conclusions are the result of observations made during controlled, scientific research, think about some of the examples we might see or feel in our daily lives – whether they be at home OR at work.

Some very capable individuals tend to think more about what might go wrong (stressing and agonizing over the possibility that their darkest fears might come true) than what could go right (sending them into uncharted waters that could lead them to unimagined accomplishments).  They focus and dwell within the world of possibilities, as defined by their previous experiences, making sure they can respond to any contingency imaginable (without even considering what MIGHT be possible) – often missing the opportunity to “strike while the iron was hot” due to their deliberate nature and over-analyzing each situation to fit it into a neat little box that is defined by past knowledge and proven actions.  Other individuals consider a situation (challenge or opportunity), think about several of the more obvious ramifications that their actions might cause (knowing that each of their actions initiates an equal and opposite reaction), then decided to act based on what is known at the moment (rather than continuing to “posture” themselves to avoid all risk or minimize the chances of failure which often leads to stagnation or a lack of action).  These individuals often act (intentionally) knowing what might likely happen, recognizing what could possibly happen, and what had a small (but realistic) chance of happening (that would result in unimagined gains). The actions of these individualistic groundbreakers are often opposed to the tried and true…to the appropriate and acceptable methods – but they often put him ahead of the competition and in front of “the crowd.” Risk-takers often become dream makers able to hold their heads high in discovery rather than hanging them low in the successful accomplishment of the status quo.

People often begin each day with resolutions to change – an expressed thought of altered behavior that would result in significantly different results. Resolutions, however, tend to be immediately achievable transitions rather than long-term transformations – acts that are committed to lightly, rarely shared (accountability is not a good thing for many) and might be nice if accomplished but will not ruin anything if not.  If “walking with confidence” and “eliminating a sway while walking (ENTIRELY different from a swagger…one is a walk of insecurity while the other is a walk of confidence), think of what the accomplishment of an expressed goal (even if for only a short time) might do to an individual’s psyche.

Rather than “resolving to change,” commit to transform.  Do not accept only what is attainable – reach beyond the probable to experience the possible.  Set your targets boldly where people have previously feared to wander – not as a means to guarantee defeat but rather as a way to break through to destinations not yet discovered.  When you accept the things that others have already accomplished as your benchmarks, critics (and cynics) will always point out what did not work in the past while predicting your demise. When you seek new frontiers – look forward with anticipation rather than backwards in fear or dread – others are less apt (or able) to criticize because they have no basis (or experience) to support their predictions of failure, nor do they have the ability to say overcome those failures with what is right. 

Sincerely believing that you will succeed – when supported with appropriate training and resources – will contribute greatly to success.  Anticipating failure almost always becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.  Setting the bar high keeps your head up and your attitude will follow. Failing to set a goal will allow your head to drop as you drift aimlessly without a plan or a target but setting specific and limited goals that you know you can achieve tend to contain you rather than opening up the horizon for a new adventure into the unknown and unimagined

Act happy if you seek joy in life. Establishing your destination before you determine your route will help you accomplish things nobody has yet done. Predicting success (rather than assuming failure) will help you to succeed. The experts tell us to “walk happy to avoid depression?” I would say that is a great start…but only a start…to becoming a more successful “you.”