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....this is just me describing a small thing that made me smile and feel better. But it occurred to me i might develop it as a kind of conscious, dicsiplined thing to improve my mood.....

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Maintain that attitude and you will see leaps and bounds beng made in your outlook on life!!

Another simple thing you could try doing when you are down and alone is this: smile, but only on one side of your face (like a smirk, but without the attitude of a smirk). Not a whole smile either, though, as this can create a stronger sense of "faking it," and can easily stop the "process."

Apparently, it suppose to lift the spirit slightly and maybe even enough to stop that train of thought that is currently keeping you down. I practice this (when I remember to) and although the feeling is very slight and fleeting, it works, to my utter surprise! (I'm usually quite cynical about these kind of exercises). It's kinda like when you consciously drop your shoulders when you are really tense and then just as quickly, your shoulders are up around your ears again.

There is a fraction of a second of relief that is felt. It may take a few tries before you can feel it, but I think you are aware enough of your senses that you may be able to pick up that brief feeling of happiness(?). You know, I haven't really thought about what the feeling is that it produces in me - maybe a sense of lightheartedness...
(and there is nothing light about my heart - everything is heavy, all the time).

If your into trying something innocuous while doing what you did yesterday, it might give the experience a little more oomph! Might even work for you when you're alone, too!

If you do try it, let me know if it does anything for you? (It could be that this only works for me because I'm crazy).

Later!

Altered State