We generally have an expression for every emotion. E.g., smile when happy, frown when angry, gloomy when sad. Sometimes we feel stuck with unhealthy emotions and don’t know how to get rid of them. Learning simple quirks of human psychology can give you an advantage in most situations.
Below are my tried and tested hacks to instantly change my emotional state, which has worked to my advantage. You might want to try some of these and let me know in the comment section.
Smile is my all-time favourite. Try to smile, or force yourself to smile when you are angry, upset or feeling low. Try it when you are getting exhausted during your workout. Science has shown that a smile causes a chemical reaction in the brain, releasing hormones like dopamine and serotonin. These hormones help your brain get the “All is well” signal.
Change your position whenever unhelpful thoughts and emotions cloud you. If you are sitting, stand up, and if you are walking, sit down. An even better option is to stand out in the open with your arms spread out.
Deep breathing works wonders. If possible, take ten deep breaths. Five are also good, and sometimes even one is enough.
Talk to yourself—another favourite of mine. Talking to yourself clarifies what’s going on within you and what you can do about it. Just remember to be honest with yourself. No one is watching but you.
Delete ‘should haves’ & ‘could haves’ from your vocabulary. Though it’s good to learn from our past experiences, just be aware, are you learning or living in your past.
Tell yourself what you do best before anyone else tells you what you don’t or can’t do.
Ask for help. It’s the most courageous thing to do for many.
Our body is the only place for us to live. Pamper it and start by giving yourself compliments.
We all need support in life from time to time. When you need it most is the time you should support others more.
Talk about health. Introspect your underlying needs if you prefer to talk about your health issues. Is it your need to get heard, get attention, get importance or your need to find a solution? There are healthier ways to do that.
Help at least one person every day. Act of kindness releases happiness trifecta, i.e. the happy hormones (dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin) in our body. These not only make us feel good but also counteract the effect of the stress hormone (cortisol).
If you found this post helpful, please like it, leave a comment, and share it with others. It will bring a smile to my face, and in return, you’ll get something known as “The Helper’s High”- a literal state of euphoria caused by helping others.
Cheers,
Anupma
CBT & NLP Practitioner
Career Guide
Life Coach & Counsellor
You can visit my website, www.anupmagupta.com and connect with me for any queries.