The Value of Being Positive. Part 3 in the Bad Mood Strategies series

Why Make the Effort?
Why spend the time to come up with bad mood strategies to get yourself into a good mood in the first place? You're busy doing what you're doing and such pre-emptive planning can take a significant amount of time and energy.

The answer is very simple: It's far more fun being in a good mood. You can change your life by feeling better about yourself. You can change your life by ensuring those around you enjoy your company. More energy for needed tasks can change your life. And you'll change your life by becoming more productive, more effective at completing whatever you do.

There's yet another reason why it's valuable to stop your self sabotage and make such efforts to feel good about yourself. Your efforts are never wasted! The more time and effort that you put in being happy, the more that effort makes it easier to be happier in the future.

But the secret of success is to realize that this is not about pretending to be happy. Pretense doesn't cut it, you actually need to be happy - to become happy. There's a big difference.

Pretense is a sham, externally you put a smile on your face, but internally you continue to feel miserable. There can be reasons why you might want to do this on an interim basis, but not for the long-term. Honesty is generally the best policy.

Being Positive is Good for your Health
There's even a health benefit. Doctors now know that mental negativity has a negative effect on your overall health. A good internal state doesn't just improve your mental wellbeing but also your physical health. Being in a good mood is the secret of success, it's good for your health.

Yet your self sabotage mechanism doesn't want you to improve your mood, it feeds on your negativity! Now you know why some people seem to favor being in a bad mood: Their self sabotage mechanism runs their life and the food they've already given it has just made it stronger. This is a vicious circle. The only way out is to investigate your thoughts and the likely outcome of your choices. But superficial thinking won't do it, you need to think through the consequences of the consequences...

The more energy you put into being happy, the more happiness you will have in your life, as Deepak Chopra explains below.

Your List of Good Mood Strategies
Making these strategies to change your mood more available will change your life. You've made a list, but don't self sabotage, now decide where to put copies?

You want these strategies to be as available as possible, so that they're accessible when a bad mood strikes you again. Another obvious secret of success is to maximize your chances of actually being able to use them.

This is important work. You'll find being able to lighten your mood to be immensely valuable for dealing with anyone, especially a long-term partner.

You can Improve your Mood Anytime
You don't have to be in a bad mood to use these strategies. Any time you're not on top of the world, you can use one to lift your spirits. The more you use these strategies, the more comfortable you'll be using them, and the more available they will be for you when really needed!

The next article examines proven strategies which have stood the test of time.

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Food for Thought
"Whatever you put your attention on will grow stronger in your life. Whatever you take your attention away from will wither, disintegrate, and disappear."

- Deepak Chopra, American Indian-born MD, endocrinologist, University Professor, prolific author translated into 35 languages, 19 New York Times bestsellers