HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR MOOD IN 120 SECONDS
If you’re already having a great day, perfect.
But what if you’re not? Or what if it’s the end of the day and you’re feeling tired? Or what if it’s just a normal day and you’d like to feel better?
It is possible to change your mood. And you can do it so quickly and easily it’ll probably surprise you.
Let’s start with something you already know: when you’re in a bad mood or a depressed mood or a sad mood other people can see it. They see that your head is down and your movements are slow and your posture is bad. So it worked like this: first something happened, your mood changed, and then your body changed (The big word for this in English is “physiology.”)
But it also works the other way.
If you change your physiology you will change your mood. Your emotions and your body are connected. You won’t have a choice. Change your posture and your brain will send different chemicals and your mood will change.
Here’s an experiment:
- Measure your confidence from one to ten. Just think about it for a second and pick a number.
- Stand up and stand like Wonder Woman. (hands on your hips, head high, chest out, take up space)
- Stand like this for two minutes.
- Measure your confidence again.
Feel different? Every time I’ve tried, it’s worked for me and my students.
Here are 3 more techniques to change your mood.
- Dance
- Exercise
- Force yourself to smile for 30 seconds.
And if you’re having the worst day of your life and nothing will get that cloud away from your head, then stay home or give yourself permission not to speak. We’ve all met people we wish had taken that advice.
NEXT WEEK: Why Body Language Is More Important Than Verb Tenses
P.S. If you want to watch a fascinating video on the Wonder Woman pose and changing your mood quickly, check out this video (you can also watch it with English subtitles).
https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_