What if you could always see the world through the eyes of someone in love?

It is amazing how good we are at using our awesome brains to make ourselves feel bad! Ruminating over an embarrassing moment a week ago; beating ourselves up because we meant to say one thing, but actually said another; or just spending time worrying about the future are all extraordinarily poor uses of our magical thinking and feeling abilities.

What if, instead, we focused on answering the question “how good can I feel?” You might be surprised to learn that our brains are just as adept at helping us feel good as they are at allowing us to feel crummy. And, feeling good is significantly more fun.

How good would you like to feel? That’s the question I always ask my clients. Assuming ‘more’ good is better, let’s take a look at an easy way to litter your world with more good feelings.

Intentionally frown, and remember a recent time when you were upset (if you can’t recall a recent time you were upset you sure don’t need to be reading these self-help articles). Take a couple of deep breaths low in your body (your belly) as you recall being upset. Remember to frown. Now look around you, and just notice what catches your attention. Notice what sounds you hear, how intense the colors around you are, and whether or not your environment somehow reflects your upset feeling.

Now let that feeling go. Literally shake your hands to shake out the upset feeling, stand up and move around just a bit. Make sure the upset feeling has gone.

Now intentionally smile, recall a recent time when you were feeling happy. Take a couple of deep breath higher in your body (upper chest) and relive that good feeling. Once you’re in the ‘happy flow’ take a look around and notice if your surrounding don’t somehow look different than they did when you playing ‘upset’ feelings. Most people find their environment reflects whatever emotional state they are entertaining. When we are upset, the world seems to mirror our unsettledness. Likewise, your happy feeling is likely greeted by a world of brighter, happier colors, cheerier voices, and more pleasant sensations all around.

Now recall the last time you were really in love. You know, the feeling that has you skipping instead of walking down the street. That magical glow of being in love that always has a smile on your lips. This phenomenon of feeling heroically good when you are in love is so ubiquitous that it is perhaps the clich