I walk around Lake Estes at least twice a week. I enjoy the physical exertion and the changing world of the lake environment. In addition, I often feel happier when I return home. Exercise raises endorphins in the body. Another reason, however, that contributes to explicit feelings is that I interact casually with others I meet along the path.
These encounters are one way that I maintain a positive mental health. I read recently that when a person smiles and says “hello,” a spark of connection occurs. Saying hello to a stranger on a walk triggers positive chemical releases in the brain. Sometimes I do not feel social when I begin my walk, but that often changes with the encounters. Even a brief, casual greeting can stimulate oxytocin (often called the “cuddle hormone”), which fosters trust and reduces anxiety. (https://www.livescience.com/42198-what-is-oxytocin.html)
Another way I seek to focus on positive feelings affecting my life is the mantra of “Fake it till you make it.” When a colleague of mine used that phrase years ago, I thought it was odd and did not understand what it could mean. It seemed inauthentic. Since then, however, I understand how the phrase has become a popular English aphorism that means consciously imitating confidence, competence, or a positive mindset so that those qualities are evident in one’s behavior.
I have frequently experienced “imposter syndrome” in my professional life with doubts that I have the abilities that others sometimes attribute to me. “Faking it’ by appearing confident has been helpful in becoming sure of myself during challenging moments when I feel nervous inside. Just as in greeting strangers, an affirmative attitude helps my body and mind settle down. Maintaining this upbeat tone lifts my mood and often becomes a reality.
Other phrases that I have encountered also reinforce this idea of reinforcing confidence and changing a mindset. For example, “face it until you ace it,” “be it until you see it,” and “practice until you perfect it.”
Further, I find other positive affirmations useful in my life. Muhammad Ali stated, “It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.” My favorite affirmation that I use during my walking meditations is “All that I need is coming to me.” I experience that possibility as I greet strangers and aim to be confident, but also humble, in my daily living.
Being upbeat in this complicated world is not easy. I continue to focus on how I can enjoy life more fully.