Every Day in Every Way, I'm Getting Better and Better

Émile Coué de la Châtaigneraie came up with the concept of conscious auto-suggestion.  Basically, the theory that if you tell yourself that you are getting better every day (the famous phrase being the title of this post), you will in fact get better every day.  Going along with this theory, it has been shown through multiple scientific studies that smiling actually makes you happier and not necessarily the other way around.

I believe in this stuff.  Do I think everyone should walk around with a huge smile on their face saying "everything is great and I'm great and I love you all!"  No.  Am I in the slightest bit like that?  No.  But when I am having a less than great day, or when I know there is no good reason not to be happy, I just try to smile and think to myself, things really aren't so bad.  And they aren't.  And anyone can convince themselves that they aren't.  

When I was younger, I felt like it was dishonest to be happy because so much was wrong with me and with the world.  Kind of like Johnny Cash wearing black because his homies are in prison and people are starving or whatever generic grievance he could contrive.  It is negligent not to occasionally consider the tragedies that occur in this world, but there is no need to carry that burden on a daily basis.  Wearing black (whether you are Johnny Cash or a whiny Goth) is not going to help.  Being happy and helping people does however.

Letting the problems that can easily be found in everyday life affect you negatively is unintelligent and un-American for that matter.  My wife, Alex, and I have been working together to become more positive and productive people.  It isn't necessarily easy to work full-time, exercise, eat healthy, play music, take care of the house and the dogs, etc.  But everyone has their long days, and doing those things does make me happy.  Maybe it's just because I'm smiling.

Everyone try to smile today and see if it doesn't make you feel better.

P.S. On a totally unrelated note everyone check out the Firth of Lorn pages on Facebook and Twitter and give some love.