How to feel good now

Written by Ivan Staroversky | 05 July 2010

Have you ever had an experience when you remembered a time when you felt good and you were able to fully emerge yourself into that memory? Maybe you thought about a conversation or an activity that you had with someone special. Perhaps you can recall how someone complimented you or something you did that was just great. The secret behind this process lies in the fact that our brain can recreate a similar feeling of the original experience just by thinking about it. 

Research in neuroscience shows us that when we think about something pleasant and we vividly put ourselves into the memory, our body and brain are able to recreate the chemistry that is associated with the original experience. Whenever you are experiencing something, your brain is firing electrical charges through specific networks of neurons. The same neural networks can become active when you simply imagine that experience. This means that the brain does not know the difference between what is real and what it imagines. This also means that there is quick and easy way to make yourself feel good anytime any place. Here is how it works:

1. Think of a time you felt really good. 

2. Close your eyes and remember what you saw back at the time. See the images clearly, hear the sounds loudly, remember the feelings as they were then.

3. Imagine yourself stepping into that experience and imagine being in that memory as if it's happening now. See what you would see, hear what you would hear, feel how good you would feel. Make the picture bigger, make the colors stronger and brighter. If your breath begins to change, let it be however it feels right.

4. Focus on the good feeling in your body and get a sense of where the feeling starts, where it goes, and the direction it moves in. Give your feeling a color. Imagine taking control over the feeling and spinning it faster and faster and stronger and stronger through your body as the feelings increase. Allow the feeling to run through your whole body.

5. Think of a time in the future where you could use these good feelings. Spin these feelings throughout your body as you think about the future and the things you are doing over the next few weeks. Don't be too surprised if you find yourself feeling really good for absolutely no reason.

Remember, the more you practice this simple exercise the easier it becomes. Soon it will become automatic and you will be able to feel good more often automatically.

Reference: 

Bandler, R. (2008). Get the Life You Want: The Secrets to Quick and Lasting Life Change with Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Deerfield Beach, FL: HCI.

Dispenza, J. (2008). Evolve Your Brain: The Science of Changing Your Mind. Deerfield Beach, FL: HCI.