Changing Thought by Action
It is often said that changing the way we think will change our behavior, and this is certainly true. However, changing our way of thinking is not always easy, because our thought patterns tend to be rigid. In such cases, another approach is to begin by changing our behavior. By doing so, we can gradually influence the thought processes in our brain and, over time, reshape our patterns of thinking. For example, just as it is difficult to feel sad while skipping or angry while smiling, repeatedly expressing positive words, especially those of gratitude, can shift our mindset toward positivity. This change in thinking then influences our behavior and habits, eventually leading to better outcomes. Of course, no matter how sound these theories or principles may be, we can truly understand and benefit from them only by putting them into practice, again and again.