HAPPINESS/UNHAPPINESS MUSCLE

Imagine you viewed your neurons as having the characteristic of a muscle.

The more you use them, the stronger they get. The less you use them, the weaker they get.

Most folks have learned to flex their unhappiness "muscle"; thus unhappiness seems so common, so natural, so automatic. However, we can start a new training program: building and training our happiness muscle.

How? Practice. Practice. Practice. Every time you do unhappiness, you build the propensity to be unhappy (angry, sad, fearful, depressed). Every time you do love, thoughtfulness, self-reflection, kindness, you build the corresponding "muscle." Now remember, "muscle" is a metaphor - but neurons and neuro-pathway tracks often respond in the same way muscles do, through use. You can start your training program right now by what you choose to do next and next and next. Choose happiness, love, thoughtfulness, self-reflection, and kindness, and they’re what you will build stronger as part of who you are and what you do in the world.

Ah, I am really smiling at you now - more flexing of my HAPPINESS MUSCLE.