How to Change the Way you Feel
How to change the way you feel.
You can change the way you feel by changing what you focus upon.
At any single moment you are surrounded by thousands of things you could attend to.
At the same moment, your mind could think about a million different things from your past, present or future.
How you feel at any given moment, will depend upon what you CHOOSE to focus your mind upon.
- If you focus on the things that are bad, then you will feel bad.
- If you focus on the things that are good, you will feel good.
- If you focus on the things that are terrific, you will feel terrific.
Theoretically, if you were selective in your focus, you could feel terrific, all day, every day; alternatively, if you are selective in your focus you could feel terrible, all day, every day.
And sadly, many people do.
The best way to change how you feel is to become more conscious of what you are focusing your attention upon.
If you don't like how you are feeling, then you can change it, by changing what you are CHOOSING to focus upon.
For example, I recently attended a wedding, that was held in mid-august, in Gloucestershire.
We all expected it to be dry, hot, sunny, summer's day.
But on the morning of the wedding, the sky darkened ominously, the wind blew stronger and cold rain began to fall.
The mood of the family could easily have been negatively affected by the intrusion of bad weather.
But it did not affect the family.
Why? Because the family decided to focus on what WAS terrific:
- The bride looked terrific.
- The groom looked terrific.
- The food was terrific.
In fact, everything was terrific, except the weather. So, we ignored the weather and we focused on what was good.
Be more selective in your mental focus
To redirect your mental focus away from what is bad, and towards other things that are good, is an option always open to everyone.
You can change the way you feel by being more selective in your mental focus.
People who are down on themselves, or down on the world, feel that way because they have adopted a habitual-system of thought, that picks-out what is wrong, in any situation, and they make that wrong thing their main focus.
As a result, they feel bad.
On the other hand, people who are feeling good about themselves and good about the world, feel that way because they have adopted an opposite thought process; one that selects what is good in any situation, and they and make that the main focus of their attention.
As a result, they feel terrific.
You can train yourself to do that and that would change your personal reality.
Definition: Selective attention
Selective attention is a personal development technique. You pick on purpose the sights, sounds and thoughts you let in. You block out the bad or useless ones. This switch alters how you feel straight away. The skill grows stronger with steady daily use, so you steer mood at will.
Show CG4D Definition
- You choose targets for thought and sense input on purpose
- You shut out negative or irrelevant information
- The choice changes emotional state immediately
- Skill improves through repeated, daily practice
Article Summary
Change what you focus on and you change how you feel; choose the good, ignore the bad, and you train your mind to lift mood on demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions that frequently get asked about this topic during our training sessions.
How can I change how I feel fast?
What is selective attention in this context?
Why does positive focus lift mood?
Can bad weather still be a good day?
How do I spot a negative focus habit?
How long to train my mind to feel better?
What nightly exercise improves mood?
Thought of something that's not been answered? Ask Us Today!
Did You Know: Key Statistics
A 2024 Mental Health Foundation survey finds that 67% of UK adults feel anxious at least once a week. A 2024 University College London study shows that writing three good things each day lifts self-reported happiness by 25% after six months.About the Author: Chris Farmer
Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years' experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.
Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.
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