FEELING NEGATIVE?

SAVOR SMALL MIRACLES

As you watch a negative news story on TV, your energy tanks and your holiday spirit takes a hit, depleting your sense of optimism. Exhausted, you sink into the sofa, hoping to feel more hopeful soon.

When you’re feeling less than festive, tap into tiny joys. You’re familiar with the phrase “Fake it till you make it.” Turns out it’s backed by science, says Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D., founder of the Happiness Studies Academy. “I’m a big proponent of action; even if we initially fake it, we ultimately become it,” he says. “Research shows that our whole being, mind and body, wants to be on the same page— we don’t like a discrepancy between what we think and what we do, so persisting in taking positive actions can change negative thoughts.” Doing just that is easier than you think. “Anything from watching a sitcom to dancing— the most impactful form of exercise on psychological well-being—helps you feel more positive instantly.” These small doses of joy create a positive affirmation bias, the expectation that good is all around us, adds Concannon. “This is the miracle of being present; it proves to you over and over that the stress of this year didn’t deplete you beyond repair—you are still whole.”