If you’re feeling uncertain, there is certainly a book that will help

Self-help books have become so popular that not only have they earned a special section at Barnes & Noble and millions of dollars for their authors, but they also yield an amazing 400,000 results when searched for on amazon.com.

Most self-help books are based on the premise that in order to change your life, you have to change the way you think. But the way we think is a pattern that starts in childhood, so if a book is going to act as a kind of therapist, you want an easy-to-read book that makes you feel the author understands your problems and can give you some easy-touse advice.

I tend to read help books that zero in on a specific area such as “The Art of Aging” or “Living with Loss.” But in general, self-help books advise us to be more mindful, be in the moment, listen to our bodies and our thought patterns, let go of attachments, accept who we are, and become more patient.

One of the most interesting articles I came across was by Richard Wiseman, who advocates forgetting positive thinking in favor of positive action. Wiseman feels visualizing yourself as head of a company, scoring well on a test, or being popular at a party, does not work, but that behavior can cause emotion. For example, smiling can make you feel happy while frowning can make you feel sad. Subsequent research has shown that this same principle applies to much of our everyday lives. Wiseman calls it the “as if” principle; in other words, act as if you are the person or feeling you wish to be. Here are some quick suggestions:

• Willpower: Tense up. Tensing your muscles increases willpower. When you need to avoid that cream cake or extra helping, tense your muscles, make a fist or grip a pen in your hand. When trying to diet, use your non-dominant hand to eat, which makes you place attention on your actions. (I suggest only doing this at home as half the food may end up in your lap).

• Happiness: Smile. The granddaddy of them all. Hold that smile for 20 seconds. You will definitely feel better.

• Procrastination: Make a start. Just carry out the first part of what you are avoiding and you will feel a strong urge to complete the task.

• Persistence: Sit up straight and cross your arms: Studies have shown that when volunteers were presented with tricky problems, those who were instructed to sit up straight and fold their arms persevered for twice as long as others. To feel confident, stand straight, shoulders back and breathe deeply.

• Persuasion: People nod when they listen to someone they agree with. If you want to encourage someone to agree with you, subtly nod your head as you talk with them. They will often copy your movement and find themselves attracted to your way of thinking.

• Feel younger: Most interesting of all was an experiment conducted by a Harvard psychology professor at a retreat with a group of men in their 70s in which they were encouraged to act “as if” they were 20 years younger. Within the week, the men were walking faster, had improved memories and lower blood pressure.

Now, dear reader, I am not suggesting you go out and play two sets of tennis or try skydiving, but if we concentrate on not getting blind-sided by a numerical number, and focus on thinking and feeling young and vigorous, it might just be the self-help we need to fully enjoy our remaining years.