Can You Really Go From Crappy to Happy?

I used to get frustrated when I couldn’t in a “blink of an eye” go from feeling crappy to feeling happy. I mean, according to my dad, happiness was just a switch in my head that I didn’t have to reach for via my “anal sphincter” or “anal orifice”.

Sorry, I know that’s gross. Regardless, his well-meaning message has always been that of choice. Choosing to be happy.

Sure, I know that there’s always a choice. I coach around choices every day. I understand just how powerful being in choice is, but what I didn’t understand was how my choice to go from crappy to happy didn’t work.

I chose to look at the bright side. I chose an attitude of gratitude. I chose to look for the silver lining. And while all those exercises in choice were (and are) helpful, they didn’t help me slide up the emotional scale from crappy to happy.

Does any of this sound remotely familiar? If so, please read on.

If not… if you’re one of those folks who’s found a cool way to zip up that emotional scale, I’m super excited for you! Of course, you’re welcome to read on but I do hope you’ll send me a message letting me know your secret. (I love collecting helpful secrets.)

CLIMBING THE EMOTIONAL SCALE

Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross once wrote, “There are only two emotions: love and fear. All positive emotions come from love, all negative emotions from fear. From love flows happiness, contentment, peace, and joy. From fear comes anger…