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'As If' Technique

Have you tried it? Give it a go!

By VeronicaPublished 5 years ago 4 min read
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What is the "as if" technique?

The "as if" technique is an exercise that utilizes the power of action.

For example, when you act "as if" you are confident. When you act "as if" you are happy, you will start feeling that way. Your mental state will start to change when your body and its actions change. It sounds simple, right? Well, that's because it really is THAT simple. The hardest part of this technique/principle is convincing yourself to do it.

By now you've probably have heard of this principle or even already put it to use. Here's an example, maybe you were nervous on the first day of your new job and tried to hide it by being knowledgeable and confident. Or maybe you acted "as if" you were brave to impress someone you like. This technique can change the way you feel and bring you happiness and success.

Our body and brain work together to help make sense of the world around us. We learned to think that our brain was in charge of everything, and that the feelings we have of being happy, sad, confident, disappointed, and so forth came from within. We have powerful chemicals in our body such as dopamine, endorphin, and adrenalin that flow through out body which triggers us to respond. For instance, smiling when we are happy, frowning when we are sad, standing tall when we are confident, and focusing our attention when we are determined. But, that's all wrong... Research shows that we can cause these same exact feelings by acting "as if" we already have them. All we would have to do is smile if we wanted to be happy. Stand tall and hold your head up high to feel confident. These simple actions stimulate our brain to send out those exact powerful chemicals.

Where did the "as if" principle come from?

The "as if" principle started in the early 425 BC by Aristotle, a Greek philosopher. He wrote, "If you want to be virtuous, you only have to act as if you're virtuous."

Throughout the midst of time this principle got lost. It was until the 1800s when a psychology professor named William James was very interested in the mind-body connection that he picked up the "as if" concept. He knew that when people were unhappy they frowned, and when people were happy they smiled. He wondered if the opposite could be true. His findings came out to be true and you can find them in his book, Techniques of Psychology. James was well known for quoting, "If you want a quality, act as if you already have it."

More than ten years later, a psychology student named James Laird, discovered William James' work. One day, Laird saw someone in his class lab smiling for no apparent reason. On his way home, Laird decided to try it. He forced himself to smile and continued to smile. Eventually, he started to feel happier. He came up with this idea to do some research. He wanted to connect the electrodes to various parts of the face to measure the electrical changes that occurred when people frowned or smiled. Laird got a group of volunteers and told them to manipulate the electrodes by pulling them down at the corners of their mouth into a frown, or pulling them up into a smile. The electrodes, smiles and frowns, were fake but the results were real. Laird asked his volunteers to describe how their actions made them feel. The ones who forced a frown said they began to feel sad and/or angry, and the ones who forced a smile said they felt considerably happier.

Today, this technique remains one of the easiest methods to make fast changes in your life. Even famous names such as Richard Wiseman and Anthony Robbins gave it a try. Wiseman even wrote a book about it called, The As If Principle.

I get it, you may be thinking this is such an exaggeration to be able to have a technique this simple that can change your reality. But, it isn't. It's the truth. This is real.

When you act "as if" you begin to create new patterns in your brain and body. You send signals to your brain when you change your behavior about how you want to feel. For instance, when you feel happy, more blood flows to your brain. Then all those "feel good" chemicals that we have in our bodies, endorphin, serotonin, and dopamine, are released. There is nothing new or revolutionary about that. It is basic biology.

Your body and it's actions can affect your mind. The slightest actions in your physical behavior can quickly change the way you feel. The more you practice this "as if" technique, the easier it will be for you to experience certain feelings whenever you want to.

This technique can be used in many areas in your life. Whatever (positive) emotions you want to feel, this will give you the power to experience it. It can help you boost your confidence, stay focused, feel happier and less stressed, and give you the energy and determination you need to achieve success.

I mean look at it this way...

You can't be sad when you're feeling happy.

You can't be stressed when you're feeling relaxed.

You can't be vulnerable when you're feeling strong.

It's simple.

Give it a try.

"If you want a quality, act as if you already have it." - William James

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About the Creator

Veronica

Exploring the world through words. 🌍✍️ Articles, stories, and poems on places, food, family fun, and the beauty of everyday life. Join me on a journey of discovery and imagination.

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