Act As If
I’m not naturally inclined to embrace a super healthy lifestyle. I’d rather sit at home and read, knit or play my piano than go out and exercise. I’d rather eat pasta and warm sourdough bread every night than lean protein and vegetables. And I’d rather drink wine than water. However, many years ago I found a shift in mindset helped me make better health choices: Act As If.
Act As If is a powerful tool. I first incorporated this philosophy when I was dancing and struggling with finding the perfect “diet.” I decided to stop thinking of myself as an overweight dancer who needed to lose weight and start thinking of myself as a lean, fit, “heath nut.” It was remarkable how quickly my habits changed from sneaking chips and overeating to only eating when I was hungry and only consuming healthy food, at least for the majority of the time. Part of what helped me was observing the habits of people I felt were really “fit.” I found that they ate slowly, they weren’t obsessed with food when it was around, and they never finished a meal.
I have managed to develop a “healthy” lifestyle, which I feel I adhere to about 80% of the time, and it’s because I keep hitting the Act As If button. I’ve been doing this since I was 18. At some point I expect that if I keep Acting As If, then one day I won’t be acting anymore and I’ll just BE.
Here are a few of my Act As If buttons that I find myself constantly rebooting:
Act As If I’m super healthy—For me, this means eating clean and exercising at least few times a week.
Act As If I’m organized—I find I have to hit this reboot button a lot… multiple times a day. It helps that my husband is super organized and tidy so my mess is definitely an eye-sore in our home.
Act As If I’m a morning person—This means planning my life so I get up early and get going even on the weekends. I feel this is important to stay on a schedule and sleep pattern so I’m not lethargic during the week when I do have to get up early.
So ~ what is your top Act As If you hope will someday become your BE? Please share below.
Been pondering this post for several days, because I wasn’t sure how to respond. I think I agree with the principle, but the term “act as if” concerned me a little bit. I grew up with a parent who has spent his whole life acting as if he was successful, like he had money, like…and that wasn’t always the case. In the end he hurt a lot of people and really hurt himself. And he’s almost died twice now (both preventable situations). But also, it harmed me because when I got sick with M.E. I was around someone who believed… Read more »
I love this response. It reminds me of one of the quotes I have in my office “The mark of an educated mind is to be able to entertain an idea or thought without being afraid of it, or feeling like you have to accept or agree with it, ”
Thank you, and for the record, if we didn’t have our coaches meeting at 7:15am each day I wouldn’t feel the need to “act as if” I was a morning person. ?
Oh my gosh. Ouch. That being said I enjoy and even miss 7 am shifts receiving deliveries – something peaceful about methodically restocking a shop without customers or many staff members. But definitely requires an afternoon nap later in the day to catch up on the missed sleep. I love that quote too. I have one on my wall from Dudley Field Malone that says “I have never in life learned anything from any man who agreed with me”. I don’t think that’s entirely true (I’ve learned lots from people I agree with) but I think the sentiment is important… Read more »
I have so many ACTING AS IFs. Several of them have actually come from reading these musings over the past few months. My absolute favourite of these is changing my perspective from “I have to” to “I get to”. It is amazing to me how changing one little word in my internal dialogue can change my perspective and outlook on so many things in life. I think that changing this one little thing has made me both happier and more positive. More often then not this is a Being at this point instead of an ACTING AS IF but for… Read more »
Rebecca I LOVE THIS! I feel like you quoted that last paragraph about acting financially responsible from my Journal. I feel EXACTLY the same way. While I believe it is obviously prudent to be financially organized and responsible it sure is fun to be whimsical when my financial obligations are met and I’ve got extra cash to share. I do feel that the Law of Attraction is in full force with my finances. The more I give away, the more I find I have. Thanks for sharing your response. I greatly enjoyed it.
I am ACTING AS IF I am an organized person. I am currently doing my student teaching and need to plan very far ahead for lessons and activities. This has been a challenge for two reasons: 1) I am much more of a fly by the seat of your pants type person and 2) I like to take things a day at a time rather than having to look ahead as teachers must do when planning lessons. So far, I have had to hit reset a few times but I have made positive strides. Now my appartment… That’s a whole… Read more »
Isn’t it amazing how many of us share the same struggles in life? OR… I wonder if it just seems that way because of the types of people that are interested in reading my Musings in the first place. What do you think Brittany? I imagine that someone who isn’t interested in reading these types of things doesn’t share our same struggles. Hmmmmmm…. I should ask my brother – the Rocket Scientist with the overactive left brain. =)
I am ACTING AS IF I didn’t give into temptation and pick up soup in a bread bowl for dinner. I’m also ACTING AS IF I didn’t also pick up a big chocolate chip cookie for dessert ?
OR just savor and enjoy and hit the “refresh” health button tomorrow =)
I never thought of it this way but I guess in the last year I’ve convinced myself to act as if I am a runner. As a gymnast I always hated long distance but I recently completed my second half marathon. It helps that they were both at Disneyland which have me extra motivation. It’s still difficult to get out the door but I always feel better after I run.
Wow good for you. Your response is motivating. It really can be as simple as Just Do It – put on the workout gear, get out the door and start moving. And you’re so right… I always feel better after I’ve worked out.
Act as If my auto immune diseases don’t affect me. I have used this mindset since I was five and so far it’s worked. Power of Positivity!
Sat Jan 7th. Our competition schedule should be posted this week.
I say we all get together in LA after our first meet and chow down on warm sourdough bread and pasta. Who’s in?
I’d love it if that worked out! When’s your first meet?
PS: I am currently ACTING AS IF I have t been craving pasta & warm sourdough bread since Miss Val brought it up last night. I shall ACT IS IF celery & green tea is just as yummy.
I am going to, starting today, ACT AS IF I am confident in my abilities as a jewelry designer and maker. Instead of being apologetic for having a Facebook page and afraid to share it with people I will ACT AS IF this is something I should have done a long time ago. I am proud of the jewelry I create and I am looking forward to ACTING AS IF I am confident enough to share it with others. What’s that saying? Fake it until you make it? Lol
Yes! Your jewelry is like my choreography…. some people like it and some people don’t. There is NO WAY to craft something that is universally applauded. The important thing is it stirs your soul and your spirit comes alive when you share your passions.