This past Monday, I woke up with a realization and decision in my mind. I was done feeling upset about things. The energy I needed to counteract my mood was simply too high, and I wanted to use it more effectively. I made the conscious choice: this week, I will feel happy. No discussions.

In general, everything is just perfect

In general, everything is just perfect. Life is beautiful – I am lucky enough to have my loved ones close to me, live in beautiful Switzerland, have a job that fulfills me. But somehow … All of this gives me a feeling of contentedness, that deep underlying sensation of gratitude and bliss. But it does not create that in-the-moment-feel-good mood. Which is what you need every single day: while ‘zooming,’ trying to crack a tough topic, or making up your mind about vacation plans as borders remain closed.

All you need to do is to choose your mood for that one single moment

‘In-the-moment’ implies that it is truly momentary, and hence all you need to do is choose your mood for that single moment. We can do this right now and observe that it’s possible. Here and now we feel happy. Let me emphasize: we just observed and experienced that we can choose to feel happy for a moment; this becomes our base: true for n=0. There is no reason why we could not choose to feel happy at any other future point in time: true for n=k. If the statement is true for any point in time, it is also true for the next moment after a particular moment: true for n=k+1. In short, we just proved by induction that we can choose and that we can feel happy. Now that you know that it’s possible, why would you still decide to feel miserable? 

We just proved by induction that we can choose and that we can feel happy

Of course, it still takes energy. But much less so. Once you realize that it works, it becomes a flying wheel. I spent Monday smiling the entire day and not quite knowing what was happening. Day after day, it continued, and finally, today, on a Saturday, I woke up smiling and decided to share with you.

What is your DATE?

If you want to boost the effect and work on your underlying feeling of contempt as well, I can offer a trick, too. I picked it up in ‘How to have a good day’ by Caroline Webb – a fantastic book! Try writing down your DATE before going to bed: Discovered, Achieved, Thankful, Experienced. This works to make you aware of all the great things that happened to you over the day. It also works as a nudge to make sure you create a moment per letter. The feeling of not having anything to write down in the evening is just too disappointing! 

I hope you give this week both approaches a try – choose your mood, and make your DATE! 

Take care, 
Katia 

PS: From this blog entry, you might guess my background. It’s one more thing I am incredibly grateful and thankful for: my ETH Zurich education. This laid the foundation for everything I stand for today, including my obsession with working out!