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They've done studies that show if you force yourself to smile, even if you're in a bad mood, it'll make you happier. Even if it's forced, it still helps. This

They've done studies that show if you force yourself to smile, even if you're in a bad mood, it'll make you happier. Even if it's forced, it still helps. This same idea can be applied to self-empowerment and it works for people. Just because it's cheesy doesn't mean it doesn't work. I mean, even knowing you're taking a placebo can still lead to positive outcomes.

wpietri 13y ago
One of the related studies I like comes from Richard Wiseman. Basically, lucky is somewhere between an attitude and a skill: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/3304496/Be-lucky-its-an-easy-skill-to-learn.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/3304496/Be-lucky-its-a... I agree with pkulak that a lot of self-empowerment stuff is bullshit. And some of it is dangerous bullshit. But a lot of it is effective bullshit because it works to counter the ineffective bullshit that lives in our heads. It's crazy. But, then, we're made out of meat. The whole thing's crazy.
pkulak 13y ago
Sounds like a pretty superficial happy to me. And it doesn't actually solve any of the problems that make you sad. Barbara Ehrenreich wrote a really good book about this kind of thing: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002SKDGQ0 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002SKDGQ0
delluminatus 13y ago
OK, smiling is a behavior that is typically evocative of happiness, and it turns out that smiling actually induces a small level of happiness even if you weren't happy before. I follow you so far. Therefore, you can... act self-empowered, which can make you feel self-empowered, even if you're not actually self-empowered? You're starting to lose me here. How are these ideas related at all? edit: I see; you mean that if people BELIEVE that acting as though they are successful will help them become successful, then it actually might help them become successful as their expectations influence their actions. Fake it 'till you make it.

wpietri 13y ago

One of the related studies I like comes from Richard Wiseman. Basically, lucky is somewhere between an attitude and a skill: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/3304496/Be-lucky-its-an-easy-skill-to-learn.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/3304496/Be-lucky-its-a... I agree with pkulak that a lot of self-empowerment stuff is bullshit. And some of it is dangerous bullshit. But a lot of it is effective bullshit because it works to counter the ineffective bullshit that lives in our heads. It's crazy. But, then, we're made out of meat. The whole thing's crazy.

pkulak 13y ago

Sounds like a pretty superficial happy to me. And it doesn't actually solve any of the problems that make you sad. Barbara Ehrenreich wrote a really good book about this kind of thing: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002SKDGQ0 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002SKDGQ0

delluminatus 13y ago

OK, smiling is a behavior that is typically evocative of happiness, and it turns out that smiling actually induces a small level of happiness even if you weren't happy before. I follow you so far. Therefore, you can... act self-empowered, which can make you feel self-empowered, even if you're not actually self-empowered? You're starting to lose me here. How are these ideas related at all? edit: I see; you mean that if people BELIEVE that acting as though they are successful will help them become successful, then it actually might help them become successful as their expectations influence their actions. Fake it 'till you make it.