I know people. So do you. Some in my social circle, I notice, have rehearsed finding fault for so many years that it’s now second-nature. Fault-finding has become lightning-fast and their default position. This is fascinating because we are not talking about learning piano here. We know that if we rehearse our piano exercises often enough, we master them. But here, we are talking about character and personality traits and emotional states. Are we what we rehearse most often? Do we become what we practice all the time?  And if we become the behaviours, thoughts, and emotions we immerse ourselves in, can we rehearse positive emotions?

The answer, I’m sure, is, “Yes!” The neuroplasticity of the brain means that whatever signals pass through it can become pathways of least resistance and thus easier to repeat habitually. Thus, we learn our native language, we learn to think, we learn new skills and strengthen established ones, and we learn behaviours.  Emotions share in this neuroplastic process.

‘Joy’ is the state I’d most like to become second-nature. Can we rehearse joy? I’m not so certain! But I know I can rehearse ‘Awe.’ It’s easy for me to find cause for awe (probably because I’ve rehearsed it.) I look to the sky and am in awe of the clouds, the moon, the stars. I’m in awe of flowers in their prime. I love to watch dogs chasing and fetching a ball. Light through the canopy of leaves leads to awe too. The list goes on…

So, what about the Moodscope positive cards?

Can we rehearse being strong?  If so, how?

Determined?

Active – surely there are ways to rehearse this?

Interested?

Excited?

Enthusiastic?

Proud? I’m thinking here that we could ‘catch ourselves getting things right.’

Alert?

Inspired?

Attentive?

I know that rehearsal works – therefore the next step becomes which patterns of thought, feelings, and behaviours can we choose to rehearse. These are easier to master if you have a human example to mimic.  For example, I know that if you spend enough time with a bad-tempered person, you will learn their habits!  Surely then, if you find a good-tempered person to spend time with, you’ll catch their good habits!

Is it time to rehearse a new play? If you’ve been living a tragedy, could it become an adventure? If it’s been a comedy, could it become a romance? Which emotion would you love to rehearse? Peace?

And if you’ve got into the habit of a practising an unhelpful character or personality trait, is it time to miss some rehearsals?

Lex

A Moodscope member