Acting "as if"

   It's the time of year for many to participate in the setting of new goals, the time of year to release old habits and begin new processes.  It is the part of our yearly cycle in which the focus of energy turns to change.  Change is not considered a friendly process by most of our world.  Part of this unfriendliness occurs because of the fear surrounding change.  Another aspect happens because we just don't understand most of the energy principles which would help to make the shifting of energy an easier more peaceful process.  To simplify and assist in some of this goal setting, I am choosing to discuss Wehinger's concept of acting "as if."

   If you are familiar with or have studied Adlerian Psychology, as I have, you will know that acting "as if" is an integral part of this school of thought.  If you are acquainted with any of the 12 Step Programs or the area of addictions, the concept of "fake it - till you make it" is a parallel idea.  What exactly do these phrases mean?  Acting "as if" is the initiation and continued participation in a thought, feeling or action whether or not the motivating energy behind this thought, feeling or action is believed by the person doing, having or being it.  By participating in and acting like the desired outcome, one actually meets with some success.  The goal of "faking it - till you make it" is to allow the successful feelings from the "faked" thought, feeling or action to outweigh the old motivating energy. Once this occurs, the new thought, feeling or action can become ingrained.  Change can then be maintained.

   Change can be a difficult process.  Once you make room for a new thought our action to exist, a vacuum is created.  We humans don't care for these spaces to much.  We like to fill them.  The urge to refill the vacuum is so strong that most often the space gets filled with the familiar.  In other words, it gets filled with the same old thoughts, feelings and behaviors.  We put so much emphasis on filling the space that we don't allow ourselves to have time to seek out a new behavior to replace with what we are trying to rid ourselves of.  We have then less ability to practice the replacement behavior, thought or feeling.  It isn't easy to exchange a behavior and practice it, but when there isn't even the room to put it in, it is even more of a challenge.

   A good example of how acting "as if" can help is seen in the area of generosity.  If a person is learning how to create prosperity in their life, the first thing that a prosperity program will teach them is to give away money even if they don't believe they have enough of it to give away.  What ends up happening is that the "faked" generous energy becomes magnetic due to the Law of Attraction.  When this happens, success can be connected to the acting "as if".  At this point, one then begins to believe that "there is more than enough money to go around."  With this distinction and increased energy, more giving occurs and therefore more receiving can occur. the success of acting "as if" process helps to embed the new action, thought or feeling.

   From repeated experience of doing my Energy Assessment Exercise, I can tell you that personally, one of my biggest acting "as if" "challenges" pertains to having enough time to accomplish everything I set out to do.  I am currently expending focused energy on acting "as if there is more than enough time to accomplish all I desire."  This is an acting "as if" that gets worked on several times a year, particularly after times of stress.  My biggest self-fulfilling set-up to "there isn't enough time" has to do with being busy.  If I am constantly doing something, then there is no way I can finish the multitude of things I am busy trying to accomplish.  Because I cannot get to all the practical life stuff and all the self-employed business stuff, and all the kid stuff and all the fun stuff, etc., etc., etc., I end up proving to myself (and often everyone else) that there isn't enough time.

   To break myself of this issue, one of the approaches I use is to act "as if".  One of the things I desire to do is to write more consistently.  In order to act "as if I have more than enough time to accomplish my desires (writing)", I first clean up one area of my house in which I can work.  I commit to keeping that spot organized and uncontaminated by other practical life or work "stuff".  I then delegate the work of the rest of the house or close my eyes to whatever practical life seems to consistently pull me from my desired work.  I teach my kids how to do the laundry and I leave their messes alone for them to clean up.  By acting "as if", I can then write and type even through a hurricane.  By doing this I am actually able to get some writing accomplished.  I start to feel very good about how much I am getting done.  I find myself able to continue these successes until the next really stressful period of life shows up.  However, because I have acted "as if" and have so much more success under my belt, it takes really stressful occurrences to knock me off my game.  Another aspect of improvement is that even if I do get knocked out of swing, I don't stay down for the count as long.
                                                                                    
                                                                                           Michelle L. McClellan, Psy.D. ©

If you would like to get your New Year's resolution solidly in your body, start acting "as if".  Act  "as if " there is more than enough time.  Act "as if" you are a healthy eater.  Act "as if " you are free from judgment.  Whatever your heart's desire, act "as if" you are already being, doing or having it!  By making this choice, you will fill up the space created by releasing the old stuff.  By making this choice you will make change an easier process and you will become a magnet for the success of this new thought, feeling or action.

     Happy New Year!