In short: Actions can shape your thoughts and feelings, often more effectively than the other way around.

Actions First, Thoughts Follow

If you want to feel happy, you might think you need to fill your mind with happy thoughts. But here's a trick I’ve learned over the years: actions often come before thoughts. By doing certain actions, we build new thoughts in our heads. So, if I want to feel happy, I act like someone who is happy. If I want to feel motivated, I first act as if I am motivated, and then motivation follows.

The Weird First Step

The first round of actions might feel weird because you're acting out thoughts you don't yet have. But slowly, it starts to work. For example, when I feel like procrastinating but want to feel productive, instead of overthinking why I feel this way or how to change it, I just start doing something productive. Strangely enough, it works out.

The Domino Effect

It’s like a domino effect. One action leads to another and another until you’re in a positive cycle where each action generates more actions and eventually new thoughts. This isn’t just true on a personal level but also at a group or work level. If you want a group to feel something, instead of talking about it endlessly, just take that specific action and watch the thoughts follow.