Wiggle Your Butt to Get Happy

Perhaps you are hoping that my blog entry title reflects the metaphor of a mature author. It doesn't. I mean it literally: If you're in a slump, wiggle your butt. (Oh dear, is this one worth reading through to the end)?

Here is how I came to this most profound of conclusions. I noticed that my colleague's depression is situational. If her circumstances change, she will be happy. In contrast, my circumstances are great: everyone in my family is relatively healthy; I have a husband and child, a job, friends, credentials, a car that is reliable, enough food and money, but I still tend to be chronically dissatisfied (okay, downright "moody"). For me, "feeling down" is more of a physical thing, not a cognitive thing. Despite getting enough sleep, good exercise and nutrition, I usually wake up in the morning and feel heavy, tired, lethargic. I wait to observe the negative thoughts I should be restructuring, but they are simply not there.

Then I have an "AH-HA!" moment. If my primary problem is physical, then my solution has to be physical too. This proposal fits my experience. When I force myself to just smile, however half- heartedly, I instantly feel a bit better. I complain to my BFF that I'll never be one of those "Rah! Rah!" perky (aging) cheerleader types. When I make the accompanying physical gestures of Little Ms. Rah-rah, my mood spikes as I cannot help but laugh.

Just like it's impossible to feel angry when you are completely, physically relaxed, so too is it impossible to feel depressed in the moment that you are sticking your rear end out and wiggling it around like it's Hokey Pokey time. I guarantee this one! In fact, I DARE you to try it (with gusto) and NOT feel a bit better.

And so . . . The gauntlet of butt wiggling has been thrown down before you. Will you, oh brave, moody Knight, take up the challenge?