Entertainment can change your mood

Entertainment can change your mood

I always cry for happy when I watch "Sleepless In Seattle." I don't know why, but the ending just presses a button inside me that has that effect on me. Even if I'm in a downer mood before I see the movie, after my good cry at the ending I feel great. I must love that movie because I've seen it over 10 times.


To some, a positive mood change comes from a very funny comedy. To others it's a deeply interesting drama with great acting. Another favorite of mine are horror movies that scare the crap out of me or just a popcorn movie where a bunch of people are blowing a lot of shit up after a fabulous car chase. It's doesn't matter what the venue. Some get the same experience from books, museums, car shows or music.


Whatever kind of entertainment that floats your boat, make it something you can do on your own to help change your mood. Happy people rarely go to a movie that's depressing. If they do so, it's either because they their happiness meter is so high they can withstand the downer of the subject or they don't care enough about their happiness and just like being depressed all the time.


In many Woody Allen movies he plays a character that is always depressed and goes to depressing movies. Negative energy begets negative energy. I hope it's not you. I hope you're the kind of person who is generally happy, but gets a little down sometimes. If that's you, take the time to enjoy some entertainment that will change your mood.


Stealing away for a few hours to use something created by some brilliant people whose entertainment puts a smile on your face, is a big building block toward happiness. Allowing yourself to fall deep inside your being, while watching great entertainment is very rewarding. Don't watch a movie or read a book or look at beautiful art while thinking about work or other negative distractions in your life. Engross yourself into the entertainment like you're one of the characters.


I realize that entertainment might represent only a few hours of your life, but better to enjoy and be happy for a few hours than be sad the whole day.


I've always said that happiness is in your control. You have the opportunity to make decisions for your happiness. There are many, many ways to find happiness. Entertainment is a mood changer and can be just the thing you need to be happy most of the time.


Now comes the hard part. How do you entertain yourself when you're caught up in a negative situation? Yes, you can go to a movie or do something else for a few hours, but the most effective mood changer is being able to entertain yourself. Here are a few suggestions:

• Close your eyes and remember a time in your life when you were the happiest. It could be when you were young or it could be something that happen last year. It has to be a time when you felt loved, respected and confident. For me it was the time I was presented with a reward for being the best regional sales group in the country. I hugged my people for making the reward a reality and they hugged me back. Every time, when I close my eyes and think about that moment, I feel like I'm king of the world.
• Find a quiet place and envision hitting the lottery. Think of all the good you can do with the money. Think about all the positive choices you can make with the money. Even though it's not realistic, fantasizing just puts you into a feel good mood. It doesn't have to be the lottery. It can be anything that you know is a fantasy, but would be fabulous if it ever happened. For me, it's being a professional football star. Fantasying can be a positive mood changer so try doing it when you're feeling blue.
• One of the best gifts you can give yourself is taking up meditation and/or yoga. These two relaxing actions can change your life. All kinds of great things can come from these exercises. My 20 minutes of meditation once or twice a day has changed my mood for the better and enables me to come up with interesting stuff. Some of my blogs enter my mind while I meditate. My novel was born from my meditation.  Even if you're in a happy state, meditation or yoga can be the icing on the cake. Do yourself a big favor and give it a try.

Make entertainment a part of your life. Try to get entertained every day. It could be something at work. It could be a movie or other forms of entertainment. It could come from within you. The goal is happiness. Entertainment, even if it's only for a few hours can get your mood on the right track.

Try it now. What do you have to lose - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!