Act Your Way Into a Feeling

Act Your Way Into a Feeling

Dear Champions,

The short excerpt is by and the Scripture is by Dr. Tim Elmore, and the scripture is 1 John 3:18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Miami Vice was a story of two rugged cops who used unconventional methods to get their job done.  Don Johnson, star of the 1980s TV show Miami Vice, was the man back in his day.   He was cool and tough.  One day as he entered his hotel room, he saw a thief rifling through his fiances purse.  The man had just robbed the place and was determined to get away with his loot.  When Don Johnson saw the thief he didn't have to think twice.  He took off after the crook, wrestled him to the ground and held the thief until police came to arrest him.  One bystander commented, "It was an amazing situation, just like the show!"

Don Johnson had so embraced the character he played over and over, it was intuitive for him to pursue the criminal that day.  It was second nature.  He had "acted" his way into a character.  You are more likely to act your way into a feeling than to feel your way into an action.  There is power in raw action.

Psychologist George w. Crane become known for a case he handled with a female client.  The woman came to see Dr. Crane and told him she hated her husband and wanted to divorce him.  She told the psychologist how selfish her husband was, and she wanted to hurt him as badly as possible.  "Well, in that case," replied Dr. Crane, "I'd advise you to start showering him with compliments.  Make him his favorite meals and serve him in any way you can.  Do all you can to communicate you love him, and when you've become indispensable to him, then present the divorce papers to him.  This is the best way to hurt him deeply."

Dr. Crane sent her off and asked her to call in a few months to let him know when she was ready to begin the divorce proceedings.  Interestingly, she never called.  When Dr. Crane finally spoke to her and asked if she was ready for the divorce-she emphatically resisted.  "Divorce him?" she responded.  "I changed my mind.  When I began acting like I loved him, I discovered I really did."

We must become the change we desire.  We can't afford to wait until we "feel" like it.  We're more likely to act our way into a feeling than to feel our way into an action. 

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining