What does "Act as If" mean?

[hopefulinEG]

Act as if your divorced? Act as if your married? Act as if your happy when your not?

I have seen it mentioned a lot but I don't know what it means. I haven't gotten through the books yet so maybe this is a stupid question because it's in the book.

[Sara]

Yes, it's in the book, but to me, it was never clear. I think it means act as if everything is fine, as if you are happy, visualize what you want to be happening, and act as if it were happening. I think it has to do with the "power" of positive thinking.

[lynn08]

Yes, it's in the book, but to me, it was never clear. I think it means act as if everything is fine, as if you are happy, visualize what you want to be happening, and act as if it were happening. I think it has to do with the "power" of positive thinking.

That is exactly how I take it too. On a side note, I think this works pretty well for me. I find that if I don't act as if we are going to work this out, I constantly dwell on us getting divorced and I believe in the power of our thoughts determining our outcome. Good luck!

[artemesia]

I also find acting as if very important in maintaining sanity. You can completely set the tone of an interaction by acting as if everything is okay. This can save you from reacting negatively to something by staying composed. I've also noticed that by acting as if I'm okay with everything (even though I'm not) it gives H something to think about and makes me more desirable since I'm not running around moping.

[hopefulinEG]

thank you for your answers. I think I get it. It is more of the always seem happy. No one wants to be with a downer kind of thing. And it is easier to keep a PMA if you act like it. Kind of like mind over matter or something like that.

Thanks again.