Did last week’s experiment show you the power of your mind? If you didn’t read that one, it’s here: Words, including those you think, create — or uncreate — wellness.

Think angry thoughts, feel angry … and ill. Think good thoughts, feel happy … and well. That’s it simplified. So, guess what? You can take that idea even further and use it to help change how you feel when you already are angry (upset, frustrated, fill-in-the-blank negative emotion). Instead of dwelling too long in that crappy place, you can use this experiment to switch to feeling better … long before those bad emotions do a number on your well being.

Feeling awful? Something stressful is happening? Something that makes you breathe fire? Something that makes you sad or worried? Take the second part of the experiment — in short, close your eyes, relax, bring to mind a happy memory and dwell there for a few minutes — and use it to help change that emotion to something lighter. Right then. Before it does damage.

This is like working out your brain. If you don’t work it out in a positive direction, its rather natural fallback is negative. If you don’t exercise your arms, they naturally will be sort of weak. Won’t do what you want. Won’t help you be well. Your brain? Same thing. And, again, remember: This isn’t 24/7. Tip it in the health-giving direction. That’s all. Trying to be perfect usually equals giving up in time.

Pretty easy fix, right? Yet another tool in your toolbox to keep you on track to living well … really well. This is what I do — share with you all the tools I’ve gathered from years of experience and illness and education so you have at hand what you need to successfully keep heading toward wellness and even better navigate times of unwellness.