Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact.
~ William James
This isn't an exhortation I need, or have ever needed, but it seemed like something I would like to hear the day before my birthday. (Let me know if you need further reminders.) (Happy to oblige.)
Action and feeling go together…by regulating the action, which is under the more direct control of the will, we can indirectly regulate the feeling.
~ William James, Talks to Teachers on Psychology and to Students on Some of Life's Ideals
This is very Jewish, I think. Before receiving the 10 Commandments, the people said, We will obey & we will hear. I had an argument with a friend once. She said, I can't do anything I don't believe. I said, I can't believe anything I don't do.
Doing leads to belief & to feeling. If I act kindly towards you, I'll end up liking you.
Yom Kippur is a day away so of course I'm thinking about how to do better.