Have you been to a store or other place of business where the employee’s attitudes are just ‘blah’ or even worse, obviously unhappy – so much so that you, a complete stranger can pick up on their melancholy? It can actually be pretty uncomfortable and it certainly doesn’t make you want to come back and spend your hard earned cash there.
I’ve noticed quite a bit of this discontent lately, especially in businesses that don’t use ‘scripting’ (which I also am not a fan of…but that’s another blog!) The trouble is when employees let it ‘all emotionally hang out’ their misery vibe can drive customers away. The solution doesn’t lie in faking happiness but rather in remembering how to find the ‘real deal’. Having a hard time connecting with your bliss? Here are some ways to reconnect with your bliss.
Find joy in the simple things – Far too many of us overanalyze things. Sometimes, life was meant to be simple. Appreciate the splendor of a good conversation with friends or loved ones, a walk in the park, or a delicious, nutritious and beautifully prepared meal. Don’t complicate your life with undue stress, decisions you can’t immediately act on or reality TV. Instead savor the simple beauty of real life.
Count your blessings – How many times have you said ‘If I only made more money’ ‘lost 10 pounds’ or ‘had more free time’ So many people are busy with wanting ‘more’ that they don’t remember to appreciate all the blessings that they have already been given.
Make up your mind – and go for it. Life is full of tough decisions and waffling back and forth about them will get you nowhere. If there is a decision you can act on today…do it! And then take action. Nobody ever became successful by being wishy-washy.
Learn to play nicely with others – No you are not going to like everyone you meet, and that’s o.k. but is important for you to learn to like people who are different from yourself. You don’t have to believe everything they do or agree with the way they do things but learning to get along with people who are not like ourselves is critical in today’s global market.
Don’t take yourself too seriously – Really! It is MORE than O.K. to be a little goofy every now and again. You only go around once in life, so let loose a little and have some fun. Chances are you are not a cerebral gift to mankind so don’t act like it. Lighten up a bit, you just might find you add you add years to your life and life to your years.
Embrace your mistakes – Face it, you’re going to screw up, make mistakes …so many you won’t be able to list them all. And guess what, it’s alright. Shift your thinking and realize that we all make mistakes and the best thing we can do is learn from them and move on. Don’t be tempted to be paralyzed by mistakes made in your past. Get over it and move forward!
On that note…BE FORGIVING! –Of yourself and others. It’s a skill that very few of us can accomplish. We are so much better at beating ourselves up (how sad!) Or hold pointless grudges against others. It’s a shame to live in so much in the past, which we cannot hope to change, that we never fully achieve our potential. Decide to just let it go.