Reap the Benefits of Positive Vibe

Surround yourself with holly jolly people this holiday season

Recently I attended a master voice class, which in essence means that you stand emotionally vulnerable before three other people and attempt to make noises that resemble singing so that afterwards they can critique you.
As I approached the class, I was thinking of something more positive and joyful, like preparing my taxes. My basic concern was that my noises are more akin to, as my children call it, “the cat dying.” However, being my optimistic self, I marched in and planned to give it boldly, with a few earplugs. Then the first girl stood up and suddenly, there went my optimism. She brought the house down in that tiny room, singing in a voice that had me in tears and made me want to stand and applaud.
I could have felt intimidated and inferior. But as we went around the room, exactly the opposite happened. Their warm and thoughtful insights made me see the great possibility for my own voice, that I could sing like her but in my own way.
Leaving that room, I walked on air.
The power of being with positive people and extending positive energy creates a split-second paradigm shift and is absolutely, completely, and in all ways vital to our well-being. In fact, in the book “How Full is Your Bucket,” authors Tom Rath and Don Clifton share that speaking and living positively can ward off colds, improve coping, produce well-being and extend your life span by 10 years.
Unfortunately, in the thick of the holiday season, when we’re to be our most loving of our fellowman, we tend to be a little heavy on the car horn and light on the holly jollies. To release the stress that comes with the holiday territory, we can focus on actively choosing to see and feel the Christmas cheer no matter the mood or circumstances before us.
In her book, “You Are Your Choices,” Alexandra Stoddard shares, “We expand the scope of our awareness by being totally present to what we are thinking, feeling and observing.  Be still and receptive to your attitude. There may be a lot of upsetting things happening around us and to us. Still, we choose how we are going to control ourselves, how we are going to react.”
When we are faced with family traditions or work gatherings that are stressful or negative, we can choose to be the changer. By simply switching the conversation topic or walking away from a potentially heated situation, we show our choice for the better and allow our energy to be drawn to someone or something more positive. One group of women was commiserating about the stress of the holidays and why it always comes down to women to make it happen.
One wise elderly woman simply stated that she loved the holidays and went on to talk about what made them so special. Within minutes the topic had shifted, elevating each person’s mood and holiday views.
Alexandra continues, “By thinking thoughts that aim us in the direction of greater happiness, we will, in time, transform our inner life.  We’re able to improve ourselves, choice by choice, by our habits of thought and attitude … Our character state becomes more dependable, predictable and stable as we cultivate good energy. When we develop this essential virtue of clarity of thinking … we live well.”
Living well in this way means letting go of negativity, water cooler gossip and character shredding. If the only gift you give this year is positive speaking of others, it will be priceless.
Look at this season with new, positive eyes. As you decorate your home make it a memory rather than a chore. When you wrap a gift, think back to the receiver and what they’ve meant in your life.
In writing Christmas or holiday cards, consider writing a brief thank you for one character trait a loved one shows that is meaningful to you. Enjoy the newfound energy as you focus on feeling and expressing the positive.
That’s a gift that keeps on giving. UV

About the Author
Connie Sokol is an at-home mother and president of LIFEChange, a program to enhance women’s lives.
For more information, visit www.lifechangeprogram.com.

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