In this uncertain economy, many are terrified of the “R” words.  Recession. Reorganisation. Redundancy. Because they are in the news and on our minds, we are more likely to act out of fear.  Scooby Doo, the children’s cartoon dog, madly barks “ruh roh!” when things go wrong.   When feeling fearful, it is easy for us to adopt an upset “ruh roh!” reaction to even small problems especially if there’s a cascading series of them.

Worse yet, next we can fall into feelings of discouragement, hopelessness then disengagement. That dip downwards is contagious, like a billowing dark cloud.  It can pervade entire companies and communities. And a leader’s mood profoundly impacts the team’s performance according to a Harvard Business Review article.  Yes, your mood dramatically affects everyone around you – just more if you are the leader

Yet, as I explain in Gospel of Joy, anyone (perhaps you?) can be a catalyst to ignite the spark of “can do” spirit in a workplace, community organization – or home.  Start by adopting the attitude you want to have today.  That’s mood management. Like fear, joy is contagious. In short, How will you perceive your day?  That’s YOUR choice.

Perceptions drive and affect attitudes and behavior.  Whether it’s marketing a brand, making a relationship work, motivating ourselves to do better, being innovative or creative or making a contribution – how we view our current circumstances is how we create our reality.   Your choice to act resilient lifts others up to emulate it – even when they weren’t intending to feel better.  We are instinctively imitative animals.  That’s why your positively contagious mood becomes a performance enhancer for you and for those around you.

What’s the nourishing mood food to sustain you in sticking to positivity? Gratitude, hope, compassion, listening, cheerful enthusiasm, generosity, forgiveness, laughter, reverence, energy and vitality, love and equanimity.

Are you willing and ready to choose joyful working and living  – with others, you trendsetter you? It just might catch on.

No related posts.