Spreading Positive Vibes
John: Nicole and I got welcomed into the Always Be Contagious family last night. It is a website run by Hernando Planells where he, like us, spreads the message of positivity. I am thinking about the definition of contagious and what it means. The first thing I thought of was a virus, something that you catch. But the better way to think about it is something that spreads, like influence, example, and the value of being a better person.
It is true – you never know who is watching. That’s why you should always take every second as important and live up to your values – do what you say you are going to do, when you said you were going to do it, how you said you were going to do it, every time; set the example that others can follow in your own authentic way. I always knew I was introverted but never did I realize that introversion could be a good thing, but it is when it is coming from your authentic self. I always encourage everyone to do their best, but I have never been the rah-rah cheerleader type of guy. I just haven’t. I prefer to put my head down and just do the work. Can I get noticed if I need to? Sure, I know how to grab attention, but I don’t think this is what it is about anymore. The toughest people I ever met were the ones who get up every day, go to work, come home, pay their bills, spend time with their families, enjoy their lives, have great friendships, save money, be kind to the next ones coming up, spread love, work hard and do it day after day, month after month and year after year. Come to think of it, that itself is not a bad life. At all.
And when you are always being contagious, you are always building your character too. Today, strive to be a little better than you were yesterday in some capacity. Maybe that will spread too.
Nicole: When I think about being contagious, it’s the vibe we give off. If you walk in smiling and asking how everyone is doing, you are setting a positive tone to start the day off right. People want to be around people who bring them up, not down. When you are putting off the contagious positive vibe, people want to be on your team. The dream team. The ones who empower one another. We are the people who lift you up and up and up. And when you think you can’t get any higher, we are going to lift you to the top! If you find yourself in a negative slump, challenge yourself to think positively. Force yourself to smile when you think you can’t. A simple smile can go along way to fake someone into thinking you are having a great day when you may be having the day from hell. Smiling is contagious.
How about laughter? Have you ever heard someone with a great laugh? There is a woman in my office, and she has the best laugh! I can hear her from afar and when she starts laughing, I start laughing and I don’t even know what I’m laughing at, and then it spreads throughout the office. If you can hear the sound of her laughter, it is contagious. It’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face and a chuckle or two.
One thing that I love to do and it’s contagious, is do random acts of kindness. Last Friday, I was going through the drive-thru at a local coffee shop and I decided to pay for the persons bill behind me. The cashier was shocked and told me that was very nice of me. I was the first person to start this random act of kindness today. I smiled and told the cashier to have a great Friday. I pulled forward and I could see how happy the person behind me was. I saw her make a purchase in my rear-view mirror and I’m assuming she continued the random act of kindness.
Let’s be contagious. Let’s spread our positive vibes. Together we can accomplish great things.
Please remember to like and share😊