The gift of a good attitude

The gift you bring with you every day, is you.

Your good attitude matters. Whatever you’ve been feeling or experiencing, literally comes with you.

If you’re happy, happiness comes along. If you are invalidated, sad, bored, unconscious, amused, joyful, neutral, judgmental… all of that comes with too. The vibration of energy you're carrying with you affects everyone around you, whether you know them or not.

You don't need to be conscious of this for it to work.

As a meditation teacher, one of my favorite parts of a class is when the students sitting in front of me start to clear out the energy they brought with them, some of which they weren’t even conscious of having to begin with.

It is magical to experience a room full of people engaged in the activity of healing themselves by letting go of that which isn’t them. Powerful! The room gets much quieter and more peaceful to be in. Reality shifts. Attitudes change.

Meditation is a powerful tool you can use to heal yourself. Heal yourself, and you bring happy healing energy and new possibilities to everyone you meet.

The best gift you can bring, wherever you go, is a conscious good attitude.

This doesn’t mean that you should pretend to be happy when you’re not, or hide how you really feel. This is about being conscious that you have power in what you decide to carry with you every day.

It is a choice, one that affects every person you come across. You may be going through a lot in your own life, yet still choose to treat others with respect and kindness, even if they are faceless, nameless individuals driving next to you on the freeway.

As an example, think of the last person who gave you the gift of a smile, a hello, and had a positive influence on your day. One person carrying the gifts of love and kindness can really turn a tough day around and get it going in a better direction.

Your thoughtful action helps carry the human race forward.

You have certainly come across the Eeyores of the world - those who seem to have their own personal gray cloud, and go through the day assuring us all that indeed, there is NO bright side. The glass is always more than half empty and there’s nothing left to fill it up with.

This is the gift they are choosing to bring. If you find yourself dealing with one or more of these humans, I suggest amusement - for yourself that is. Try to not get stuck in the drama of others, and you’ll do okay here.

Remember that Eyeore often means no harm - maybe she or he is stuck and afraid, or feeling anxious about the world. A little kindness goes a very long way here, but you don’t have to match to their negativity.

Which gifts would you rather bring?

There is still no replacement for a true hello from a fellow human being. This is a gift of the spirit, “hello, I see you!”, one that many people are starving for.

Try this: make it a point as you go through your day to look people in the face, smile, and say hello. Thank the people who give you service or help you as you go through your day. Bring the gifts of kindness and non-judgment along with you wherever you travel.

You may not know how much you change the energy around you by doing this, but it makes a huge difference. You have much more power to affect your environment than you may know.

• ©Kris Cahill
  ‘In the Shape of a Heart’ ©Tony the Misfit on Flickr