A Good Mood Leads to Good Fortune

While waiting to cross the street on my way to the post office this morning, I noticed the driver of the passing car stretch out a big morning yawn. Within seconds, I felt something tugging at my lips and I began to yawn as well. Seeing me, a person waiting on the other side of the street yawned too. While the contagiousness of a yawn is something that we are all familiar with, this morning it struck me as being very funny.

Crossing the street with a giant smile still on my face, I passed my fellow yawner. "Good morning," I said, giving him the man nod – the generally accepted greeting amongst men of few words. The sincerity of my greeting sparked a smile on the man's face, which lingered even after he walked past me.

I carried my sunny disposition into the post office where I cheerfully took my place at the end of the line. Feeling the urge, I struck up a conversation with those who were waiting with me. After all, it isn't every day that the University of Michigan suffers the biggest upset of the century, and I was excited to share it with my fellow Ohioans. It didn't take long for the six people in front of me to chime in and be engaged together in pleasant conversation. Moments later, after his turn at the counter, the first man headed out into the world, smiling and holding the door for the next woman who was walking in.

What started with a contagious yawn quickly turned into an equally contagious string of positive exchanges. It was as if every new person was the start of a chain reaction, passing pleasantries and goodwill to those they encountered next. At that point I realized that feelings and thoughts, like yawns, are contagious.

Oftentimes we make the mistake of thinking that we can keep our emotions and thoughts to ourselves. The truth is that there is no such thing as a private thought or feeling. Just because we may not share them verbally does not mean that they are hidden or incapable of being passed to another person.

Realizing this for the first time may seem scary or intrusive, yet it truly is one of the most beautiful and beneficial aspects of our existence. Your thoughts and feelings have the ability to not just determine how you experience the world, but also how others experience the world. A simple and seemingly inconsequential "good morning" to a stranger can literally set the tone for that person's day.

With that kind of influence in one another's lives, it is not only our responsibility but in our best interest to do our part to spread positive thoughts and feelings. You have the ability to immediately clean up your mental space, to clear your mind of negativity and choose to think and share positive thoughts. When you create this positive seed within you, every person, thing, and situation you encounter will be marked with the good luck you have created.

Imagine the difference it would make in your business alone if you were always playing your "A game." Everything would change. Your sales presentations would glide off your tongue. Your colleagues and employees would feel inspired and motivated working with you. Your customers would feel comfortable and confident trusting their business, their family and their success in your hands. Everything about you would just "feel right."

As silly as it sounds, you literally have the choice to determine the world around you. Instead of letting one mishap hijack your good spirits and taint every person and situation you come in contact with, overcome your mishap and be done with it. Push it off to the side and make room for something more positive. You'll be pleasantly surprised by the impact it will have on every person and situation you meet.