Smile

We’re running around like a chicken with its head cut off!  So many things to get done and not enough time to do it.  It’s easy to get impatient with people – you want them to hurry up and meet your needs!  Everyone has their own agenda and during particularly stressful times, other people’s agendas can be pushed on you.  Here are some tips to think about when you’re encountering chickens.

Tip 1:  You may encounter people that you don’t know and aren’t in your life long.  They just want something from you, information, a service, something.  Remember it’s about them, not about you.  You have no idea why they are difficult today, and you don’t need to know.  Put on your best smile and do what you need to do.  A great way to disarm a person who is arguing with you – say loud and clear – YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!  It stops them in their tracks.

Tip 2:  Let go.  Holidays are a time we want everything to be perfect.  It seems that we strive to control more and more the busier we get.  Ask your children or your spouse to do the decorating.  Request that your sister make a side dish.  Have others set the table.  When you see the results of your delegation, smile and remember that whatever you are seeing is perfect.

Tip 3:  Try and give people the benefit of the doubt if they snap at you.  There might be something going on you don’t know about.  Practice smiling at the grump and see what happens.  You’ve got more power to change someone else’s mood than you realize.

Tip 4:  Smiling can bring on an energy boost.  It’s something that you’ve got, that you can use at any moment.  It’s a free tool that is often overlooked.

Tip 5:  Smiling helps bring you back to a present state.  When you’re fully present you’re giving all of those around you a great gift – your full attention.  Giving someone your full attention is rare these days.  People will feel special.  Being present takes practice.  Smiling helps you to remember to pay attention and look at what is right in front of you.

Tip 6:  When encountering one of the chickens who proceeds to tell you why, what and how they are so stressed and busy, just smile.  Out busying someone leads to greater stress and becomes a competitive sport.  Let someone else have the limelight of overwhelm.  Add “That must be very difficult for you” or some other phrase of empathy as you smile.

How do you keep smiling over the holiday season?  Share any tips you might have below.

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