2 Ways to Appreciate Others
One of the skills I teach in my playshops is appreciation. Participants often realize afterwards how much they don’t express appreciation to co-workers, family and friends. When we think of appreciation we think of acknowledging what someone has done: That’s a beautiful painting. That project turned out really well. What an incredible back flip! What we often forget to do is appreciate the person behind the doing ~ who we see them being: I appreciate how imaginative you are. You put a lot of heart and determination in that project. You are so courageous to do that! Imagine you just shared a painting, completed a project or did a back flip – which form of appreciation would touch your heart most? Play with both forms. […]
Therapeutic Smile
“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” ~ Marcel Proust. One smile can make the difference to my day. So many times when having a rough day, I’ll see a stranger smile and suddenly my spirit lifts. Let your smile be the light that brightens someone’s day…starting with You! Smile for no reason, for happiness needs no reason, just desire, willingness. Even just forcing a smiley shape on your face will make you feel better. As listed in this great article, here are a few Benefits of Smiling: Smiling Changes Our Mood Smiling Is Contagious Smiling Relieves Stress Smiling Boosts Your Immune System Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure Smiling Releases Endorphins, Natural […]
Creating Emotional Impact
“A smile sent, will always return.” ~ Indian Proverb. What is your favorite movie of all time? Take a moment to think about this… The reason you chose this movie is not because of the facts it provided or its special effects, but because it had an emotional impact on you. It is the feelings we evoke in others that have a true, lasting impact. A feeling of inspiration, connection or fun create an inner resonance, memory and desire for more. And yet when we create projects, events or meetings, do we consider the emotional impact we want to have on the attendees / participants? Someone recently told me that the events that had the best turnouts and feedback were the ones where emotional impact […]
Creative Connections
“Life is like a mirror, we get the best results when we smile at it.” ~ Unknown. However, this person clearly is yawning…why? She has heard the question, “How’s it going?” too many times today. We all do it, we ask and get asked the question multiple times a day. And what is the most common answer: “Good” or “Fine”. Blah! Part of living a playful life is to be spontaneous, creative, out of the box. As you go about your day, try something different when engaging friends, or even the woman working at the grocery check out. Perhaps ask: What’s been the highlight of your day so far? What has made you smile today/recently? Or even (and yes I do this regularly)… What is […]
Love & Friendship
“Friendship isn’t about whom you have known the longest, it’s about those who came and never left your side.” ~Unknown. I couldn’t resist sending this to you today. Watching this video is a beautiful way to start the week. Have a wonderful Monday, rich with gratitude for the simple freedoms we have in our lives.