Leadership Lessons: Be Nice - Our World Depends on It

We all bring energy to the world around us, either positive or negative. This energy spreads from person to person like a ripple in a pond spreads to all edges of the pond. Whether you realize it or not, each of us has a profound effect on the world, merely through the influence we have on the people around us every day.

Imagine a day...

Where everyone you meet brings positive energy into your world. Your energy benefits every person you meet, and everyone you meet benefits you in return. The abundance of the world is increased for every single person.

The reality of that day ever arriving starts with each of us making the decision to be genuinely kind-hearted and thoughtful.

The world around you is a reflection of you

When you treat people well, you feel better about yourself. When you feel better about yourself, you feel more motivated and you get more of what you want in life.

When you treat someone poorly, you feel a little bit worse about yourself. Then, when something bad happens to you, you remember your transgressions and feel like you are being justifiably punished by the world.

This cycle lowers your self-image and serves to attract more negative circumstances into your life. Your world constricts the more you treat other people poorly, and expands the more you treat other people well.

Finally, it's important to realize that we don't know the battles being fought by other people in our lives. Even the people who appear the strongest and most invincible sometimes need positive energy brought to them by others. Resolve to become someone who uplifts everyone you meet. It’s not easy, but it’s a better way to live.

"Day after day, every one of us is capable of small yet exceptional acts of initiative and caring. When we live our lives in original ways such as these, we also come to realize that positive behaviors are a primary driver of positive attitudes, not the other way around." - From “The Other 90%”

One could probably argue that positive attitudes are able to drive positive behaviors. But one thing is certain: Even when your attitude is off a little bit, acting in a positive manner will subsequently make you feel better. In almost any circumstance, you can act your way into feeling.

What do you think? Have you ever had this happen to you?