Keeping the Peace

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” – Leo Buscaglia

Have you ever started to pay someone a compliment or to say something nice to them and then stopped yourself? Why did you stop? Did you think it seemed silly or too sentimental or that perhaps they had already heard what you had to say? Next time you have something nice to say to someone, let it fly! There are too many people who seem to think we need to hear all of their negative input. Being able to give and receive constructive criticism is part of our growth, but giving and receiving sincere praise is part of our growth too.

You do not always know when something you do or say will make someone’s day. And not in the cranky violent “Go ahead, make my day” way that Clint Eastwood made famous in his role as Harry Callahan. I mean in a positive, putting a smile on someone’s face, a spring in their step kind of way. (OK, my true fans of the Harry Callahan character will try to tell me, but he did mean put a smile on my face. Please, let it go. YOU know what I mean!)

Another way to think about this is to consider the fact that if you want to experience happiness; you need to be the source of happiness to others. That does not mean run around making insincere comments or gestures so that some type of happiness comes back to you. It means when you authentically offer up a kind word or a helpful action to others you too will experience positive feelings. In fact you might experience the benefits immediately. When someone turns to you and says, “Thanks that just made my day” or “Thanks I was really having a tough day and you just made me smile”; doesn’t your day get better too? I hope so!

Next time you have something nice to say to someone – go for it. So what if they have already heard it? It might just be the encouragement they need to get through a difficult day.

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