We have this one precious life to live, to give, to make a dent…in the Universe, and I am astounded at the power we have to change not only our lives but the lives of others, too.
Over the years, I have found myself asking questions like…
Can we really make a difference? Can we make a dent? Does what we do really matter?
The answer is an astounding YES. More than you ever imagined.
If you think the way you live life is not making an impact on those around you, if you think you cannot make a difference, think again. When you live your life in a way that it spills over, the hopes, the dreams, the joy, the positivity, MAGIC happens.
It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them.
They went out and happened to things.
-Leonardo Da Vinci
It may not be something you notice right away, but in time, these things can have a profound effect on not only your life but the lives of those around you. Profound. A seriously PROFOUND effect. I have personally seen some amazing changes that defy even diagnosed illnesses. We have the power to change more than we ever dreamed possible. And it gets a little easier the more you do it. I have seen people with a neurological illness who struggle with anxiety and severe angst toward others reduce these struggles tremendously in their life. They even say it is much easier now than it used to be for them to be this positive person, even though the disease is steadily progressing and affecting their brain and every nerve in their body.
Friends, this is POWERFUL stuff. It is a wonderful thing to know you played even a small part in something like that. And I am forever thankful for the people that I was able to take little peeks into their lives and see a different way to live. And I repeat, none of us is living this way because our lives are easy. We tend to think when we see positive, life-giving people that their lives are easier than ours. Most of the time their lives are just as hard. Sometimes even harder.
Attitudes are contagious. Is the one you have now the one you want to go around spreading? Is your awesomesauce so amazing that it is contagious? Do you want to spread that awesomesauce to your children, your friends, or even to chance encounters from someone you may meet online?
10 Ways to Be Contagious in an Epic Kind of Way
- Read or listen to something positive every day. I cannot emphasize this one enough. Every day. Read inspirational books. Watch webinars. Listen to podcasts. Just like we feed our bodies food every day, we need to nurture our brain with good and healthy thoughts ever day. What you feed into your mind daily is so much more important than you realize.
- Take every thought captive. We have the power to change the channel. No, it’s not always easy, but it does get easier the more you practice it. Don’t let your thoughts happen to you. You happen to your thoughts. Change the channel. Negative thinking is not a luxury that any of us can afford. When we change our thoughts, we change our lives.
- Get excited about life. Be SO excited about life that it is contagious. If you are not excited about life, get excited. REALLY excited. Ridiculously excited. Life is pretty amazing. Start noticing that and celebrating it. Let that spill over. It is amazing how contagious that can be. Have you ever been around someone and you immediately pick up on their mood? You can physically feel it. Ever notice how the music in a movie can immediately change how you feel? Thoughts and attitudes have actual physical effects on us. Be the person who is spreading positivity, joy, and excitement. Sometimes we must stir these feelings up in ourselves. That will not make them any less genuine, because the feelings will follow.
- Speak great things over the people you care about. We are all so starved for that.
- Share positive things. It could be a quote, a good book, a webinar, or an article you read. Share it.
- Be a giver. Life is lived outside of ourselves. Find a cause you are passionate about. Or just make a decision to get involved in something that you think you might like…even if it is hard. We have found that these were life-changing experiences for us. Giving does not leave you in the same place it found you.
- Do epic stuff. Live your dreams. Write your bucket list. When you do epic stuff, it makes others feel like they can do epic stuff. Do things with your tribe. There are even free things to do. And do epic things with your kids.
- Limit the bad stuff you expose yourself to. This includes what we watch on television, the news, and negative people who affect you more than you are affecting them. Even the commercials are awful. Sometimes, limiting your exposure to things means certain people, too. Some people just want to stay the way they are. If you are in the ocean trying to doggy paddle to the shore and trying to save the person who is next to you, and they want nothing to do with being saved, chances are you will both drown. And there are only two people in the world I would be willing to drown trying to save. And I gave birth to them. You have to know when to walk away. Or to swim away. Not only do we need to purposely pour positivity in our life, as in #1, but we also must limit the negativity. And whatever you do, please walk away from the drama. What goes in is what comes out.
- Set goals. All the thoughts in the world still need action. We must do things on purpose. Set goals. And take action on those goals. Set personal goals. Set business goals. Seeing progress in your life and seeing that your dreams are indeed possible is a wonderful and powerful motivator. It is like a drug, but no drug you can buy. It’s free. Use it. When we are productive in the things that are the way we want to live our lives, we feel empowered to do even more. Setting and achieving goals is an energy and momentum that is contagious, that other people want to be part of. It also changes YOU.
- Make a plan. Right now. Don’t wait. You might forget. Make a list right now of positivity that you can feed into your life. Make a list of books to read, webinars to watch, and podcasts. Make a list of people you especially want to share positivity in their lives. Sharing is easy. When you are filling up your own life, your find all kinds of wonderful things to share with others. It will just start to spill over. If you would like some suggestions, please see my list of favorite inspirational resources.
We have such a gift, a powerful gift to give the people in our tribes, the ones we nurture and care for every day. And even if your children are grown, never underestimate the power of this even in their lives.
“You are the average of the five people that you spend the most time with.” – Jim Rohn
Go be contagious in the best possible way!
I couldn’t agree more with the ways you listed, especially #2 and #8. They say you are who you hang out with so chances are if you are constantly around negative people you will become just like them. Being negative never helped anyone, if anything it only made them fall behind.
Hi Ana Lynn! #8 is such an important one but also one that can trip us up sometimes. We think we are being nice or that we are helping, but after a while, you have to take that step back and realize that they are in the exact same place. And it is always a risk that they are going to have an affect on us. We all can be fragile, and negativity and drama will always take a toll on those in its path.
I love all of your posts, but this is definitely my favorite. This is the way I try to live my life.
I am a firm believer in a steady consumption of inspirational words. I always read something inspiring as soon I wake up every morning, and right before I go to sleep at night. The impact on my quality of life is HUGE!
I also believe we have an opportunity to improve the lives of everyone we meet just by letting our light shine. Marianne Williamson wrote something that stuck with me…she wrote in her book, ” A Return To Love”, that we should treat every interaction with people as a holy encounter.
This approach has made me the favorite customer in every store, restaraunt, bank and hotel that I enter. It’s a truly fun and EPIC way to live. 🙂
See, I always knew I liked you, Lee! The “steady consumption” of positive, inspirational, and motivational words is such a KEY part of this. And you are right, the impact is indeed HUGE. Some will “try it” and say that it doesn’t work. It is something you must do EVERY day. Broccoli is good for you but not if you don’t keep eating it.
It truly is an opportunity to improve the lives of others just by letting our own light shine. Others shining their light has made a HUGE impact on my life. Sometimes we do not know there is another way to truly live until we see it in action. It can be unlike anything we have ever known.
Shine on, my beautiful friend!
Your enthusiasm just oozes out of this post, out of my laptop screen and onto me—I love it! I really do believe that perspective is everything, and every day we have a choice about whether we’re going to sit back and be passive or get out there and start creating our own positive realities. I really appreciate your first point about reading or listening to something inspiring every day. I used to be in the habit of doing that, but over the past few months it’s fallen away. You’re so right that we need to nourish our minds and our souls the same way we do our bodies.
Ha ha! I love that, Katie! The running joke around here is that living with me is like living with your own motivational speaker.
It is easy to slip out of the habit. I find myself doing the same thing, a day here or there, and the next thing you know, it’s been a few days. And I can tell, too. People might think that means it isn’t “working” but that only means it stops working when we do. I live how you put that, “…get out there and start creating our own positive realities.”
Love all, but especially #5, 6, 8, and 10. Reaching out, connecting with others, and having a plan are so important. I really had to sit and think about the quote: You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. I think I must be doing pretty well (with a few things to work on…) I feel better already after reading this. Thanks for ending my day well, Topaz. Have a beautiful one yourself!
Thank you and so glad this ended your day well, Elizabeth! I love that quote. It makes me much more intentional about who I am spending time with.
What an amazing post – you are right – POWERFUL stuff. I find that when I am sending out positive energy, good things come back to me – and vice versa. I’m sharing this great info!
It really does come back to us, Lana! It’s amazing. It’s such an amazing thing to spread. And when you are spreading this in your own home, it’s such a wonderful thing to put out there in your space. Thank you so much for sharing! <3
The word you chose “contagious”–was unexpected, but fit perfectly. People who are excited about life ARE contagious, and they really do make a difference, That’s exactly the kind of person I want to be!
They really are, contagious, Rachel…in the best possible kind of way. We need more people like that. We all need to be more like that. 🙂
I’m a true believer in positivity and putting that out into the world, so I loved this post!
Yes…we need to be putting this out into the world. The world needs more positivity. It’s nice to meet you, Sara!
You know it’s kind of corny, but listening to positive things really does change your attitude for your better. Being positive is a choice.
I know. It seems cliche, like one of those things people just say or one of those things we think we know, but it is amazing how true it is and how much of a difference it makes. It’s nice to meet you, Heidi.
This is beautiful! I am a BIG promoter of number 2. I have long battled with negativity and social anxiety. The moment I realized I didn’t have to be thinking the thoughts that clouded my day was the moment I stepped onto the path of recovery. Thanks for the list, I look forward to implementing the steps I haven’t already started!
Exactly, Lizzi! Those are just our thoughts. We control them, not the other way around. It is a big ah ha moment when we realize that. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. It’s wonderful to meet you!
As a person who frequently deals with depression and fibromyalgia, I’ve often had to battle negative thoughts. I’ve recently changed the way I’ve posted things on my blog and on social media and have noticed a change in my interactions for sure. It’s also changed my outlook for the better. It really does help to have a more positive outlook.
What we say, do, and even write is so important in our lives. Words…written, thoughts, or spoken…have power. I am so glad you have seen such positive changes due to the changes you’ve made. Celebrating with you, Teresa!
Ahhh…. what a wonderfully encouraging and powerful post! I am so glad I found you through the SITS sharefest, and I absolutely love the message and the mission of your blog!
Will share and follow!! So lovely to ‘meet’ you!!
Thank you, Chris. That means a lot to me. And I appreciate the following and sharing. It’s wonderful to meet you, too. I look forward to connecting more!
This has come at a timely season in my life. Thanks
You’re welcome, Michelle! 🙂
This is beautiful! Just what I needed to read today. I LOVE number 7! I’m on vacation now and for the past week and a half I’ve been doing some really amazing things…like zip lining and watching turtles hatch and run for the ocean. I think it is hard not to be fascinated with this life when we are out there living it. 🙂 #sitsblogging
It sure does breathe life into us when we live, truly live. Sounds like you are having an amazing vacation, Tami!
Gonna go make some magical awesome sauce right NOW! This is a great list to help put us on the path of success. Even though I know how to do these things, what you said about contagious attitude is something I really need to work on. Because there are parts of mine that are contagious in a bad way. Learning to break my bad habits will really help me implement the items on this list. (Stopping by from SITS Girls Sharefest)
I think sometimes it is a matter of just becoming more intentional, Jennifer. We know many things, but it is being intentional about something in our daily lives that makes the big difference. It is both amazing and scary the influence one person can have in a family. Thanks for stopping by to visit. 🙂
I’m stopping by from SITS & I love this! I’m always happy, I could have easily had my life taken away twice when I was younger & it taught me to treasure each day & not to take everything for granted. I hope your having a great Saturday! Keep smiling!
That will sure put things into perspective, Leslie. We take so much for granted, just the gift of life we and our loved one have have every day is reason to celebrate. Thanks so much for stopping by to visit. Have a beautiful day!
Awesome tips! I really need to work on number 8. It’s good to be reminded of the others as well. Thanks for sharing 😀
That is a tough one for many of us, Giselle. I am working on that one as well. I’m definitely getting better, and it feels good to make better choices for myself. Thanks for stopping by to visit!
What a fantastic post! I should start my days rereading this! Thanks! We have the power to change.
Thank you, Natasha! And, yes, we do have the power to change. It’s in our thoughts, our words, and the actions we take every day.