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Remember to be cheerful during the holidays
Carroll on Work
By John Carroll
Be of good cheer. Have you ever stopped to reflect on this short sentence?
You may associate it with the holiday season, tied to the commemoration of events that occurred hundreds or even thousands of years ago.
But what does this sentence really mean to us?
It was never about stress
You can bet that today’s typical holiday season, as it has evolved, wasn’t what people had in mind when they initiated and handed down the various traditions of a family feast, a time of gift giving and the stillness of silent and personal gratitude.
Hustle and bustle have made their way into holiday songs, even with the humor of such goofy greats as “The Twelve Pains of Christmas.”
There is also the classic line from the TV series M*A*S*H in which BJ Honeycutt, observing the arrogance of new arrival Dr. Charles Emerson Winchester, declares, “Why don’t we avoid the Christmas rush and start hating him now?”
The holidays were never meant to stress us to the tipping point; they were intended to be a time when we could appreciate blessings and to reflect on how grateful we can be for the many gifts we’re given, particularly those that don’t come wrapped in gift boxes.
Late November and December now rank among the busiest times of the year in a society that is already incredibly fast-paced and starved for quiet and meaningful downtime.
It is difficult at best to be cheerful during times of high stress.
Even as we cross off tasks on our holiday to-do list and come to the holiday itself, we are more inclined to slump in a chair and catch a catnap than we are to sit quietly with people important to us.
The holidays have become known as the toughest time of year for many people who dread them for any of several reasons. None of this was intended.
What is good cheer?
Cheerfulness is best explained by the following quotes:
“Cheerfulness means a contented spirit; a pure heart, a kind and loving disposition; it means humility and charity, a generous appreciation of others and a modest opinion of self.”
~ William Makepeace Thackeray
“The most certain sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness. Her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear and serene.”
~ Michel de Montaigne
“The soul that perpetually overflows with kindness and sympathy will always be cheerful.”
~ Parke Godwin
Why be cheerful?
Have you ever been in a joyous or particularly happy state when someone tried to rain on your parade?
Others might see your cheerful attitude and try to help you back down from that dangerous loft of happiness.
As the old adage goes, “misery loves company.” That’s just one reason to be cheerful—you’ll chase away those who are unhappy because they can’t stand to be around happy people.
Another reason: Cheerfulness actually improves one’s immune system and helps ward off illness. As an anonymous person said, “‘Cheerful people,’ the doctors say, ‘resist disease better than the glum ones.’ In other words, the surly bird catches the germ.”
A third reason to be cheerful is that you are then capable of brightening another’s day.
As Lydia Maria Child puts it: “You find yourself refreshed by the presence of cheerful people. Why not make an honest effort to confer that pleasure on others? Half the battle is gained if you never allow yourself to say anything gloomy.”
How to be full of cheer
Here’s a recipe to get you started on the cheerful road.
Make a list of 10 to 15 things for which you are grateful, including family, friends, employment, health, home, hobbies and freedoms.
Write a thank you note to someone for each of these items. You may write to a nephew who helped you build the shed, a note to an old friend you only speak with every few years, a short letter to the person who helps you stay healthy, even a note to a veteran who has protected your freedoms in this democratic society.
Tell one or all how grateful you are for how he or she has enriched your life.
Write the note by hand, hand address the envelope and apply your own stamp. It is a ritual of gratitude you should experience on a recurring basis.
Make it a point to say thank you to those around you for the little things they do on your behalf.
When someone holds a door, allows you to walk ahead or defers to you in traffic, communicate your genuine thankfulness.
It is difficult to be truly grateful and have a sour attitude at the same time. With each and every thank you, there is at least a momentary smile, and smiles get us closer to being cheerful.
Be of good cheer. You will find yourself laughing a bit more and walking around a bit more lightheartedly, and you may even wonder why you have been taking yourself so seriously.
John Carroll is a business consultant, speaker, author and president of Unlimited Performance inc. in Mount Pleasant. E-mail him at jcarroll@uperform.com.
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