Whose life am I going to brighten today?
Well. What do you think? Can you ask this of yourself every day? Can you think of people who may need to see a brighter day?
I guess starting the day thinking about the people we’ll encounter throughout the day is a good place to start.
What does your schedule look like today?
Who will you encounter?
If today is a “normal” work day for you, the people should be easy to identify. For me, the receptionist, the sales staff, the service department, etc. These are the people I see every day. I usually don’t give it much thought. I say hi to them each morning. I interact with them daily. But, do I bring anything to the table to brighten their day? Do I make an effort to share some light with them?
Or, do I simply grumble and mumble my daily greeting and continue on with the day?
What does it look like to “brighten” the day of those around you?
Some of us probably need to raise our heads a bit more. Move away from the computer screen. Use the swivel feature in your neck.
Try it a minute. Move your head from side-to-side. Try up and down too.
If you’re like me, the side-to-side and up movements are the ones needing the most practice.
How about those eyes? Amazingly, they move too.
Combining the neck features and the eye features to look at the people around you are probably the simplest things we can do to brighten the lives of those around us.
Now for the really hard part.
Opening your mouth and speaking appropriate words!
Yes, I said “appropriate” words.
Instead of the usual “grumble and mumble” of your day, what change would take place with the use of encouraging and brightening words?
I know this seems like hard work.
All the effort may impact your own day.
In fact, I hope it does impact your day. I hope it impacts your day in a positive way!
Here’s your task: Intentionally attempt to brighten the day of a few people around you.
Let us know how it goes. I’ll certainly let you know how it goes on my end.
This post is one in a series of posts centered around the “7 Questions Guaranteed to Create Intensity in Your Day” found in the book 20,000 Days and Counting by Robert D. Smith.
The best part about my job as a cosmetology instructor is that I get to brighten the day of many students all year long.
Perfect! I’m sure it isn’t easy every day, but working with people who WANT to learn certainly helps.
Great post Rick. I believe that so much can change when we take the time to offer encouragement or even just notice those along our path. I know how much it can change my day to have someone encourage or even just notice something.
The like to do this at church with the many volunteers I see, from our greeters to ushers, etc, just thanking them for serving today. I know they’re there to serve but I think God intended for us to love in the ways your describing. We may never know what kind of a day someone is having on the inside and the opportunity that is ours for to be used by God to love them where they need it. I already have a few more ideas of people here at work as well.
Thanks for spurring us on.
So hard to do some days. . Working in IT it is difficult and odd to be a bright light for others. I have found the more I read His word and press into Him the more of an encouraging force I can be for others. Thanks for the reminder. .
Great point in being in the Word every day.
It’s so true. Most people never have someone pay them a compliment or say anything nice to them. We’re a society of complainers instead of spreading joy at every opportunity. Let’s change that. Great post!
Thanks Bethany!