By Amit Sood, MD MScFACP, Mayo Clinic
Dear Friends,
I neither look stunning nor strikingly ugly. On the days a few people tell me I look tired, I find the dark beneath my eyes a little darker. Conversely, on the days I hear a few good words, my mirror shows a different reflection.
My self concept changes based on what I hear about me from others. This is important because when I feel good about myself, I have more energy to help others feel good about themselves.
I am sure you have guessed it now – I love authentic praise. I am confident you love authentic praise too. Sadly, however, many of us feel too shy or insecure to lavish our well-meaning praise on others. We postpone appreciation and not uncommonly, totally bypass it. That’s a tremendous lost opportunity.
Try to be a happiness officer for a few people every day, so they see a kinder reflection in the mirror. That’s all the good work we can do some (or most) days.
No matter what you do, your job description includes being a happiness officer – at work and at home – for others and yourself.
Take care,
Amit
Dr. Amit Sood is a Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN. Dr. Sood serves as Chair of the Mayo Mind Body Initiative, Director of Research and Practice at Mayo Clinic Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program, Chair of Mayo Medical Student Life and Wellness Committee, and is Associate Director of General Internal Medicine Research Fellowship. Read more from Dr. Sood at www.stressfree.org
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