Hi Everyone ~

The Ultimate Possibilities Seminar for Women was a SELL OUT. It was a fantastic evening with participants literally "shattering through their limiting beliefs!"

The requests for additional workshops has been overwhelming. I will be conducting another Ultimate Possibilities Seminar for Women in Chilliwack, and most likely in Langley. I'll also be offering an Ultimate Possibilities Seminar for Women Level 2.

Even though it's called "Level 2," it is not a prerequesite to have participated in Level 1.

Thank you for your support and enthusiasm!

I love helping you "step out of the ordinary."

Barb Langlois

Contact Me

Article ~

"The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up."
~ Mark Twain

3 Points to Keeping Them
(and Yourself) Happy

by Barb Langlois

Let’s face it. We all want to be happy: happy in our relationships, happy with our contribution (work) and happy with life. How many of you are registering high in the happy quotient? If you are, you might want to read the bolded key points so you can refresh your mind to keep on being happy. If you are not registering high in the happy quotient, I invite you to consider the following:

Point #1
If you want people to do well at what they’re doing, praise, praise, praise.

One of the nurses in one of my workshops shared the following story with the group: As a new graduate, she was working a night shift and was somewhat unfamiliar with all that had to be completed on nights. She had very few resources to turn too. She was nervous, even a bit scared but doing her very best at what she thought needed to be done. During morning report, she was openly criticized for her work in such a way she developed an intense fear of working nights. Now some of you might be saying, “didn’t she ask someone?” – she didn’t share those details and that’s not the point of the story. The point is criticism stings and burns the heart. Everyone is doing the best they can, attempting to make positive differences in the world and because we are all human, we mess up, occasionally. If you want people to be happy (yourself included) find things to praise and then if you have to, gently point out a point for improvement.

Point #2
Remember to smile!

No-one needs a smile as much as those who have none left to give. A smile is one of the most powerful ways to positively impact someone’s day and in these so called “harsh economic” times, it’s free! How good is that? I am currently doing a number of workshops for the community health professionals (mostly nurses) regarding the implementation of new guidelines. While these guidelines are excellent for consistency, equitable care and sustainability, there is no doubt they increase workload, at least initially. Now, while I can’t lessen the nurses’ workload, I can make them smile and it’s proving to make all the difference in the world. Some of the nurses tell me it’s one of the best workshops they’ve attended. I believe it’s because I can make them smile, even though the material is pretty dry. Just as an aside, the effect of a smile is so powerful it radiates through the phone. One of the phone companies has all their employees answer the phone with a smile. They believe (and I do too) that a smile comes through in your voice. Here’s a suggestion – the next time someone from another unit calls to give report on a patient transfer that leaves you short staffed, remember to smile. It makes all the difference in the world.

Point # 3
Have some fun!

If you haven’t laughed today, why haven’t you? Laughing is contagious and one of the easiest (and cheapest – a lot less than a therapist) ways to reduce stress. I belong to a speaking group which meets weekly and one of the members does “Laughter” workshops. She has this hilarious robotic laugh that puts everyone into stitches as soon as she starts to laugh. Some people can’t believe it’s really her laugh, but it is. I feel so good after one of those belly laughs where tears are streaming down my face, that it makes my day, actually my week. Consider the research (you know it as well as I do):

Laughter:

• improves relationships,
• improves work performance,
• boosts happy hormones,
• keeps you feeling younger
• reduces stress
• increases altruism
• and I could go on and on but really
• laughter is the best medicine. Be sure to get your dose today!

Three easy points to keeping them and yourself happy.