For someone who’s been vastly independent and a caretaker for others, being dependent on other people was hard for me. Surprisingly, it taught me a unique way to better my mood when I thought I had run out of ways to give back.
First day with my new haircut since surgery happened
Ever since my accident, I’ve had not only my physical but also my emotional well-being be tested. Asking for help is usually the last option on my list. I pride myself on my independence and how hard I’ve worked to get where I am.
In fact, I’m awful at asking for help. Initially, I was hesitant to even let my partner create a GoFundMe page for me while I was hospitalized.
I had worked so hard through college until now to give myself the life that I wanted. Asking for help crushed me.
Thankfully, I did. Thank you to anyone who donated, called, or helped in any way during that time. I hope that one day I can pay it forward, but for now- Thank you.
What is My Secret Weapon of A Phrase?
Well, I just used it. To this day it still feels uplifting and empowering to use.
While I was dependent on others, I learned how to ‘pay it forward’ when I had nothing to give or do. One simple phrase. Say “Thank You”.
At first, I didn’t realize the weight the phrase held. I’ve always been a well-mannered person, so saying thank you was nothing new for me. The meaning it had now was certainly new.
Prior to the accident, I had good finances and good health. (Thank God). Had a family member or friend asked for a favor of me, I never had to think twice about helping. I fucking loved that.
Not because I wanted to show off or be praised for helping, no. I loved it because helping people is in my nature, especially as a nurse. Helping people, even strangers, brings me joy and feels good.
Don’t you kind of wish more people felt this way? Especially in today’s world :/
What made this recovery process more challenging was that my whole sense of purpose and being felt gone. I could no longer be that ‘go-to guy’ I knew myself to be. Being able to offer help, time, money, you name it, wasn’t possible while I regained my health and strength.
Who Can Put You In A Better Mood?
You can choose anyone to help put you in a better mood. Guess what? By doing so, you can even make a positive impact on their day.
Think of it as the “2-for-1” special on sending out ‘good vibes’.
Start off simple. Thank the ones you love for being a part of your life. Move on from there by challenging yourself daily.
You can make it as easy as saying thank you to someone for holding the door open. You can make it challenging as I’ve done, and thank your exes for helping you grow as a person. Both have plenty of rewards on either side of the phrase. Hence it’s power.
Start with strangers, but make it unique. Think of people working customer service jobs and retail. They often never hear thank you, nor are they praised for a job well done.
The next time you visit your favorite store or coffee shop send them some love. Too often do they only receive negative comments. Make their day by sending an email after you leave to their boss and tell them to thank their employee(s) for their service.
You will make their day. Having it come from their boss is just icing on the cake. You never know, it could give someone the push to a promotion that they desperately need.
Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels
Just because you leave with a smile, doesn’t mean the person serving you is equally as happy.
You Don’t Have to Thank Your Ex’s to Their Face
I didn’t. You can do what I did. Write a mock letter. You can send it, keep it, or post it to Medium as I did.
There are no rules to this besides writing it or saying it. When we only ‘think’ of actions to change, their effects are minuscule in comparison to actually doing them. The words bear more merit.
I thanked my exes because they helped me mature as a person. They all had something in common. They either taught me something about myself or how to become a stronger person because of them.
Good and bad break-ups can all teach us something. It’s about how you look at it and reflect on it.
My Weirdest “Better Mood” Thank You
If you want to really get creative, here’s what you do.
Identify a product. Make it one you use often, paid good money for, or has been a pivotal part in a moment of your life. Got it?
Hiking Piestewa Peak in my Nikes
You can thank the products company or team of designers that engineered it. It sounds odd because it is. This one incorporates retailers and strangers together for sure.
For me, I thanked Nike for designing a particular brand of shoe that I used while rehabbing in the hospital. I didn’t write the ‘thank you’ expecting anything in return. All I wanted was to appreciate their hard work in creating a durable product.
At the time, money was tight so I couldn’t afford to buy new shoes each time my brace changed or as therapy progressed. This helped me save money while I wasn’t working. The shoes were even with me every step of the way as I learned to walk again.
It made me feel good to express my gratitude to someone for their work and its positive impact on my life. Especially since I doubt I’ll ever meet those people. I felt good afterward and hopefully, someone reading my message felt equally as good.
Be unique with who or what you say ‘thank you’ to.
Remember, the beauty of saying ‘thank you’ is that even when you think you have nothing to offer, you still do. I learned saying ‘thank you’ costs us no money, time, or energy, but can be just as powerful and impactful.
Create a better mood within yourself and others by saying ‘thank you’.
Want to Know More?
Are you looking for new and healthy alternatives to recharge your mood, enhance your workouts, and boost your sex drive?
I’m beginning to explore naked meditation as an addition to my basic meditation foundation.
Meditation is a great practice that has helped me crisis moments when I felt helpless. In using it, I’ve reshaped my thinking to produce positive outcomes as simple as a better mood just by saying ‘thank you’.
Sign-up here and we can discuss in private either your fitness goals, self-esteem goals, and even your bedroom goals 😉
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noah.bernard
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