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I hesitated to start this entry because I have so many thoughts and I want to be eloquent, but time is short. And then I decided that I care less about time than getting my thoughts down and starting this 'project'.

I went to a leadership forum yesterday. (I am thankful that I work for a company that invests in me as a leader inside and out of the work day.) One of the keynote speakers was Michelle Geilan.

From her Bio: (Michelle) is an expert in the science of happiness and human potential. She is co-founder of the Institute for Applied Positive Research, where she researches the connection between a positive brain and success in business, health and relationships. She is the author of the Create a Happier Life eCourse, a five-step online course on training the brain for greater happiness and well-being. She holds a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.

First of all, can you believe that you can get a Masters in thinking positively!? I totally missed my calling.

Second, her speech was fabulous. She has a background in network news (even doing a stint in El Paso!), so she is polished and pretty (which never hurts). But what really struck me was her radiant energy and enthusiasm for her life, her topic and her positivity.

I am pretty optimistic by nature, but two of her points stuck out to me:

• Happiness, Optimism is a work ethic, not a state/personality trait.  YOU choose how you see the world.
• You are always actively broadcasting your position on the world and people can feel it.  So, what do you want to broadcast?

She had a TON of interesting science about productivity at home and the workplace.  She talked about a group of 80 year old men that self-described as 'grumpy for life' and how they were completely changed by a few small tactics that she has as a system to train your brain to mine for positives in your life, rather than dwell in the negative space.

Here are her three basic tactics:

• for 21 days, list three distinct, specific gratitudes.  This primes your brain for the positive.
• for 21 days, take a picture of something meaningful for you.  Review weekly.
• Email gratitude: for 21 days, pick one person in your life and email them to tell them exactly why you are thankful for them.

I plan to do all three as a progression.  An experiment in elevating my own happiness and productivity.  Ever since I didn't get that promotion at work, I've been very discouraged about my career and feeling really stagnant.  While I am thankful for the life I lead, I've found that I always have room for growth and I am hoping that this little exercise will increase my awareness every second of WHY I work, not the position I am in.  

I haven't done it yet, but Michelle also offered a resource.  She said to send an email to start@broadcastinghappiness.com and that you will get a kick-back email with resources on positivity and her research.

Anyone want to go on a 21 day Positivity Journey with  me using one of the tactics above?

Todays Gratitudes:

• I am thankful for a flexible enough schedule that I can be a mom and work full time pretty easily.
• I am thankful that when work and life don't get along, my wife can save the day and does so without complaining.
• I am thankful for the trust of my teammates - one who just texted me to ask (at 6:15 AM) if I would mind unlocking her classroom because she knows I will be there and can be depended on.