Give Yourself an Energy Boost!

Have you ever noticed that some situations energize you while other situations drain you?  In general, people who are extroverts are energized by social interaction, while people who are introverts are drained by the same situations.  I am an introvert by nature, though I have learned to disguise it well.  Knowing this about myself, I was greatly intrigued by a recent  experience. 

It was nearly 8:00 p.m.  I had had a very busy day and was exhausted and wishing to be done for the day when  I realized that I still needed to go to Costco before they closed in half an hour.  I dragged myself into the car and vowed to get this over with as quickly as possible so I could go home and rest for the evening.  As I was driving I realized that I had not done a goal I had set for myself that day - to do something nice for someone else that I would not normally do.  I decided that while I was in Costco I would try to make eye contact with and smile at as many people as possible. 

As I walked through the store I began making eye contact with and smiling at everyone who would look at me.  I had so much fun doing this that I totally forgot about how tired I was and how much I didn't want to be at the store at 8:00 at night.  By the time I walked out and loaded my car I was very surprised to realize that I no longer felt tired, but instead felt energized; so much so that I decided to go to one more grocery store on the way home that I had originally decided to save for morning. 

As I entered the second store I again made contact with and smiled at everyone I could.  I found that I was not in a rush, did not feel tired, and in fact felt happy and energetic, almost impossible for me at the late hour of now 9:00 at night.  (Yep, I'm a morning person.) 

I have pondered and studied to try to discover the source of this phenomenon.  I have discovered that as we share our energy with others through positive interaction, we also receive energy back from that person.  I still don't completely understand this amazing phenomenon, but what I do know is that it works.  It was a startling discovery for me, and one I intend to keep using.  Who knew that giving your energy away in a positive way would end up giving you more back than you gave AND make you feel happy at the same time?

If you need an energy boost, or you want to feel happier, try making eye contact with and smiling at others and see what happens.  You may be as surprised as I was!