It needs one second, one breath, one word.
And you can destroy a whole day.
This morning I had to do some bureaucracy - changing my adress on some papers and stuff. So I went to the department, I had to go, to get my stuff together and when I came in I was unable to cope with the system. I did not know where to go, I did not know how to change the adress and who was in charge for my concerns.
I decided to go to the receptionist and told her what I wanted. And she just looked at me and asked:
,,Have you already taken a number?"
I said,´Yes´ and she just rolled with her eyes and grumbled, ´I cannot help you, if you already took a number. Sit on a chair and wait until you are called up.`
I looked at her very confused and left the reception to take a seat. I felt unsecure and like I did something wrong.
The way she talked to me made me feel even more uncomfortable than before.
Of course, she did not know that I have never been in this department before. But I wondered, if it was not her purpose to kindly help me.
First of all, I always ask myself, if I just overreact. Because we all have a bad day, sometimes, and think that the whole world is mean to us. But at the moment I sat down, I looked up to the receptionist, too and there stood a old couple. They asked, where they have to go and this woman did it again: she asked for their number, rolled her eyes and said, they have to take a seat in a more rude way.
Her voice went higher, after every eye-rolling and she gave them the same answer.
Very often I watch people being in a bad mood, but they don´t see it themselves. A lot of people are used to their habits, so they don´t realise what kind of effect it has to the people around them.
Try to be your mirror and reflect your behaviour. It is not wrong to have a bad day, we all have sometimes. But also try to smile, even in your worst times.
60 seconds smiling in front of the mirror and believe me, you are going to feel better.
It feels a little bit ridiculous in the beginning. But who cares, if it really helps?
Try it, when you are alone at home and I hope you will feel better. Besides that train your voice. Choose one simple sentence and say it loudly with different emotions: happy, sad, angry, dissapointed, cold, full of empathy.
After it you will understand what I mean with ´the POWER of your voice´. Maybe you can even put this exercise in your daily routine and watch the reaction of the people around you.
It is a little game for you.
Have fun with it!
