How in the World Do You Stay Positive at Work?

Here’s a hint:  The Eyes Have It

Stress and negativity can lead to physical, mental, emotional and spiritual disaster. We all know this because there are thousands of television ads telling us which pharmaceuticals we should be taking to eliminate the stress from our lives.

Personally, simply keeping an eye out has helped me, so I’ll pass on a few things you can keep an eye on to maintain your optimistic outlook.

• Your ultimate goal: “What am I really doing here?” Whether you have clients, constituents, students, patients or a congregation, your goal is to assist them with their endeavors – whatever they may be. Keeping this at the surface will help to re-arrange your priorities and keep the daily pettiness at a minimum.
• Your reason for working: While some people are employed to keep homes running and bills paid, others work to feel fulfilled and help others. Whatever the case may be, remind yourself from time to time that you have decided that there is a good reason for coming to your office/cubicle/classroom every day, and remember to find the happiness in it that prompted your decision in the first place.
• Connecting with co-workers: Let’s face it, we spend time with our colleagues more than our families at home, so make an effort to get to know them. Of course, there are different levels of familiarity depending on the relationship, but it’s beneficial in many ways to maintain a friendly, trusting environment at work. Obviously this doesn’t work for every single co-worker, so I’d suggest doing the best you can to avoid negative encounters.
• Reach beyond daily tasks: We all know what our duties are according to our work positions, but occasionally we may have the opportunity to go beyond them and do something that benefits our work environment, the local community, or even one colleague. When you can, take that opportunity and help with that food drive, sit on that charity committee, improve your surroundings. You’ll feel a contagious happiness that will stay with you, and will affect those around you.

So, yes, the eyes have it. Try to keep an eye out for these few things, and soon people will be asking why yours are sparkling.

Priscilla Sullivan is an events coordinator and director of National Testing at the University of Mary Washington. She also serves on the Leadership Colloquium @ UMW Advisory Board.