When someone asks you are, which side of your internal balance sheet does your brain jump to? In other words, do you think about the problems or liabilities in your life, or do you think about the positive factors, or assets? The answer to this question, at face value, doesn’t seem to matter. After all, what real difference does it make whether you choose to honestly express your thoughts and emotions about problems, or about triumphs and blessings?

In truth, it makes a lot of difference. Your response will definitely color and shape the conversation. By expressing complaints and negativity, you force the asker to try to soothe you through sympathy, try to fix your problems, or try to just protect himself from your energetic buzz-kill. Expressing negativity does have a real effect on your energetic aura, and auras really are contagious! Conversely, positivity is also contagious, and demands much less of your conversational partner. In fact, your positive energy may serve to uplift and inspire them, and certainly positions you in their mind as someone who is a pleasure to see. In Girl Scouts, we were always told to leave a place looking better than you found it. You can do that in every interaction you have with another person, in terms of your energy and theirs.

There is a lot of talk and action today about cleaning up our physical environment, and that is a wonderful thing. But have you considered that by choosing to spread around your bad mood, you yourself are dropping energetic litter all over the place? As Woodsy the Owl said, “Give a hoot…don’t pollute!” Be responsible for the energy you bring to every encounter, and leave the world better than you found it.

Good luck!