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I love the word “ebullient,” which means to bubble over with enthusiasm. As the riot of daffodils and tulips and crocuses burst through still-cool soil every March here in the Pacific Northwest, it reminds me again how enthusiastically nature greets every moment, every season, and every situation. The question is, how can we do the same given all the negative and fearful voices in our heads?

Here are seven ways to become more ebullient today:

1. After the alarm has gone off but before you get out of bed, think of one thing you’re really looking forward to– having lunch with a joyful friend, finishing a big project, getting a massage, etc. Now smile. That’s right, just do it, even if it is 6 a.m. Positive thinking and smiling help prime your body and heart to begin the day ebulliently. And just as a good breakfast pays off for the entire day, so does a good thought.

2. Speak with exclamation points! Research has shown that we can create the way we want to feel by acting as if we already feel that way! When someone asks how your day has been, don’t say fine, say “Fabulous! Wonderful! Amazing!” And when they ask why, focus on the things that have happened that should make you feel that way.

3. Make a list of at least five things you really loved when you were a young child and do something from that list this weekend. If you loved ballet classes, take a class, go to a performance, or put on some music and strut your stuff at home. If you wanted to be an astronaut, read about astronomy at the library, plan a trip to NASA, or make a note on your calendar that for Halloween you already have your costume idea. If you loved playing in the mud, get out there and get dirty! No one expresses ebullience better than children because so much is new and wonderful to them, they can’t suppress the feeling. Get in touch with your inner ebullience.

4. Take some time to teach your favorite hobby to a child, a class, or a friend. Ebullience is meant to be shared. Helping others learn about something you love will cause your natural energy to overflow. For years, I’ve taught comedy to middle schoolers. I have to admit it still scares me, but sharing one of my favorite things with kids who sometimes really need something to laugh about makes me feel, well, you guessed it… ebullient.

5. Call the person in your life who is most perky, most enthusiastic, and most bubbly. Perhaps this is someone you’ve occasionally found annoying because of these very traits. If you’re going to learn to be more ebullient, what better way than to find someone who is already that way and study what makes them tick.

6. Think like a dog. Most dogs greet every moment with overflowing enthusiasm. Just say the words “Who wants to go for a walk?” and see ebullience in action. You may think of a walk as 15 minutes of exercise. Your dog, on the other hand may think, “Come on, come on. There are squirrels to chase and bushes to smell and dogs to greet and maybe someone will stop and compliment me on what a good dog I am today!”

7. Plan for joy. Having something to look forward to helps fill all the days until the event with happiness. The event doesn’t have to be a big one like a wedding or class reunion, it can be as simple as a family picnic, a concert in the park, or lunch with a good friend. You should have at least one joyful event on your calendar every three weeks so you can experience the joy of anticipation. Studies have found that joyful anticipation creates a whole host of positive physical and emotional benefits. This is your week to make sure your calendar is filled!

Reprinted from “Don’t Get Mad, Get Funny Newsletter,” a free newsletter offering tips for lightening up work and life available at www.accidentalcomic.com. © 2010 Leigh Anne Jasheway.

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