Bucket!

Are you totally sick of hearing the b-word yet? Thing is, my favorite li’l book is about buckets. It’s ok, there’s not a single #IceBucketChallenge or bucket list in sight.
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‘How full is your bucket?* is a slim volume about invisible buckets. Each one of us has one.
It is filled or emptied depending on what we say and do to each other. When it’s full we feel great, when it’s empty we feel bad.

So far, so good.

Now, we also have a ladle  – or dipper as the Americans call it. We use the dipper to fill other peoples buckets and fill ours, at the same time.

How?

By saying and doing genuine, kind helpful things. Stuff that boosts happiness, well-being and positive emotions.

Every single drop in the bucket matters. It’s precious and makes us healthy and happy.

When the bucket is full we feel amazing – on top of the world, focussed, energetic. We feel safe, valued, confident.

However an empty bucket is a different story. It saps our energy, sours our mood, and narrows our vision. We funnel into survival mode, feel stressed, depressed and worthless.

Every time someone scoops from our bucket – it hurts.

Here’s your challenge!

Which are you … bucket filler or bucket dipper?

It matters more than you think, affecting health, relationships and business, but don’t guilt yourself.

How do you feel right now? After that meeting, call, email, letter, text, tweet, share?

Did that person fill your bucket, leaving you with a warm, fuzzy glow? Or was it a dipping experience, leaving you on edge, put down, drained or defensive?

Become a bucket filler 

1. Notice if you are filling or dipping. Think sarky comments, withholding praise, not liking my fb page, or generalized bitching.

2. Stop it. The golden rule is 5 positive interactions for every one, constructive, negative one.

3.  Tell it. Catch your kids being funny, clever, kind or helpful.Notice what others are doing well.

4. Do the math. I can’t. It goes like something like un-neutered cats producing generations of kittens.  Suddenly, there’s a ridiculous amount of cats in the neighbourhood. You fill up a couple of buckets this week, fillees pay it forward. Loadsa full buckets in no time.

5.Thank you. Say it, both words, and mean it.

6. Give randomly. Smiles, ideas, hugs, fb likes, coffee, a book you’ve just read. Simples.

7. Spread it. Kindness is contagious.

In my work I get to make unhappy people laugh and feel hopeful. I have developed this knack for helping people feel good.

If you’ve enjoyed this, please hit the share button and do leave me a comment about your bucket, please.

How Full is your Bucket?  by Tom Rath and Donald O. Clifton, Ph.D, Gallup Press 2004.

Tom Rath is described as the grandfather of Positive Psychology by the American Psychological Association