CheerFULL

As many of you know I was lucky enough last weekend to go to an NFL playoff game.  The game was a battle - our home team was up, then they were down, then they were up again.  Just when it looked like they were going to win, the other team tied the game.  Two big plays in overtime and the home team emerged victorious!  It was an exciting game and unlike anything I had ever been a part of, so of course I had to look a little deeper and write about it.
 
The stadium holds over 60,000 people.  That is a lot of people.  Outside of a sporting event, where else do you ever have that many people in one place at one time?  A concert or an event at a convention center are the only other things I can think of that would compare.  A sporting event is unique because not only is it a lot of people, but all of those people are focused on the same thing.  They are watching and cheering for the action in front of them.  And let me tell you, the cheering is amazing.  According to the decibel meter inside the domed stadium, the noise level reached 114 decibels (that is really loud).  It’s almost as if it is contagious, the louder everyone around you is, the louder you get.  You’re clapping, shouting and high-fiving strangers.  Cheering gives you this amazing energy – you can physically feel it within you.  You can tell that the cheering has an impact to the players on the field as they raise their arms encouraging the crowd to get louder.  It’s such an amazing feeling and atmosphere – how do you bring some of that to everyday life?  We naturally cheer/encourage our kids, spouse, friends and family without giving it much thought, but what if we were more intentional?  Wouldn’t it be great if you could gather up a couple people to cheer on your child before a big test or your spouse before a big presentation at work?  It doesn’t even have to be a big event, it could just be encouraging words at the beginning, middle or end of the day.  What kind of a difference would it make?  It’s so simple, yet it could actually make a really big difference (for you and the person you are cheering for).  Or on the flip side, are you like the players on the field in need of some louder cheers?  The players don’t feel bad or shy away from lifting their arms up and down encouraging the crowd to get louder, so why should you?  Need encouragement?  Ask for it.  Get those are around you (kids, spouse, co-workers, fellow Starbucks customers) to give you a cheer, a pat on the back or a smile.  That’s all it takes.   
 
Journal on this:  Who are you cheering for on a daily/weekly basis?  Is there someone else that could use more of your cheers?  What are you doing now and how could you step up your cheerfulness for them?
 
Heart-FULLy Yours,    
Kacey
 
*My next workshop, Setting Resolutions that Stick, is tomorrow, Sunday January 24th!  Details are here, sign up today! If you don’t live in AZ, or can’t make it to the workshop, let’s schedule time to get on the phone and talk about what you need to do to make your resolutions/intentions work for you! 

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