This Frantic Holiday Season Become a Better Person

Growing up in New York, it was sometimes hard to see the good in anyone. People were often in such a rush or so wrapped up in their own business they hardly had the time to notice you were there, even if you were lying on the ground in front of them.

Not everyone was this way, and this type of behavior doesn't necessarily mean you are a bad person. The holiday times can cause even the best people to become raving lunatics, and can make nasty people even angrier.

Studies have shown how negative emotions can adversely effect your health, so why not choose to be a better person this holiday season? You'll be helping others as well as yourself. There are a few very simple things you can do to be a better human being and cohabitant of the Earth. Not to mention you'll feel better yourself too!

1. Smile. Remembering to smile can be harder than you think. Put some effort into it and you'll see how much it can effect yourself and those around you. Smile at yourself in the mirror before you leave the house, in your rearview mirror while you drive or in the quick reflection you get a glimpse of while window shopping your favorite stores. Start your day off acknowledging the joy in your existence. Smile at the guy you buy your coffee from, and the woman you pass on the sidewalk when you walk to work. Most importantly, smile at the driver of the car that cut you off or the person who took your parking spot. You'll be amazed at good it feels and how contagious smiling can become. Try smiling at the angriest person in your office or place of work. The results can be amazing!

2. Take yourself out of your head and be aware of your surroundings. If you're paying attention to what you're doing, you're more likely to be more courteous to those around you. For example, if you're busy arguing on your cell phone as you open the door to enter the local mall, the odds are you won't notice the person behind you. If you are listening to your Ipod while ordering your double mocha latte, you won't hear the barista as she asks you how your day is going. By simply paying attention to what you are doing you will become more content with yourself. The worries will slip away because most of the time worry doesn't involve what we are doing right now; worrying is the art of fretting over what we are going to do in the future. Don't worry about all the gifts you have to buy while driving or cooking a meal. Instead enjoy the view while driving and take in the scents while cooking. Worrying has never accomplished anything, last time I checked. By focusing on completing what you are doing right now you'll not only feel happier but also do a better job.

3. Be positive. Don't reflect your negativity to those around you. If you're in a bad mood, say so and avoid too much contact with others until you can speak in a more appropriate way about your situation. If others are sending their negative energy towards you, don't be afraid to let them know it. I've found that telling them how they appear to their environment is often enough to change their way of thinking. This helps both themselves and those around them. After all, wanting to be positive is sometimes easier said that done and a little reminder may be just the thing to bring someone back down to Earth. If your expressions make the person worse you may want to consider the amount of contact you have with this person.

4. Avoid drinking too much. During the holiday seasons many people tend to drink more alcohol. If you are already a negative person, drinking alcohol can make matters worse. Not only will alcohol make you feel bad, but it can also cause you to overreact or behave in ways in which you normally wouldn't. Perhaps your estranged cousin shows up after your third glass of wine and he owes you 50 bucks, or you've decided to tell someone you despise at the office just how you feel at the company holiday party. Drinking and driving accidents are also increased during the holiday season and just one extra glass of that spike eggnog can cost lives.

5. Remember that it soon will be over. When all else fails, remind yourself that the holidays don't last forever. Talk about an upcoming trip you planned for the spring or about your birthday next summer. Focus your energy on something you enjoy about the season such as baking cookies or maybe eating them. Point out the benefits to the holiday such as seeing relatives from far away or giving and receiving gifts.

Most of all remember that this too shall pass. Of course it will all start up again next year, but who's worrying about that now?