Revive Your Vibe

Interior street at The City Library

Salt Lake City’s new library (The City Library) just screams FUN!  It radiates a fresh, energetic vibe that make you want more.    Maybe it’s Moshe Safdie’s combination of a five story curved glass wall, an indoor street surrounded by reading balconies, a giant spiral staircase, pedestrian bridges or unparalleled view of the mountains.  Or maybe its the outdoor amphitheater, spacious public plaza or rooftop garden.  It’s kind of like a library Disney World and that’s before the books.  No wonder it draws thousands of visitors each year.  I wasn’t surprised to read that one of library’s six community goals is the help people ‘enjoy life’ and ‘lighten up’ (seriously!) - which is exactly the vibe that The City Library sends out to the world.  I love that a library is brave enough to admit that part of their goal is to help people have fun, watch movies, make crafts with their kids and read magazines.  

So what’s your vibe?
How do you make the people around you feel?
Think of the last time you were at a party.  Everyone gravitated to the few people that were having fun, talking and laughing a lot. Of course.  We all want to be around positive people who are enjoying life and we want to avoid the Debbie Downers who are moping in the corner, complaining about their day.  
But what about us introverts?  Shy people have a harder time expressing themselves, especially in unfamiliar situations.  They are unlikely to jump into conversations, crack jokes and give bear hugs.  But shy people can get involved by being great listeners, offering to help, asking questions and sharing their interests.

Vibes  from the 100 Acre Wood
I don’t know if it was AA Milne’s intent, but Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends are great examples of how we come across to others...

Winnie-the-Pooh      immature, lovable, self centered but a completely loyal friend
Piglet            nervous, anxious
Owl            condescending, serious
Tigger            FUN, energetic, enthusiastic
Kanga            Responsible, caring
Rabbit            judgemental, grumpy
Eeyore            depressed, negative, energy drain

Time to come clean, who are you most like?
Honestly, I’m a combination of Owl, Rabbit and Kanga (ok, sometimes I’m like Eeyore)
I have very little Tigger in me, although I wish I had more (and so do my students!)  Fun just doesn’t come naturally, I have to work on it.

How to be more like The City Library and Tigger:

• Sleep more so you have energy and enthusiasm for life
• Smile more often - even if you’re faking it
• Let it go - whatever it is
• Define fun in your own way and have it
• Pursue something creative; anything
• Laugh instead of getting angry or frustrated
• Do something spontaneous each day

Check in with yourself during the day, and hold up an imaginary vibe mirror - who is looking back at you?  And what are you going to do about it?