How are you?

If someone asks this, usually most of the responses from us are  – Going on, Pulling on, Life could have been better. In fact sometimes we would curse ourselves why we asked that question. Their negative answer is so much that they will pull the other person also down.

Whenever someone asks me “How are you?”, my response would always be – Top of the world. I have been practicing this for more than 2 decades and a half. Initially, when I was taught this concept, I was very reluctant to practice this. Why should I say something different?  What would the other person think, if I said I am feeling on top of the world? Can I always feel on top of the world? So many doubts and questions. But my mentor asked me to practice this continuously at least for 3 weeks, whatever the other person feels or responds. Hence I decided to do so. Initially, I felt a bit awkward. But as I continued practicing this, I started feeling energetic. Over a period of time, I felt something completely different. My outlook towards life completely changed. It has become part of my system.

I still remember one of the client meetings at the beginning of a week. The client asked me, “How are you?”. Like a bullet, I said “Top of the world”. There was silence from the other end. Then we continued the discussion. The meeting went on for 30 minutes. At the end of the meeting, the client said, “Today has been a bad day for me both at home and office. I actually wanted to cancel this meeting. But the way you uttered top of the world, energized me completely. During these 30 minutes, I completely forgot whatever happened so far today and I have realized how I could change myself by being positive. Now I am looking forward to the rest of my day and week”.

That’s when I realized that what I am practicing for my own good, can actually make a difference to the other person also.  We do not know how a simple act of ours would make a big difference to others.