A positive outlook on the British weather: Stop feeling under a cloud and brighten up your day!
Last week I was asked to help an Italian student studying English in London to research English sayings referencing the weather. Here are some examples:-
Bolt from the blue |
Go down a storm |
Silly season |
Brighten up the day |
Head is in the clouds |
Steal someone's thunder |
Calm before the storm |
Hit rough weather |
Stem the tide |
Cloud nine |
In a fog |
Storm in a teacup |
Cloud of suspicion |
It never rains but it pours |
Tempest in a teapot |
Cold light of day |
Quiet before the Storm |
Throw caution to the wind |
Come rain or shine |
Raining cats and dogs |
Under a cloud |
Dry spell |
Rain on your parade |
Under the weather |
Every cloud has a silver lining |
Right as rain |
Weather a storm |
Fair-weather friend |
Sail close to the wind |
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Get wind of |
Shoot the breeze |
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I hadn’t realised just how deeply our fixation with talking about the weather has permeated our vocabulary. Noticable is the number of negative sayings there are that reinforce our depressed mood during the current sustained period of bad weather.
So it came as no surprise to learn today that sales of St. John’s Wort – a mood boosting supplement – have more than doubled.
Of course, supplements aren’t for everyone however the use of positive self-talk is.
I was fortunate to attend the Goals UK (www.goalsuk.org) Inspire : Motivate : Engage programme recently. This programme takes the Learner through the “10 keys to Success” of which Key 2 is Positive Self-Talk. In essence the Learner is taught techniques to replace “bad self-talk” with “good self-talk”. One of the best techniques that I am applying is the “Mirror” exercise. While in the bathroom in the morning I give myself a positive motivational pep-talk to boost my self-esteem and self-confidence. I know that this probably sounds silly but it does work! Try it for about 2 minutes each day for 30 days and it will change your life.
It got me thinking how many times in a work context that I have used negative talk, or heard others around me doing so – e.g. “the grass is always greener on the other side”. It’s time to stop because it is demotivating; bad for employee and clients relations; and definitely not good for business!
Raise your antenae and when you catch yourself using negative talk, excuse yourself and go to the bathroom; look yourself in the mirror; and remind yourself of the lyrics from the well-known Michael Jackson song “Man in the Mirror” written and composed by Siedah Garrett & Glen Ballard (slightly altered for the purpose of this blog):-
I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to chage his ways and
No message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make this [world] a better [work]place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change.
Have a great day and remember “every cloud has a silver lining”.
Cheers … Gary