1. Understand that not everyone perceives the world the way that you do and life would be boring if people all had similar thoughts.
2. When you’re being cynical, are you also being judgmental?
3. When you find yourself feeling cynical, make sure that you’re not admonishing yourself at the same time.
4. When you’re feeling cynical, are you being controlling and wanting others to behave differently?
5. Open to the humor that can often be found in a cynical statement.
6. Cynicism isn’t about “bad,” and enthusiasm isn’t about “good.”
7. Admit that sometimes it feels good to be cynical, almost like an ego boost, as if others are wrong, while you are right.
8. When it comes to moving towards enthusiasm, take small steps. For example, get in touch with the good feelings with which you are already familiar, such as stepping into a warm bath.
9. Meditate and focus on your breathing. Observe how thoughts of cynicism and enthusiasm come and go.
10. Notice your attitude when you first open your eyes each morning. Where are you in the range from cynicism to enthusiasm? Are you able to move from ugh to ahh?
11. My June 2012 blog was about being grateful for the dark stuff in our lives. Melodie Beattie, author of How to Make Miracles in 40 Days: Turning What You Have Into What You Want, teaches just such an exercise about being grateful for things we don’t like. This idea can be easily integrated onto the back page of the CalmUp® Journey.
12. As I’ve previously written, you don’t need to take a CalmUp® Journey or complete any exercise to experience peace and joy. The point is to revitalize your awareness daily.
13. Volunteer. Need I say more?
14. Yes. The word, enthusiasm, comes from the root, theos or god. In CalmUp® Journey: Your Daily Ascending Tool for Better Days, the word, spirituality, is described as sharing and serving others.  In other words, volunteer.
15. Look for possible patterns when you feel cynical. My own cynicism comes out when I’m invited to watch a free webinar or attend a free workshop, only to be introduced to the next most important thing that I can’t live without that is anything but free.
16. Look for possible patterns when you feel enthusiastic. My own enthusiasm comes out when my son approaches me and says, “Hey, Mom, can I show you a cool video?”
17. When you stop judging yourself for being cynical or enthusiastic, you’ll ideally stop evaluating others in the same way.
18. Sometimes just accept that you’re feeling cynical and allow for the feeling without needing to change.

IT’S ABOUT YOU:

1. What other steps can you add to the list?
2. Under what circumstances do you find yourself feeling cynical?
3. Under what circumstances do you find yourself feeling enthusiastic?