Let’s see, there’s summer, fall, winter, spring, and uh, jolly. For the uninformed, the jolly season started around Thanksgiving and goes all the way until Christmas. Or what used to be called Christmas. Now it’s called the holiday season to make certain that no one is offended.
The jolly season or the holiday season is SUPPOSED to start the day AFTER Thanksgiving, but it now actually starts the day of Thanksgiving because people just can’t seem to wait to be jolly.
And it seems as though, regardless of our current “jolly” directives, there are always a few spoilers: people who just refuse to be jolly no matter what. People like politicians, governments fighting one another, sending their soldiers or their armies to kill one another, employees that are having to work longer hours during the “jolly-days” and then there are the people that don’t have enough money to buy stuff on the jolly-days.
What constitutes jolly?
Shopping? Traveling in super-crowded airports?
End of the year tax planning?
Goals to lose weight or get in shape?
It’s kind of a mixed jolly season when you think about it.
One that presents from Santa and a family dinner may not fulfill.
Whatever the circumstances in your world, the likelihood is that there is not enough “jolly.” Or the jolly is somewhat hypocritical. Or the jolly is somewhat contrived. Or the jolly is somewhat insincere. Regardless of the jolly type, there remains a root of jolly season and process.
Jolly is the happiness that springs forth eternally, and creates a jolly attitude or a jolly mindset. Jolly is HERE (point to head) not here (jiggle belly).
So, here’s my jolly message: I think jolly should be all the time. Why wait for Thanksgiving? Why wait for the holidays? And when the season is over, are you going to go back to being pissed off, or are you going to try to maintain jolliness?
Do you think you could have a jolly year instead of just a jolly season? That kind of makes more sense doesn’t it?
Why is the month of December the “jolly month”? When does jolly actually start? Why isn’t May as jolly as December? Why isn’t this the YEAR to be jolly, or for that matter, the lifetime to be jolly?
I’m asking because I have dedicated my life to being jolly, and I challenge you to do the same.
Jolly is not just a gift, or a family dinner, or a holiday tree, or singing a few songs, or a season – jolly is an attitude – and it’s an attitude for all seasons.
Here are a few jolly things to consider as you look to “put” and “be” jolly in the new year:
• Jolly about yourself.
• Jolly about your life.
• Jolly about your relationships.
• Pride in what you’re doing.
• Love of what you’re doing.
• Desire to be the BEST at what you’re doing.
• Knowing the purpose behind what you’re doing (your REAL WHY).
These elements will give you the freedom to find internal jolly – also known as internal happiness.
Here’s a short excerpt from The Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude. It substitutes the word HAPPY for the word JOLLY, but the meaning is the same. It explains the urgency of self-imposed happiness as it relates to your success. Please don’t just read or listen, please apply it.
The truth is, the fact is, the reality is, there’s no better time to be happy than right now.
If not now, when? After the economy gets better?
You may not be able to wait that long.
Your life will always be filled with challenges, barriers, and disappointments. It’s best to admit this to yourself, and decide to be happy anyway. Alfred Souza said, “For a long, long time it had seemed to me that I was about to begin real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.”
There is no “way” to happiness.
Happiness is the way.
There is no “after” to happiness
Happiness is now.
Here’s the answer: It’s inside your head FIRST and everyplace else second. Happiness is a treasure. Your (missed) opportunity is to treasure every moment that you have.
I wish you the jolliest of seasons and the best jolly, happy, healthy New Year possible.
Jeffrey Gitomer is the author of 12 bestselling books including The Sales Bible, The Little Red Book of Selling, The Little Gold Book of Yes! Attitude, and 21.5 Unbreakable Laws of Selling. His real-world ideas and content are also available as online courses at www.GitomerVT.com. For information about training and seminars visit www.Gitomer.com or www.GitomerCertifiedAdvisors.com, or email Jeffrey personally at salesman@gitomer.com.
