One day I saw a license plate that when read – spelled out “fantastic”.

What made that person get that license plate – was he or she having a fantastic day or it was a fantastic car or he/she was feeling really good when they applied for their license plate?

Did you ever say to someone – when they asked the same question we all get – How Are you? -- that you were “fantastic!” What was the reaction of the person who asked the question? Did you notice how they reacted to you?

Was it a look of “yea – right” - you’re really weird – no one can possibly feel fantastic. Or did they say that's great!

Did anyone ever ask – why are you fantastic? Did they believe you?

I decided to try an experiment – one day I woke up grumpy - I was in one of those moods where I probably needed another few hours of sleep.

I got up and went on my way and got to thinking – okay, I can make this a really good day and try to make the best of anything that comes my way or I can just be miserable and stay to myself – because no one would want to be around me anyway.

So I made the decision to “try” to be in a good mood – to react to others as if it were the best day of my life.

When someone asked me – Hey how’s it going – how are you or some variance of that question – I said – “I’m fantastic – how about you? Of course I got the question – why – what happened to put you in a good mood – I just smiled..and said – why not?

I did that to all I met – I greeted them with a big smile and said good morning – you know how people just walk along (this is in a place where you feel comfortable greeting a stranger) – and they look down at the floor or the wall or the ceiling just so they don’t have to meet your eyes?

You know what happened? I said good morning and they responded with either Good Morning or How are you?

Those I came in contact with went away with maybe a better attitude for the day – that someone else in their workplace could actually be happy to be there – when I first greeted them – they were grumpy like me – just minding their own business – but then at least they had a brief moment of “smileness” – and maybe it made a difference in their day.

Maybe that person really needed a positive moment in their day – they were at a time in their life when a simple kind and uplifting gesture was exactly what they needed to turn their day around.

But you know what really happened – it changed my day. I started out just saying some words – that hey I was feeling great! But somehow my grumpiness left me – I actually had a little bit of a spring in my step and it carried over in everything I did that day. And guess what gave me the necessary gumption or spirit to tell someone I was fantastic – that’s right – time spent in prayer with God – in the morning before I began my day.

You might keep this in mind the next time that you pick up the phone to make a call for a networking meeting or are heading for an interview -- have a smile in your voice and a “I’m fantastic” feeling in yourself.

Ask the Holy Spirit to be in your voice and in your mind as you talk about yourself and where you are going – as you answer interview questions to put the best of you in front of the interviewer --- it will be very hard for the person sitting across from you or on the phone not to feel your confidence and good feeling about yourself. It will be contagious and your interview or meeting will end with you feeling good about what you've said and conveyed to the other person.

Ask God - Trust God - Expect His Blessings