Photography by Caitlin Swamy (January 5, 2016, Ko Tao Thailand) 

Traveling the world is what inspires me. Immersing myself in different cultures, listening to different languages, and appreciating the natural beauty of our planet. It was while traveling in Thailand in January 2016, that my husband and I coined a term we call “top five days.” “Top five days” are those days that make life worth living: the happiest days of our lives. For many, this is the day they become parents or the day they get married. Then there are other days that are on the same list: maybe the day you went skydiving in New Zealand or maybe it was the time you took your grandchildren to the zoo, watching their faces light up when they saw the orangutans. It is these types of days and the little things that bring us joy. The day that “top five days” was coined was truly a “top five day,” but it wasn’t only the fact that I was on a tropical island that made the day so special. I was present and able to acknowledge my existence in that moment. “Top five days” arise when we are aware of the potential for any day to be a “top five day.” When we practice presence and awareness, we can begin to realize that “top five days” can come about more than just five times in our lives.

I bring up this today, because in order to be an effective leader, I need to be able to inspire others. I inspire others by striving to treat each day like a “top five day.” This impacts my leadership. It helps me to bring positive energy to my workplace and use discernment when I’m faced with difficult and unpredictable situations. I feel inspired by this concept and want to share it on ImagineCreateServe because it is something that has allowed me to be a more ontological leader. Madson (2005) writes, “As we practice …affirmative responses to life, positive things can happen” (p. 3). “Top five days” is a state of being I’ve adopted that creates a positive response to adversity in my organizational life. This mindset, and offering “yes, and” responses to my peers, subordinates, and leaders allows me to bring positive psychology to the workplace and inspire those around me to do the same.

Food for Thought:

1. What inspires you?
2. Which leaders inspire you?
3. What is your experience of positive psychology?
4. What have been your “top five days?”