This was how a young hotelier approached me today. From her face you could see that she was curious and from her tone of voice you were able to hear that she really meant it. After a brief greeting, she jumped right away to her question: “How is it, that you are always in a good mood?”
A question that crosses my path often. Each time it makes me smile. Each time I seize the moment. The face impression, the serious and at the same time curious big eyes looking at me. The excitement in the breath and willingness to discover the ‘secret’
My name is Gul. I am the daughter of a professional Rowing sportler and a Silk Painting Artist. The combination of discipline and patience, the never to give up and stubbornness, the Teammate and Leader. Yet both had in common one thing; to have a goal, something they both in their own fields aimed for.
Strong qualities I heritage from my father and mother. While rowing is an extremely challenging sport, both physically and mentally; silk painting emphasizes softness, elegance and has a flexibility of style.
I have learned at home from very little age to appreciate, love and cherish life as it is. Born and raised in Germany, I grow up with children from many different cultures. A blessing when I think of my childhood today. My best friends were from Spain, Morocco, Germany and Poland. We lived in a Business city, however were a group of children just like in the book “The Children of Noisy Village” by Astrid Lindgren.
Growing up, I always enjoyed meeting new cultures, learning from them and discovering their stories. I believe this brought me to where I am today as a Turkish, born in Germany, living in Abu Dhabi, passionate hotelier traveling and discovering values.
In these 40 plus years, life was not always sunshine. There were days with wind, sometimes rain and sometimes thunders. But, this never changed my inner peace which I had learned back at home. While moving forward in my own story of life; all the motivational books I’ve read, courses I’ve attended, talks as well as seminars I’ve joined have said the same thing; make sure you have goals something you can aim for. Sounds familiar, right? It was just what I had learned back home.
Professionally being a Teacher I got into a level of self-awareness, where I’ve seen professionals working for me, with me or managing me; from a different perspective. I had the pleasure to see – listen – watch experts in their fields, in a mindset where they adapted a lifestyle of pulling people down, underestimate the work, stealing credit, gag and also bully just to make themselves important and satisfied.
Knowing people allows you to see the big picture. It lets you see and sometimes experience the low behavior. Being aware of the quality of the person, it is up to you, on how you will react. We are not made of labels, so it doesn’t matter what is written on the Business Card, as it will last only as long as one will get payed for it. So the ‘secret’ is not a ‘secret’; it is all up to you!
You will make the choice. You can rather get upset, de-motivated, stressed and give the person exactly what he or she wants. Or, you can choose to take a deep breath and look further, be flexible, willing to change and adapt to different roles no matter what these low-people throw at your way.
It is your own decision on what you will choose for yourself. We are lucky to have different people, with different qualities crossing our path. You may even see these people like the salt and pepper for the dish to give it its taste.
Choose YOU, Be YOU and always keep your eye on your aimed goal. You will find the strength within yourself. Your quality, your perspective, your open-mind, discipline and being focused will keep you always in a good mood.
Remember what John Lennon once said: “Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans.”
Gul Gursoy
Workplace Happiness Consultant
ICF Accredited Career Coach
LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Facilitator
