Being classy has always been important to me, but who would have thought it can actually help with healing?

By being classy I mean upholding high standards in relationships, conduct, and integration with others within your work environment and personal life. It encompasses a genuine belief in integrity and being the best version of yourself. You can’t fake it, although people continuously try, and you can change your level of class if you really want to make a difference in your life.

To start the journey toward a classier life it is important to adopt an attitude of gratitude. When you are alone you can express your feelings – scream into the pillow, punch a punching bag or cry. But when you go out, be grateful, show your good manners. We do this because the version of ourselves we put out there will attract different things and people into our lives. If you can learn to do it when you are at your worst, then you can master staying classy and make it a part of your life.

Always be aware of how you present yourself to the outside world. You may be a mess inside, but going out – whether it be to the grocery store, a friend’s house or a party – is a way to show the world that you respect yourself. People will be attracted to the higher version of you who cares about herself enough to show up, look good and be present.

People notice a classy person and the ways he or she responds to situations. The recognition creates an ability for the observer to look inward and realize how nice it is to be able to be respectful and hold oneself together, even in a storm. It sets strong examples of courage, self-worth and respect. It creates “I want to be like that!” moments and gives great teaching examples, especially for children as they emulate what they see and feel.

Here’s a personal example: when I was in the middle of my healing journey and feeling vulnerable, I went into a store. The sales clerk was pretty rude and didn’t look me in the eyes. Part of me thought, “she is representing the store she works for and if I were her boss I would be unhappy.” But despite my own challenges and the difficulties I was going through – and I was in no need of a confrontation – I put on a smile and said something recognizing the difficulty of her job. She looked up at me and said she was going through some things in her personal life. I told her things can always get better, and that she was strong enough to push through (I don’t remember the exact words I used in the moment). She actually smiled at me!

I have talked before about how our actions and words can make a HUGE difference in the lives of others. We have a choice: we can react, or we can take a few seconds to a few minutes to respond to situations. I chose to get out of my own head and see if I could shine a beam of light into the young woman’s life, and it paid off. It made me feel better in turn as well. Sometimes all someone needs is a little kindness.

Being classy can be a challenge for some people, and when one is facing hard times this can prove especially difficult and frankly, not desirable. BUT, when you take steps to become classy you will start to feel some pretty great results – whether it be another person complimenting or thanking you, self-pride at keeping calm and spreading it, or feeling like you helped another have a better day.

These tips can truly help you make a big difference in any situation, such that you can turn a would-be ugly reaction into a positive response. It’s a way to feel good and will actually help you have a better day, which in turn will stimulate your healing process because you are acting from and spreading positivity! For more on how to stay classy while healing, check out my podcast on the topic here. Let me know what you think! 🦋