Yesterday’s post introduced the concept of bucket-filling: Bringing some good vibrations to every interaction. 

Today, we’ll discuss some simple ways for doing just that. 

Smile

It doesn’t have to be any more complicated that this.

A simple smile tells the other person you’re happy to see them. That message is all it takes to fill a bucket. 

Humor

Getting another person to smile or laugh is an excellent way to ensure they go away from the interaction feeling better than before. 

Always be on the lookout for funnies in your conversations. Those where you make fun of yourself are often the most effective. 

Complement

Well-deserved complements are very effective bucket fillers. Whenever someone else makes a good impression on you, let them know – the more spontaneous the better. 

Be careful not to become superficial though. If a complement is not really deserved or feels forced, it can easily have the opposite effect. 

Praise

Similar to complements, praise is a powerful bucket-filler. If someone did a praiseworthy job, be sure to give them the recognition they deserve. 

But praise can also become superficial and methodical. Instead, try to present your praise in unexpected ways with plenty of specifics about what exactly you admire.  

Give

We all like gifts. If done right, even a small gift can have a large impact. 

To boost the impact, ensure that your gift can really add value and try to maximize the element of surprise. 

Gratitude

Whenever someone does something nice for you, you can give back straight away with a bit of bucket filling. 

A simple thank you is often enough. But adding a little something like “that’s so kind of you” or “you made my day” when appropriate can take it to the next level. 

Listen

One of the best ways to fill another person’s bucket doesn’t even require you to say or do anything. Just be there 100% and listen.

If someone else is going through a tough time, this could be the single best way of supporting them.  

Interest

There are few better ways to show you care than to cultivate some interest in topics the other person cares about.

Your listening skills will clearly reveal the best topics. All you need to do is to think a little about what was said, form some balanced opinions, and bring the topic back in a future conversation.

Validation

We all crave validation that we’re on the right track in this complicated journey called life. Delivering this validation is a very powerful bucket-filling tool. 

Whenever the words “I agree” or “you’re right” become relevant, be sure to use them without hesitation. Don’t be a yes-man, but be ready to provide any justified validation. 

Practice

Like any other skill, bucket-filling requires plenty of awareness and practice.

So, be sure to keep the idea of the bucket in mind during your next interaction. The beautiful simplicity of this analogy makes this very easy to do. 

But there are also some bad habits we need to unlearn to become effective bucket fillers. We’ll get to those tomorrow.