Chances are, most days you’re asked this question at least once if not dozens of times. The majority of the time, though, the questioner doesn’t really care about your response. This statement is simply another form of hello; unfortunately, since it is in the form of a query, the recipient feels compelled to respond.

Are you merely average?

The average, even expected, response to this question is to simply utter “good” or “o.k.” I say phooey on that! Buck the system! Be different! Stand out!

As a social experiment, you could reply with something like “I’m horrible!” or “I’m having a rotten day!” and test the sincerity of your inquisitor, but I say do the opposite: provide an over-the-top positive response.

Even if you’re not feeling splendiferous, saying that your are can be beneficial:

  • It can help you stand out in the eyes of your questioner, which can be important in work and social situations.
  • it can paint you as a generally positive or go-to type person in the minds of your associates–again, a good quality to be ascribed.
  • it can help improve your vocabulary as you look for new and interesting words to describe your effervescence, and
  • you might just start believing that you truly are exuberant if you say it enough times. (And who doesn’t want to be exuberant as much as possible?)

So, the next time someone asks you “how’re you doing?” try replying with one of these (with bonus points for three or more syllables):

  • awesome
  • bombastic
  • buoyant
  • canny
  • cheerful
  • competent
  • dynamite
  • excellent
  • excited
  • fabulous
  • fantastic
  • great
  • ineffable
  • jolly
  • jovial
  • jubilant
  • magnificent
  • phenomenal
  • resilient
  • rhapsodic
  • salubrious
  • sanguine
  • smashing
  • spectacular
  • stupendous
  • terrific
  • tremendous