The Power of Gratitude
Don’t Worry, Be Grateful
Are you feeling stuck or disconnected from your work? Do your relationships have unwanted friction or lack vulnerability? Have your once-confident plans become muddied by uncertainty or discouragement? Are you struggling with the desire to be effective or consistent with your time and responsibilities?
It’s natural and good to go through seasons or circumstances that cause us to question where we are or what we’re doing. But remaining in this pattern or condition can lead to a deceptive indifference toward your work and relationships.
The subtly is perplexing because you can still be high functioning, efficient, and productive. Your hard-earned habits and disciplines may even be sustaining you. And yet you lack the vigor you once had toward life endeavors.
The answer is gratitude
Gratitude is a mindset. It comes from an ethos of abundance which acknowledges a more true reality of our circumstances – we have everything we need to live the life we were meant to live. It assumes a readiness to feel and show appreciation.
Ingratitude starts from a place of scarcity, a thought-life that is focused on the lack of resources in your life – not enough time, money, recognition, accomplishments. It pridefully expects fulfillment from within ourselves and ignores our need for support outside of our control.
So how do we cultivate more gratitude?
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ACKNOWLEDGE IT
Recognizing the value that it can have for you as well as your loved ones and coworkers is paramount to unlocking gratefulness in your life. You need to examine your gratefulness. How are you doing? How do you know? Maybe you need to ask a friend. This will allow you to begin taking steps to committing to gratitude throughout your life and interactions.
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WRITE IT
It helps to write out your thoughts and to actually pen to words what you are truly thankful for. Much research has been done on the benefits of gratitude and starting with a simple journal or list in your planner can be a quick way to develop this heart of gratefulness. It can feel slow or difficult at first to mine for each nugget. But, like with any new habit, taking time to consistently identify your gratitude will make it easier to express outwardly.
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SHOW IT
This is the true test of gratitude. Sure, you can see improvements by simply acknowledging the value of gratitude and writing it out. But sharing that love and appreciation to others is the real key to the power of gratitude. Highlight specifics. Tell them what you are thankful for. Point out their contributions. Give them something to prove your gratefulness.
Ingratitude is at the heart of many of our world’s problems. It is often the beginning of many conflicts both personally and culturally. We can’t afford to ignore the need for gratitude.
This topic can feel a little preachy, but I hope that it helps you reconsider this crucial skill in your life. The good news is that at any point, no matter how far down you have dug yourself, you can always improve your gratitude. Develop the habit of gratitude (acknowledge it, write it, show it) so that you are more apt to repeat it. You’ll feel more connected with your work and your relationships, and others will benefit from it, too.