Here’s a daily practice that is easy to do, no matter where you are. At the start of each day, think of something or someone you are grateful for. It may be someone you know professionally or personally. It may be an activity or something you own or use. Beginning your day with gratitude will set the tone for the rest of your day. Now, write a letter or card of gratitude and send it to someone who has been a positive influence in your life but whom you have not properly thanked.
One easy way to develop an attitude of gratitude is to keep a daily gratitude journal. This idea was made famous years ago (1996) by Sarah Ban Breathnach’s book, Simple Abundance Journal of Gratitude. This exercise basically consists of writing down a list of 3-10 things you are grateful for every day. Do this exercise either first thing in the morning or before going to bed at night.
In July 2006, Will Bowen, a Kansas City minister, asked his congregation to refrain from complaining, criticizing or gossiping for 21 days. He urged his 250 members to shift their focus from lack to abundance by giving up complaining during these 21 days—which is magically the length of time that it takes to break a habit. To reinforce his message, he handed out purple silicone bracelets stamped with the word “Spirit.” Those who accepted the challenge wore the bracelet, moving it from one wrist to the other whenever they would catch themselves complaining. Those who managed to keep their bracelets on the same wrist for three straight weeks were issued a “Certificate of Happiness.” Since Bowen started this with his congregation, this has become a worldwide movement involving millions of people everywhere.
Once you get in the habit of looking for things to be grateful for, you will find that you begin to appreciate simple pleasures along with things that you previously took for granted. Gratitude is not intended to just be a reaction to getting what you want, but a habit of noticing the good in everything, even in unpleasant situations.
There are so many stories told by famous athletes, actors, and others, who were told that they would never amount to anything. Oprah is one of the richest, most well known and successful women in the world today. As a little girl, nobody expected anything iconic out of her. She suffered an abusive childhood. Even when she completed school, she went through a number of career setbacks, including being fired from her television job as reporter because she was deemed not to be good enough for television. However, Oprah had her dreams on television and she kept her focus on gratitude. She set out to prove the naysayers wrong.
Many other famous people– Stephen King, Marilyn Monroe, The Beatles, Fred Astaire, Lucille Ball, Winston Churchill, Walt Disney, Thomas Edison, Michael Jordan, Vince Lombardi, Babe Ruth and Abraham Lincoln to name just a few–have their own stories of defeat and disappointment. They all had one thing in common. They focused on the positive and they never quit!
Begin each morning with an attitude of gratitude. It will change your life — personally and professionally!
“In daily life we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful,
but gratefulness that makes us happy.” –Brother David Steindl-Rast
Need help focusing on what you are grateful for in your life? Schedule a no-cost Strategy Session with me today!
