The Real Power of Gratitude
I like to talk a lot about gratitude. It plays a huge role in my life. I’ve learned that gratitude isn’t just something you experience, it’s something you create. When you do, the benefits can be astounding, both internally and externally. It’s quite stunning to see by contrast; those grateful and those not. It makes an impact and anything that makes a big change in my life I want to share. So here are a couple things I’ve noticed, and I hope you’ll find also a couple actionable pieces for yourself.
Seeing the Gifts in Your Life
Most people could act more grateful, but that’s not to put them down. I personally hadn’t thought much about it until I was forced to confront it a few months ago after reading about the 5-Minute Journal. I’m not normally into “positive psychology”, but I wanted a new reinforcing habit to structure into my mornings and evenings, and this one was getting a lot of traction among people I respect. I decided to give it a try.
I won’t bore you with all the details, but one of the practices is to start every day by listing off some of the things you are most grateful for, along with things that you want to happen, and great things that happened yesterday. Pretty cheesy stuff, at first, but it won’t be long before that attitude starts to dig into the way you see the world.
Ask yourself: When was the last time you really spent a few minutes thinking about things you’re grateful for? Most of us may mumble something around Thanksgiving, but even then, it’s an afterthought. Listing out the things you’re grateful for forces you to really think about the question, and evaluate the good things you have in your life.
Once you’ve begun to focus on what you have to be grateful for in your life on a daily basis, it changes the way you see everything. You realize quickly that no matter who you are, there are a lot of things you can be grateful for. Not just for the things you’ve been given, but also the people and experiences that are accessible to you. This can affect your attitude in powerful ways.
Using Gratitude to Empower Yourself and Your Business
Recognizing the things you have to be grateful for has an almost immediate impact on your life, in my experience. I personally felt calmer throughout the day. When I needed to interact with people, I felt closer to them, and I could tell that it came across that way to them, too. My attitude was authentically friendly and self-assured by my awareness of good things in my life, and it made me better at working with clients and at pitching my business to new people.
You should have an even better experience when you extend that gratitude to other people. I made gift giving part of my relationship with my clients. Of course, I want them to continue to do business with my team and I, but you say something different when you listen to them and send them something meaningful. Examples…stuff for the parents (not the baby because everyone thought of that) for them to find when returning from the hospital. Or a GIANT Jenga toy for a growing team that is probably trying to find ways to get to know one another. It furthers your relationship in ways you can’t guess, and that’s pretty special. It makes work more special.
The recognition of other people is also a powerful thing. Recognizing the contributions of people in your life is one of the ways my Stepfather boosted his own business. When people came to his accounting firm as a client, they were often small businesses like his own – maybe smaller. When he needed other services, he went to his clients first. To this day, he has an intensely loyal base of local customers that have been earned by his gratitude.
Why it Matters that You Start Now
The benefits of gratitude are lifelong. Starting even as recently as I have, I’m already feeling calmer and happier about my life. I know from my stepfather’s example that embracing gratitude is a path to being liked and respected by the entire community of people who you share your life and work with. What else could you really ask for?
