Happy Thanksgiving! Get a gratitude attitude!
Nov 23, 2020
"Gratitude is the healthiest of all human behaviors. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for."
—Zig Ziglar
I know, this is a difficult time to be grateful...or is it just me? Washington State has gone into another lockdown and another trip with my loved ones has been cancelled. It has been a tough couple of days for me to choose a good attitude--I'm not going to lie--let alone be grateful. This morning, I have made the choice, one more time, to lead myself well. I made a gratitude list. I'm healthy and so is my family; Jesus loves me and so does my dog; the sun is out...and the list went on. Try it...it does help and here's why;
Inc.’s Geoffrey James wrote “If you’re not exercising this emotional muscle, you’re probably setting yourself up for failure. I’m utterly convinced that the key to lifelong success is the regular exercise of a single emotional muscle: gratitude.”
Research from the Harvard Business Review draws the same conclusions: gratitude matters.
While googling articles on gratitude, here are a few of the many benefits that I found about having an attitude of gratitude:
Inc.’s Geoffrey James wrote “If you’re not exercising this emotional muscle, you’re probably setting yourself up for failure. I’m utterly convinced that the key to lifelong success is the regular exercise of a single emotional muscle: gratitude.”
Research from the Harvard Business Review draws the same conclusions: gratitude matters.
While googling articles on gratitude, here are a few of the many benefits that I found about having an attitude of gratitude:- Improves physiological and emotional health
- Opens the door to more relationships AND creates trust in relationships
- Improves self-esteem and increases mental strength
- Reduces pessimism and aggression
- Gives you more to be grateful for, as Zig says above
- Is a magnet for miracles
Try being grumpy and grateful at the same time. Personally, I have found that being grateful, even during hard times, makes those hard times “seem” easier through which to travel.
This suggestion came from an article in Forbes. “A five-minute a day gratitude journal can increase your long-term well-being by more than 10 percent. That’s the same impact as doubling your income!” WOW!
This suggestion came from an article in Forbes. “A five-minute a day gratitude journal can increase your long-term well-being by more than 10 percent. That’s the same impact as doubling your income!” WOW!
Thanksgiving is the time of year when we usually start to list things that we are grateful for…and there are many. I'm adding to the current list that I wrote above; my friends, my business, the country that I live in, and YOU…I could go on for a long time. It's time to create a more consistent habit of writing down those things for which I am grateful.
Being grateful not only benefits me, but it has a positive influence on those around me. AND if a grateful heart is a magnet for miracles, I'm choosing gratefulness, because I would like to experience a couple of miracles.
What is on your gratitude list? I hope you take some time today to list those things that you are thankful for.
I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!
Gratefully typed,
Jan
Being grateful not only benefits me, but it has a positive influence on those around me. AND if a grateful heart is a magnet for miracles, I'm choosing gratefulness, because I would like to experience a couple of miracles.
What is on your gratitude list? I hope you take some time today to list those things that you are thankful for.
I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!
Gratefully typed,
Jan
Jan McDonald
The John Maxwell Team
For more leadership tips, like my facebook page @janmariemcdonald
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