Being Thankful
The Art of Practicing Gratitude
A few weeks ago, while sitting in a new favorite coffee shop preparing for a 2022 strategic planning session, I took a few minutes, settled in, sat back, and watched the people around me. During this time, I witnessed people quietly focused on the work they had in front of them, people meeting for the first time, others who were joyfully greeting one another, and those who were reading a book, a newspaper, or a device. There was a familiar and connected buzz in the air. I felt an enormous sense of gratitude as this scene is much different than what was experienced across the world a year ago in 2020.
Rather than diving into designing the upcoming strategic 2022 planning session as I had planned to do, I took a few moments and closed my eyes, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over me like a cleansing awakening to my soul. I found myself being thankful for the opportunity to be in a public place with others, preparing for a strategic planning session for a client, and to have the tools an resources to do what I do best and for people I care about.
As we are in the month of November and are rounding the corner toward the end of 2021, I invite you to join me for a few moments to experience a sense of gratitude.
According to John Rampton in his September 2019 article in Entrepreneur magazine on Why Gratitude Makes Leaders More Effective, the practice of being grateful is extremely important as it:
Helps to set our day up for success
Helps us to slow down and to be present to each moment
Creates more meaningful connections
Relieves stress
Guides us toward a successful day’s end
The article does a wonderful job in sharing research conducted by Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D., at the University of California, Davis and Anjali Mishra on all of the positive attributes of gratitude and how it enhances not only our leadership, but our lives in general.
Many leaders I work with initially scoff when I suggest that the way to reduce their stress or agitation is to practice gratitude. Yet, after agreeing to practice gratitude for a few weeks, they report that they do feel less stress and have experienced a positive shift in their life.
If you are interested in trying out this tried-and-true daily gratitude practice, I have the following four recommendations to integrate being grateful into your daily lives with the purpose of enhancing your leadership:
1. Commit to a daily gratitude practice.
Making a commitment to looking for things to be grateful for on a daily basis is important as it forms a new habit and routine that is fairly simple to integrate into your life. Like brushing your teeth helps to improve and maintain your oral hygiene health, thoughts of gratitude helps to maintain your psychological and physiological health.
2. Start with small, sustainable steps.
If practicing gratitude is new or feels uncomfortable to you, start small. Look for three things each day to be grateful for. Yes, just three things. No more, no less. The purpose of starting small is to build daily consistency and sustainability with this practice.
3. Schedule time to lean into or reflect on gratitude.
I encourage you to schedule a minimum of 10 minutes a day to reflect on things you are grateful for.
What I mean by leaning into gratitude is to start your day by being grateful. It could be preparing your day with noticing the small things such as, “I am grateful for warm coffee, I am grateful for having talented people on my team, I am grateful for the day ahead.”
What I mean by reflecting on gratitude is to close each day out with a personal reflection on the things that you have noticed throughout the day that went well. Small and large accomplishments, connections you made with others, the noticing of being completely present with an employee, a colleague, friend or family member.
4. Journal your thoughts.
I’m a big believer in journaling and in this case capturing thoughts about gratitude each day. What I value about this practice is that it captures your words and experience on certain days, at certain times, about what you are grateful for in that moment. It also allows for the ability to ‘look back’ and reflect on any particular day. In doing so, we’re building new memories and muscles about how we see and react to the world around us.
As I complete this blog, I would like to say, “Thank you for taking the time to read the words I wrote on Gratitude. I hope you found this blog informative and useful. I invite you to incorporate the practices I recommend into your life for a minimum of two full weeks. At the end of the two weeks, I would love to hear how this practice has or hasn’t enhanced your leadership and/or life.”
I’ll close with this. I am extremely grateful to everyone who has indirectly and directly influenced and impacted my life not just in the past year, but throughout my life. Those across the globe who have touched my life in small and extraordinary ways. Whether teachers, professors, medical professionals, legal professionals, first responders, librarians, receptionists, customer service representatives, technicians, restaurant workers, grocery store clerks, postal workers, landscapers, house cleaners, wellness providers, bankers, public transportation employees, vendors, clients, customers, professional business partners, coaches, thought leaders, employees, authors, musicians, artists, neighbors, friends, and family. I wouldn’t be the leader or person I am today if it hadn’t been for all of you.
If you are interested in learning more about the practice of gratitude, how to enhance your leadership skills or engage your team, feel free to contact us at joan@jdhinsights.com.