The Power of Gratitude

On this eve of the uniquely American holiday of Thanksgiving it is appropriate to not only be thankful for and appreciate all that we each have in our lives, but to also ask how we can be more thankful—be more appreciative and show more gratitude. 

  There is a “power of gratitude.”  It is similar to positive thinking: Once you start showing more gratitude on a regular basis, it multiples—not only within yourself—but among others. Its amazing how one simple, easy, positive action can change so much.

   The simple act of gratitude on a regular basis will change anyone’s life, positively and immediately. Simply showing gratitude by saying “thanks” can make you a more positive person, a better achiever, a better colleague, a more productive person and definitely a happier person. 

   Here are some suggestions on how you can incorporate gratitude into your life, and how it will change your life.

1. Have a morning gratitude session. Take one minute in the morning (make it a daily ritual) to think of the people who have done something nice for you, to think of all the things in your life you’re grateful for. You won’t get to everything in one minute, but it’s enough. And it will instantly make your day better, and help you start your day off right. Can you think of a better use of one minute?

2. When you’re having a hard day … make a gratitude list. We all have those bad days sometimes. We are stressed out from our work. We get yelled at by someone. We lose an account or perform poorly on a project. One of the things that can make a bad day much better is making a list of all the things you’re thankful for. There are always things to be thankful for — loved ones, health, having a job, having a roof over your head and clothes on your back, life itself.

3. Instead of getting mad at someone, show gratitude. That’s a major switching of attitudes — actually a complete flip. And so this isn’t always easy to do. But it’s a great thing to do. If you get mad at your co-worker, for example, because of something he or she did … bite your tongue and don’t react in anger.

   Instead, take a deep breath and try to think of reasons you’re grateful for that person. Has that person done anything nice for you? Has that person ever done a good job? Find something, anything, even if it’s difficult. Focus on those things that make you grateful. It will slowly change your mood. And if you get in a good enough mood, show your gratitude to that person. It will improve your mood, your relationship, and help make things better.

4. When you face a major challenge, be grateful for it. Many people will see something difficult as a bad thing. If something goes wrong, it’s a reason to complain, it’s a time of self-pity. That won’t get you anywhere. Instead, learn to be grateful for the challenge — it’s an opportunity to grow, to learn, to get better at something. This will transform you from a complainer into a positive person who only continues to improve. People will like you better and you’ll improve your career. Not too shabby.

5. Instead of looking at what you don’t have, look at what you do have. Have you ever looked around you and bemoaned where your life ended up or how little you have? How the job you have isn’t what you planned twenty years ago.  How the car you drive isn’t as nice as you’d like, or your friends have cooler gadgets? If so, that’s an opportunity to be grateful for what you already have. It’s easy to forget that there are billions of people worse off than you — who don’t have much in the way of shelter or clothes, who don’t own a car and never will, who don’t own a gadget or even know what one is, who don’t have a job at all.  Compare your life to these people’s lives, and be grateful for the life you have.

  And with the Power of Gratitude who knows what tomorrow might bring—the simple act of showing gratitude multiplies.