Do You Feel Gratitude All Year or Just for Thanksgiving?

If you prefer the video version, click here https://youtu.be/Iw8Qm17AkO4

The holiday season is upon us and especially this week as we celebrated Thanksgiving it is a time for being thankful for what we have.  This year even more so as we return to more traditional holiday and family gatherings, but is that enough?

It should not take a holiday or special occasion for us to be grateful.

Let’s be selfish for a moment and focus on the benefits you get by making gratitude part of your daily routines.   That’s right I said we are going to be selfish about gratitude.

Here are some of the benefits of gratitude,

• Gratitude lowers stress!  

When coping with stress we look for instant gratification.   However, a study by Robert A. Emmons and Anjali Mishra shows that gratitude promotes adaptive coping and personal growth.

Does the bag of cookies, candy, bottle of wine really lower your stress?

Or does it shift it to another area?  I know I never feel good about that quick fix- instant gratification

• Gratitude can improve your immune system!  

There are numerous articles on the physical benefits of gratitude including improved quality of sleep, lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation.

It is cold and flu season- don’t you want to avoid them?  Start practicing gratitude and keep yourself healthy.

• Gratitude increases your strength in the face of adversity!

It reduces the stress hormone, cortisol, which helps reduce the physical and mental effects of stress. It gives you emotional strength and resilience.

If a trusted advisor told you about a pill that did these things, you would be online looking how to get it before the conversation ended. 

I admit this habit take a little more effort to develop than taking a pill, but it can have huge benefits on you and those around you so it is worth it!

Here are some tips for how to start making gratitude a habit.

• Stop ending emails and conversations with “thanks”.  This seems insincere.  Take the time to write out or say the words, “Thank You” and say why you are thankful.

After taking a writing class, I stopped using ‘thanks.’  It made a difference in how I felt when I took the two extra seconds to say ‘thank you.’ It improved my mindset by making me think about what I was appreciating.  And I only used it when it was deserved.  It is hard to say Thank You when you do not mean it.  It’s easy to say thanks without being sincere.

• Start your day with expressing gratitude.  You can write down 1 to 3 things you are thankful for in your planner, journal or even just say them to yourself.  It only takes a few minutes.  I know some people who do not get out of bed until they have done this. Think of what you are grateful for while you are in the shower or getting ready.  

It changes how you approach the day.  If you are thinking about the good things, you are heading into the day with a positive outlook.

• Need a technology solution. Of course, there is an app for that!  Put gratitude into Google Play store and pages of apps come up. Make it a recurring task on your calendar or add to your habit tracker.  Whatever you need to remind you to do it daily.

• Write (hand write!) a thank you note.  You want to leave a lasting impression, send a handwritten note.  It will force you to take a few minutes to express your gratitude and appreciation since it takes longer than an email or text.  And think about the recipient.  They know you took extra time so it will be even more meaningful.  Who doesn’t like getting something in the mail that is not an advertisement, solicitation or a bill???

I get it.  Life is busy and hectic. We get stressed and focus on all we need to get done. 

Taking the time to stop for a few moments and remember what we have, see the beauty in nature around us, express thanks to those that support us, do a good job, go out of their way etc., will have such a powerful impact on how you feel and approach our tasks.  It is worth it.

I spent most of my career in banking and risk management.

Trust me the ROI on your time is double digits and there is no risk.

You would sign off on that deal in a heartbeat at work so why would you not make that deal in your personal life. You are worth more than any opportunity your company considers.