THE GREATNESS OF GRATEFULNESS

WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT GREAT PEOPLE?

THEY'RE GRATEFUL

NOW is always the perfect time to experience gratitude (...um ..... actually now the only time. If you don't grab gratitude now, you'll miss out.) Oh dear! This is sounding like a used car commercial..... But it's true. Now is all you'll ever have to practice Grate-fullness.

Gratitude is the ultimate win/win: we feel good when we experience gratitude and, when we share our gratitude, other people feel good too.

If you’re a parent or any other kind of leader, valuing your “family” is an essential part of your job. People do their best when they know they’re valued and get regular feedback (and so do I). But if you’re as human as I am, you also know we often focus on the foreground of what needs yet to be done, and fail to appreciate the progress we make each day and the qualities each person is bringing to the family or group.

Valuing people we live or work with isn’t just for parents and leaders. As family and group members, sometimes it’s easier to think we should be thanked but not offer unsolicited thanks. That's worth rethinking because just being alive is a team sport and our satisfaction and happiness, alone and together, are intertwined. Feeling gratitude is an essential ingredient in happiness.

1. Take the time to identify and celebrate successes.

What has been achieved just now? What did we achieve this week? Whether they were crowning glories or small steps forward in a cyclone, acknowledge the progress and the commitment that went into it. Pull the family together to notice and celebrate each other's successes. It doesn't have to be complicated or any big deal– it’s the habit of noticing that actually counts here. (And don't kill the moment - avoid the temptation to pollute the space with evaluations of what's been done, or sterilse it with remarks about challenges that might lie ahead.)

2. Pause and consider the endearing qualities of each member of your family.

What are the unique human contributions of each person individually? Set aside a few minutes just for yourself to think about each person for a full ninety seconds to bring their contributions into focus. What gift does each bring to your life? Reflections? Challenges to stretch your own resilience? (some people seem to specialise at baiting you, yes?) Now, enjoy the sensation of appreciation and affection that you get from this simple exercise. Repeat it for each member of your tribe; notice how your antipathies relax, your stress level drops and your happiness level increases as you progress. When you’ve covered everyone, you'll be noticeably more renewed and quietly satisfied.

3. Now tell each person that you appreciate him or her.

Take 15 seconds more and send a brief note to one person each day with your appreciation. It can be very specific or a general comment like “Just wanted you to know how much I appreciate your ….” Whether you send it via email, FB, SMS or in person, it will feel at least as good to give as to receive! It's an excellent way to close every day. The recipient will awaken next morning in the warmth of your gratitude. And that's a lovely place to be, isn't it -- the warmth of your appreciation?

Let Gratitude redefine for you what’s so great about each and every day