As we welcome a new month and get closer to the end of another year, let’s take a moment to reflect on what is working – and even wonderful – in our lives!
Consider what you’re grateful for in your life now.
Set a timer for 2 minutes and write down everything that…
- is supportive
- is peaceful
- is helpful
- is fruitful
- is working
- is wonderful
This month, we’ll be refocusing on the core value of gratitude and how being thankful can improve how we live and lead.
The Science of Gratitude
You may have heard that practicing gratitude has actually been scientifically proven to enhance happiness, improve health, and boost well-being when done consistently. Here are some of the outcomes from practicing gratitude according to Psychologist and gratitude researcher, Dr. Robert Emmons and his team:
Physical
• Stronger immune systems
• Less bothered by aches and pains
• Lower blood pressure
• Exercise more and take better care of their health
• Sleep longer and feel more refreshed upon waking
Psychological
• Higher levels of positive emotions
• More alert, alive, and awake
• More joy and pleasure
• More optimism and happiness
Social
• More helpful, generous, and compassionate
• More forgiving
• More outgoing
• Feel less lonely and isolated.
Gratitude Starts With Acknowledgment
While all of these benefits are convincing enough, intentionally practicing gratitude showed me something even more compelling that made me think of thankfulness in a new way.
Gratitude starts with acknowledgement. And when practiced regularly, it develops authenticity and integrity, ultimately building positive relationships within yourself and others.
You can acknowledge what you are thankful for and the people in your life that make it better. Think of the last time someone genuinely acknowledged WHO you are, not just WHAT you’ve done. What was the impact? When you proactively appreciate others at work or at home, you add value to your relationship AND it feels good! Here are two examples:
Modeling Gratitude at Work: When a colleague or your supervisor does something noteworthy, make a point to share the impact of their actions with them, especially if you see it positively affecting others on your team or in your workplace. This is particularly important if you are managing a team and developing young talent.
Example: I really appreciated your advocacy and support on this project and can see how your leadership has really boosted morale on our team!
Practicing Gratitude at Home: Parenting is often so functional that we can miss moments of acknowledgement. Take time to specifically acknowledge your family members for their character, not just their behavior.
Example: Wow! I love how kind and thoughtful you were when you shared your toy with your brother” instead of just saying “Good job sharing.”
The simple shift from expressing gratitude for someONE rather than for someTHING, can make all the difference!
Three AH HA Moments
I’ve had three powerful AH HA moments that show me HOW the act of focusing on and expressing gratitude can change your life from the inside out.
Consider how you can adopt at least one of these lessons to share and attitude of gratitude this month:
AH HA #1: Being thankful forces you to first be mindful – to understand what has made you who you are, where you are now. Maybe it’s identifying something you’ve overcome or recognizing a person or experience that has made your life better.
AH HA #2: Gratitude also promotes an honest practice of self-awareness that makes us more in touch with our core values and what really is driving our life. It’s impossible to be truly grateful for something that isn’t really in line with how we want to live.
AH HA #3: Strong relationships are built on a solid foundation of gratitude. Dr. Emmons, explains why gratitude is good:
“The social benefits are especially significant here because, after all, gratitude is a social emotion. I see it as a relationship-strengthening emotion because it requires us to see how we’ve been supported and affirmed by other people.”
The consistent thread that runs through moments of gratitude comes from leading with intention to influence others.
How can you express more gratitude this month?
Originally published at leadwithintention.com on November 1, 2024
Leslie M. Bosserman, M.Ed., CPCC, is an Executive Coach + Lifestyle Strategist for innovators and creative professionals leading dynamic and diverse teams. After working for a decade in higher education and student development, Leslie launched Lead With Intention® – a boutique coaching and consulting practice that specializes in leadership coaching, customized training, and organizational strategy for clients and their teams around the world. She collaborates with a range of creative professionals from entrepreneurs launching their startups to executive leaders at Fortune 500 Companies. With a background in strengths-based leadership development and applied positive psychology, she enjoys helping individuals and team realize and become their best. Leslie teaches on Business and Leadership at the University of California, Davis Continuing and Professional Education. She is a sought-after keynote speaker and leadership trainer, and recently was a featured speaker at TEDxEustis in February 2024. Committed to enhancing her local community, Leslie and her husband, Joel, co-created and launched The Makers Place™ – the regions first coworking space with onsite childcare. She also currently works as the Director and Site Supervisor of Mini Makers™ Preschool. Leslie lives in Northern California and travels internationally for coaching, organizational trainings, and retreat facilitation. You can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube or send her an email at [email protected] to learn how to partner together.