Do You Have an Attitude of Gratitude?

As we kick off November, it’s a great time to lock in one of your superpowers in creating the life you want.

GRATITUDE.  

You’ve seen the gratitude focus and posts in November before (which is fantastic!). But being thankful isn’t just a seasonal thing.   I often speak about the 7 key ares of your life (Download the Wheel of Life Exercise now!) and creating balance in these areas. The practice of gratitude is a key factor in all parts of your life, making it a superpower. 

Gratitude has been the subject of countless studies and research in the fields of psychology, neuroscience, and social science. The findings suggest that practicing gratitude can have a significant positive impact on one's mindset and quality of life.  

An attitude of gratitude positively impacts:

1. Improved Mental Health: Expressing gratitude is associated with reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety. Grateful people tend to experience higher levels of positive emotions and life satisfaction.

2. Enhanced Relationships: Gratitude can strengthen social bonds. People who express gratitude tend to have more positive relationships with family, friends, and romantic partners. It fosters a sense of connection.

3. Physical Health Benefits: Research suggests that practicing gratitude can lead to improved physical health. Grateful people may experience lower blood pressure, better immune function, and better sleep.

4. Increased Resilience: Gratitude can help you cope with adversity and stress. It encourages a more positive and optimistic outlook, making it easier to navigate challenging situations.

5. Boosted Self-Esteem: Gratitude can enhance self-esteem and self-worth. When people acknowledge and appreciate their strengths and accomplishments, they tend to feel better about themselves.

6. Prosocial Behavior: Grateful individuals are more likely to engage in prosocial behaviors, such as helping others and volunteering. This can lead to a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

7. Increased Goal Attainment: Gratitude can motivate people to pursue and achieve their goals. When you appreciate what you have, you are more likely to work towards what you desire.

8. Changes in Brain Activity: Neuroscientific research has shown that gratitude can activate areas of the brain associated with reward and empathy. This suggests that the practice of gratitude may be hardwired into the human brain.

9. Long-Term Happiness: Regularly practicing gratitude is linked to greater overall life satisfaction and happiness. It encourages you to focus on the positive aspects of your life.

10. Mindset Shift: Gratitude can lead to a shift in mindset from a scarcity mentality to an abundance mentality. It helps you recognize and appreciate the good in your life, even in challenging times.

Here’s the thing- the practice of expressing gratitude is your superpower, giving a booster shot to all the key areas of your life!

Success tips for focusing on more gratitude in your life:

Each morning when you wake up & before you get out of bed think of 3 things you are grateful for (Your health, a warm bed, family, a friendship, coffee, food in the fridge, a job, etc.) Do this daily for a month and it will become a habit. 

Write down what you're grateful for. Journal or keep a gratitude list in a note in your phone. Why not challenge yourself to write one thing daily in November?

Going through an especially hard time or crisis?  It’s even more important to focus daily on gratitude during challenging times.  Look for the “silver linings”. When my husband was diagnosed with throat cancer and it was particularly doom & gloom, I made a conscious effort to keep a “silver linings” note on my phone. Some days I had to look really hard but I always found something to be grateful for. This shifted my focus and energy to the good which gave me feelings of comfort & peace rather than worry & anxiety.

Express more gratitude to people in your personal & business life.  Send a personal text, video text or old school, handwritten note to key people in your personal and/or business life this month sharing why you are grateful for them.  For example: Thank you so much for being one of my clients/customers.  I am so grateful for you. Without clients/customers like you, I wouldn’t have a business!  

Challenge: Use the month of November to focus daily on what you are grateful for. You’ll be amazed how this focus can shift things for you & creates a new healthy habit!