Generosity: Gratitude is Giving Back.
When was the last time you stopped and thought about what you are grateful for?
Gratefulness curds the insatiable desire to want more and then helps you to see and appreciate that what you have is enough.
When our kids were young and we took them out somewhere special, we would always expect them to say thank you and be grateful for the opportunity. This wasn't always pretty; often after a long day, everyone was a bit tired and out of sorts with what seemed insignificant things. None the less the pressure was put on. It sounded like this. “Will you guys stop being so ungrateful, we have just taken you out on a special day, and the least you could be is grateful and say thank you.” Rightly or wrongly, this must have embedded itself over time because they are now all very grateful and generous.
“If you don't live for more than yourself then you're probably not living.“
Please, thank you and sorry were three words I was raised on. They were the three words that I used when raising my own children. For me they are all expressions of gratitude.
Please is a grateful invitation to the other person in a non-confrontational way to engage and interact.
Thank you, is a grateful acknowledgement of the other person and what they have done or will do.
Sorry is an acknowledgement of righting something wrong in the relationship. This affirms gratefulness for the relationship.
The three expressions all do the same thing, they are an intentional acknowledgement of the other person. Underlining this is the gratefulness for the relationship.
The first step in becoming grateful is becoming intentional with it. Starting off, you can practice being grateful for one or two small things every day. It's your attitude and mindset to the small things that determines how you will behave and respond towards the larger things. Gratefulness is very grounding and centring.
As you begin a journey of gratefulness you will start to appreciate more of what you have and then realise you are better off than you think. In a fast-paced world where you can pretty much get most things when you want them, your mind becomes conditioned to wanting more and to not be grateful for what you have. Entrance is given to the throw away mentality. This makes the idea of being grateful difficult which in turn feeds into not wanting to give and be generous.
Here is something you can do to help you on your journey of gratitude to generosity.
Mindset - Practice - Behaviour - Become
Consider the following questions to the above words:
What is your mindset towards gratefulness?
How do you practice gratitude?
What behaviours do you display that stem from gratefulness?
What have you become because of gratefulness?
Generosity is not just about giving stuff away, it's about recognising that because of your gratefulness you have enough, and you can bless others with your abundance. These thoughts then extend to how you can help others. The idea of ‘Pay it Forward'' sums this up well.
Some helpful tips:
Practicing gratitude reveals your abundance, reducing the need for “more” and encouraging you to share your blessings with others.
Using “please,” “thank you,” and “sorry” thoughtfully reinforces gratitude and strengthens relationships by showing respect, appreciation, and commitment.
Generosity flourishes without expectations. Small, meaningful actions uplift others, creating positive ripples while enriching your own life.
"Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for." - Zig Ziglar
Reach out, and let's take time to discover how we can progress together. Remember daily to, 'Find value in your influence.' Your voice matters, and I'm excited to hear from and work with you!"
Written By: Paul Fawcett.
