Gratefulness Changes Everything
WHEN was the last time you stopped and thought about what you were grateful for? Gratefulness curbs the insatiable desire to want more and 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. Nonetheless the pressure was put on them through the principles of please, thank you and sorry. This is what it sounded like. “Will you guys’ stop annoying each other and say sorry, we have just taken you out on a special day, and the least you could be is grateful and say thank you.” This must have been embedded in our children over time because they all demonstrate gratefulness now.
Please, thank you, and sorry are all expressions of gratitude.
Please - invites the other person in. To engage and interact in a non-confrontational way.
Thank you - is an acknowledgement of the other person and what they have done or will do.
Sorry - is an acknowledgement of righting something wrong in the relationship and is a sentiment to get back to thinking about what you appreciate in the relationship.
The three expressions all do a similar thing, they are an intentional acknowledgement and referencing 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.
As you begin a journey of gratefulness you will start to appreciate more of what and who you have and then you will realize that 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 not being grateful for what you have. This makes the idea of being grateful difficult which requires a change in thinking towards who you are. This process plays out in the following way.
Mindset - Practice - Behaviour - Become
If you think about the above 4 steps, you can consider the following questions to help add some context:
What is your mindset towards gratefulness?
How do you practice gratitude?
What behaviours do you display that stem from gratefulness?
What sort of person have you become because of gratitude?
My 5 Learnings:
My gratefulness fosters contentment, reducing the urge for more.
By teaching gratitude I empowered my children to appreciate life's blessings.
Please, thank you, and sorry are expressions of gratitude in my relationships.
My intentional gratitude amplifies my appreciation for life's simple joys.
Gratefulness transforms my mindset, behaviour, and ultimately shapes my character.
Gratefulness, a powerful dynamic that can transform your life and relationships. By practicing intentional gratitude, you learn to cherish the small things that lead to contentment, a positive mindset, and personal growth. Gratefulness is where your change begins.
My 3 Questions for you:
How can you cultivate a mindset of gratitude in your daily life?
What specific practices can you adopt to express gratitude regularly?
How has embracing gratefulness influenced your behaviour and personal growth?
"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
If you have questions, I would be happy to chat with you and help you discover more.
Remember daily to, “Find value in your influence”
Written By: Paul Fawcett.
