A sense of gratitude is an essential part of a powerful mindset. It allows you to appreciate the journey thus far, savoring the wins for the rewards they bring you and the losses for the lessons they continue to teach.
Being grateful is not the same as being naive, and neither is it a sign of low standards. Quite the opposite. Speak to the most accomplished people around you – the ones with the most fame, highest achievements, largest fortunes – and you will realize they are far more appreciative of what they have earned.
If you know them well, you will also know that they were grateful even when the fame, fortune and accolades were few and far between. It is as if the simple practice of appreciation itself generates more things to be appreciative of.
Embrace gratitude and see how it transforms your life with one win at a time.
Express Gratitude Every Day
Like all habits, good or bad, the most powerful effects of expressing gratitude come with consistency. There are always things to be grateful for, big or small. A daily acknowledgement of these aspects of your life imbues them with a power that grows their value.
Make a list of things that you appreciate and add to it as you notice less-obvious ones that you take for granted. Choose three on which to focus each day.
Begin the Day with Gratitude
A selfless beginning is a good one. When the day starts, don’t focus entirely on what more you want but place greater emphasis on what you already achieved or were awarded. That foundation in humility and thankfulness is a fertile seed to attract good people and good vibes for the coming day.
It also gives you a wiser lens through which to see the world, and to make the decisions that matter in the long term rather than quick joys and stopgap fixes.
Focus on the Present
Who you are today, whatever you have achieved, everything that you have, the people in your life – are they each not worthy of gratitude? Apart from reinforcing the appreciation mindset, this places all you have done in context. With all these wonderful things laid out in front of you, it is easier to appreciate your own achievements and capabilities.
This deliberate reframing of your life in what matters most – the present – is an empowering move. Practice it every day to stay in the present while working to create the future you want.
Focus on People
We are taught to say “please” and “thank you” but expressing gratitude is more than oral expression. When we are truly grateful, the thankfulness manifests itself in our actions as well, and that is far more powerful.
Embrace active gratitude where you don’t wait for someone to do something for you to express yourself; instead, speak up and tell them that you are grateful for all they have done and continue to do.
A bedrock of gratitude grounds you when money and success pull at your tethers. Keep developing your gratitude mindset and it will make all the rewards that much sweeter. Reach out today to start building a gratitude practice together.
