Thanksgiving is the time many take time to reflect on the things in life they are most grateful for. But being grateful or living a more grateful life isn’t something to reserve for one day of the year. In fact, being grateful and conveying that feeling to friends, family, and clients can be empowered in several ways.
As Minda Zetlin writes for Inc. in “6 Surprising Ways Being Grateful Makes You Happier,” being grateful helps you to have a better perspective. As an example, she says, it may make a difference if you are faced with a difficult employee to deal with. It may give you more wisdom to deal with the situation. Among Zetlin’s reasons for being more grateful are:
- You’ll be in a better mood: Being grateful will make you more optimistic, which in turn will boost your happiness.
- You’ll be more resilient: Practicing gratitude gives you a sense of perspective. You’ll have a better sense of what really matters.
- You’ll be more generous: When you consider a situation from someone else’s perspective, you’ll be kinder to the individual. You’ll also be less troubled or aggravated if things someone does don’t go the way you expect.
Become more grateful in five ways
Taking some time out every day to think about what you have is certainly one way to become more grateful. Still, you may want to consider these other actions to incorporate gratitude into your everyday activities.
Keep a gratitude journal
Daily, jot down several things that you feel grateful for. Even small things are worthy of note. For example, you may have received a compliment from a client. Someone may have inquired about working for your spa or massage practice because they heard it was a great place to work. You may have just finished a continuing education course to acquire new massage therapy skills to expand your service offering.
Be social about your gratitude
Use your social channels to share something you feel grateful about. You may find others will reinforce your message with their own positive thoughts, which will enhance your own feelings of gratitude.
Be in the moment
Be in the present and not focused on what has happened or what may happen. When you are in the moment, you have a better perspective.
Demonstrate your appreciation for others
Let others know that you are grateful for them and for the ways they enhance your life. Demonstrate that appreciation by doing something nice for them. For employees, you might give someone some paid time off, send them to an industry conference or trade show on your behalf or treat them to special lunch or dinner.
Don’t compare yourself to others
You always will find someone who is richer, more successful, or more well-known. Comparisons will diminish your sense of self-worth. So please don’t compare yourself to others and what they have. Be grateful for what you have and your achievements.
Living a more grateful life every day will make you happier and make those around you happier.