An Attitude of Gratitude
November is an annual time of giving thanks, and an attitude of gratitude is healthy not just for own psyches, but for our businesses as well. It’s been a rough year, yet here we are, still working. That’s a good thing, right?
Personal gratitude doesn’t come naturally for us. We take our loved ones for granted. We expect our kids to get their chores done. The paper better be in the drive when we walk out for it. These expectations lead to feelings of entitlement, which plagues our nation spiritually, even as COVID affects us physically.
Briefly defined, entitlement is the feeling that you deserve what isn’t rightfully yours. You have a right to be happy, a right to cheap healthcare, a right to more money, a right to enjoying a job well done…and the list goes on. The antithesis of entitlement is a feeling of gratitude for what you enjoy. Much of what you appreciate in life you earned, yes, but don’t forget the good breaks and helping hands along the way. The self-made man is instead, the man who achieved great things with a few good breaks, and gratitude comes in saying, “Thank you.”
In a recent interview with Health Matters, Dr Gail Schatz, a psychoanalyst and New York physician talked about the tangible benefits of gratitude. It fosters deeper and better relationships, less depression and better mental health. It fosters a good night’s sleep. It helps you feel happier. Gratitude become tangible as these little fixes actually improve your overall health.
Write a thank you note to a friend, family member or customer.
Count your blessings, not sheep. Try going to bed with three thankful thoughts as you drift off to sleep.
Do something for some shut-ins. A number of our community are still housebound because of COVID. These immunocompromised or elderly folks need your attention.
Begin a gratitude journal. At the end of the month you can look back and see just how fabulous November really was. Include big and little blessings.
Think of the needy this holiday season. Adopt a needy family. Give to a food bank. Serve a Thanksgiving dinner to the less fortunate.
Okay, so it’s good for you personally, but how does gratitude impact your business? According to Forbes, it is critical to economic success. Expressing recognition, aka gratitude, to your colleagues connects them emotionally to you and your company. It begins a cycle of contentment that you’ll find manifested in employee retention and customer acquisition. Begin the process and see a continuing ripple at the cash register.
Plan some Thanksgiving specials geared at blessing your customers rather than padding your wallet. Business is tight for all of us, and there is often month left at the end of your money, but we can all afford simple gratitude. In big ways or small ways, carry an attitude of gratitude this Thanksgiving season.
