In a world that is constantly shifting, businesses and individuals alike can benefit from the power of gratitude. While there are many strategies to unlocking the potential of teams and individuals - such as executive coaching, creating a culture of inclusion and utilizing the latest insights - the often overlooked tool of gratitude is just as important in fostering positive growth.
Gratitude is an emotion we express when we feel thankful for something substantial or intangible. Although it is a social norm to thank someone when they give us a gift or gesture, it is much less common to express thanks for the small, daily blessings. To truly understand the power of gratitude, we must practice it regularly.
The benefits of a sustained gratitude practice are vast: long-term and short-term psychological well-being, stronger relationships, increased optimism, better physical health, and a more productive team. Let's take a look at some of the positive effects of giving thanks:
Moreover, leaders who actively express gratitude can create more productive teams. Research from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania showed that employees are 50 percent more efficient when their managers are thankful for their good work. Similarly, research by psychologists Adam Grant and Francesca Gino found that receiving recognition and appreciation for a job well-done increases feelings of self-worth and trust within the team.
To reap the many benefits of gratitude, one must practice it. Here are some simple practices to get you started:
By giving gratitude and focusing on the positive aspects of life, we can reap the many benefits of a powerful emotion. Gratitude can lead us to better relationships, stronger teams, and an increased sense of well-being.
Making time to be mindful and practice gratitude can be transformative for both your own life and those around you. Shiken leverages the power of gratitude to help organizations and individuals reach their full potential. Using a combination of on-demand events, live discussions, and executive coaching, Shiken provides organizations with resources to help them create motivated and high-performing workplaces. The company also actively promotes the use of gratitude within the workplace to help teams unlock their true potential.
Expressing thankfulness and helping others can have a powerful effect on our mindset and wellbeing. Gratitude has been shown to increase our motivation and may even help spur positive behaviors that lead to self-improvement. On a deeper level, it can inspire us to be kinder, more thoughtful, and more empathetic. Research has even shown that gratitude, when expressed effectively, can foster the growth of networks of good and spread the encouragement and joy it generates.
Although the benefits of gratitude are clear, it can be challenging to practice gratitude amid our daily lives or when feeling anxious or overwhelmed. To help, it is important to break down the concept of gratitude into two stages - acknowledging the goodness in our lives and recognizing where it stems from. Acknowledging that the goodness in our lives is often from the support and kindness of others will help us to identify specific actions to incorporate gratitude into our routine.
Tim Desmond suggests a simple exercise that can be used to gain perspective and appreciate the good things in our lives - visualize the positive aspects of your life in the present moment. Studies have also shown that engaging in activities such as meditation, exercise, and recognizing personal strengths may also help to cultivate feelings of gratitude. Ultimately, engaging with gratitude in any capacity can help to strengthen relationships with partners, families, friends, and colleagues, and bring people together in moments of shared joy and appreciation.
Gratitude is a powerful emotion with the potential to reshape our lives in meaningful ways. It can be expressed in moments of joy, contentment, and appreciation, as well as in moments of sorrow and hardship. For those striving to cultivate a more positive outlook on life, practicing gratitude can be a life-changing skill.
Gratitude is both a state and a trait; a momentary feeling and a deep-seated character trait. Unlike other emotions, it is something that can be learned and strengthened with practice. Here are some tips for deepening your practice of gratitude:
Creating and maintaining a habit of gratefulness is beneficial to our mental health, and will also carry over into our social lives, allowing us to develop closer, more meaningful relationships.
2020 has brought substantial and often unexpected changes to our lives. While it is normal to feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and frustrated, it is possible to look for the goodness and beauty in tough times and use it to find a sense of contentment.
Research suggests that cultivating an attitude of gratitude has a positive effect on the brain, stimulating areas responsible for morality and positive emotions. Practicing thankfulness not only helps us to appreciate life’s little joys, but it also equips us to better weather the storms of life.
Take the time to actively express your appreciation for the people around you. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture; often, a meaningful look, a heartfelt note, or a small gift or favor will suffice. Concentrate on the intention behind the gesture, and savor the feeling of connection and appreciation.
Meditation can also be useful for developing an attitude of gratitude. Mindful meditation techniques such as love and kindness meditation can help us to view the world through a wider lens, reduce negative emotions, and increase feelings of contentment.
Developing an attitude of gratitude is an ongoing process that requires patience and dedication. However, by taking the time to practice gratitude, we can reap the rewards of a more positive outlook on life and create deeper connections to ourselves and others.
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