When I was at one of the most frustrating points in my career several years ago, I was reading a lot of books and blogs. I was seeking direction and comfort because I hadn’t yet achieved my career goals, my financial goals or my personal goals. And frankly, I didn’t like the way I felt every day – disempowered, unvalued, unsuccessful, confined.
A consistent message I received from those books and blogs was – if you are grateful for where you are now and what you have, it’ll help you move forward and achieve the success you want.
My response to that was “WHAT?! But I’m trying to get OUT of the situation I’m in. I know it’s not what I’m meant to do, and I’m sick and tired of it. I know I can contribute more working somewhere else and doing something else. And these people don’t appreciate me – and what the hell?! I don’t want to embrace where I am because I don’t like it, and I can feel it’s not meant for me.”
Does any of this sound familiar? I get it! I spent most of my life working to get out, move up and on. I know that’s one of the reasons I moved to Ohio and then to California. (No regrets with the moves by the way; they were some of the best decisions of my life.)
Looking back, I now see how gratitude could have helped me achieve my goals sooner. Here’s what I learned about how gratitude can help you regardless of how frustrated you may be with your current situation:
1) It shifts your energy and creates an openness to opportunities. Don’t you know people who walk around with frustration or negative energy? Do you want to approach them or help them? Not likely. If you focus on what you’re grateful for every day throughout the day, you’ll have more positive energy and an openness that will help you see opportunities in front of you. (Think about like this … if you’re walking down the street and standing at a street corner staring down at your cell phone the whole time and closing yourself off, you may miss meeting the new significant other in your life or a magazine cover that will give you a new idea. Look up! Be open! Anticipate the next great adventure!)
2) It increases your awareness. To state the obvious, if you think about the things you’re grateful for, you’ll be more aware of all the fabulous things around you. The loved ones in your life. The fabulous meal from last night. The good health that allows you to participate in the activities you enjoy. The great friend who understands you. And isn’t it fabulous to appreciate them?
3) It empowers you. If you focus on gratitude and thriving where you are, it puts you in the driver’s seat. You can leverage your current situation to learn and grow, cultivate good relationships and be more likely to leave when YOU want. And shifting your energy in and of itself is an empowering feeling.
4) It’s a way of being kind to yourself. If you’re focused on what you don’t like about your life, it’s a great way to beat yourself up. Why am I not further along with my life and career goals? What am I doing wrong? If only I had done this or that, then I would be where I want to be. Yuck! None of that is helpful. While you’re thinking about things you’re grateful for, include your own accomplishments on the list. You’ve got a long list after all! I know it!
Practicing gratitude is an essential habit to cultivate. Thinking about three things you’re grateful for before you get out of bed, on your drive to work, as you walk into a meeting, as you approach a difficult conversation, as you go to bed. Practice. Practice. Practice.
Please share your own struggles with gratitude and which of these 4 benefits most resonate with you. Thanks for caring and sharing!
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