Gratitude seems to be the new buzz word as you hear people say it all the time, “just be grateful” but let’s take a deeper look into what that really means.
Gratitude is more than saying thanks. It is a trend that can get us through troubling times.
Many of us have a habit of sending thank you emails or thank you notes as a gesture of thanks but perhaps they are without the depth of feeling they could have.
Todd Kashdan, a professor of psychology at George Mason University is quoted, “Saying thank you becomes an act of gratitude when you’re not just acknowledging a gift or deed but describing why you appreciate what someone did and how it had meaning in your life. “There is data to show that the more personalized detail you use, the more impactful it is to the person.”
Gratitude is something we have to work at. Thankfully, there are some great ways to do this.
The Mayo Clinic suggests Daily Journaling as a way to start being in gratitude. For some people this feels too much like another thing on their list of the many things they have to do. Here is a list of 40 ways to make gratitude a part of your everyday life.
Gratitude isn’t just something nice to practice but it also has some great health benefits as well.
Gratitude is known to change your brain. Here are some things to understand about gratitude and the practice of it:
Gratitude unshackles us from toxic emotions
Gratitude helps even if you don’t share it
Gratitude’s benefits take time
Gratitude has lasting effects on the brain.
The benefits of gratitude can benefit you personally as well as your family, friends and your workplace. Here is a list that Psychology Today suggests as the benefits of gratitude.
For the individual:
increased happiness and positive mood
more satisfaction with life
less materialistic
less likely to experience burnout
better physical health
better sleep
less fatigue
lower levels of cellular inflammation
greater resiliency
encourages the development of patience, humility, and wisdom
For groups:
increases prosocial behaviors
strengthens relationships
may help employees’ effectiveness
may increase job satisfaction
Stratengy is here to help you navigate being a great leader in today’s world. Reach out to us today to learn how we can help you and your team be more engaged, collaborative, and productive.
Comments