POWER OF GRATITUDE!
Hope you're grateful for a great Christmas and a celebration of the new year!
2021: Let’s gain some POWER by having an attitude of gratitude!
Let’s be grateful for the life- changing year of 2020 and look forward to all the wins and challenges of 2021!
One of the best ways that I declutter my mind is by shifting my mindset to gratitude. During stressful times, I often become anxious and when I switch to an attitude of gratitude I’m able to defeat my negative thoughts. I see a huge change in my demeanor.
Quick story on how I learned the power of gratitude:
In 2012, I traveled approximately 130,000 miles. I was away all week from my wife and kids. My boys went through their senior years with me on the road. I was trying to make plays in my career, while also trying to stay connected with my boys and their big senior events. But I felt like I was missing out. Did I make it to all of them? No, but I did make it to most of them!
That year, on the many nights away from home, I would stand up and thank God for all the blessings that I had in my life. I did this simple thing as part of my routine for over a year. NIKE’s slogan says, “Just do it.” So, I did it! I am so glad I did because now my ability to manage stress has become easier. My stress management is not easy, just easier. The outcome was an attitude of gratitude for my family and what I have. I’m grateful that was the turning point that shifted my mindset to gratefulness, and I’ve never looked back.
Using gratitude as a weapon is powerful! Dr. Caroline Leaf, a neuroscientist, says that gratitude is the healthiest of all emotions. That certainly makes me want to be grateful!
The Greater Good Science Center has research showing that gratitude is good for a person’s body, mind, and relationships. I understand being grateful in the midst of a problem, failure, abuse, or a pandemic is tough. In order to FIND YOUR WINNING EDGE, gratitude is something you should try because the rewards are two-fold.
THE POWER OF GRATITUDE!
The Greater Good for Science Center states that gratitude helps people:
1. Socially:
- More forgiving
- More outgoing
- Feel less lonely and isolated
- More helpful, generous, and compassionate
- More willingly supported by others
2. Physically:
- Stronger immune systems
- Less bothered by aches and pains
- Lower blood pressure
- Lower risk of heart attacks
- Take better care of their health
- Sleep longer and better
3. Psychologically:
- Higher levels of positive emotions
- More alert, alive, and awake
- More joy and pleasure
- More optimism and happiness
- More resilient to stress
Based on all this research, what are some steps you can take to become grateful?
If you are practicing these steps as part of your routine, then the steps will become a habit and habits will determine your future.
1. Wake up every morning and write down what you are grateful for.
2. When you become stressed and anxious - write down what you are grateful for.
3. Before you go to bed write down what you are grateful for.
Let me know if you implemented these steps into your daily routine.
How have you used the weapon of gratitude to help you fight your battles?
Please connect to this powerful tool of helping you find your winning edge in 2021!
