On June 11, I got an opportunity to conduct PoP UP © Workshop for OCI team in Seattle. It was a wonderful session attended by over 75 participants. The participants went through the process of identifying what happiness and success means to them and then put a process together to be successful in their life goals.
As I was guiding them through the process, one of the participants brought up the importance of expressing gratitude in the context of optimism. In a study conducted in 2003 by Dr. Emmons and Dr. McCullough, it was found that after 10 weeks, the people who had focused on gratitude in their lives, showed significantly more optimism in many areas of their lives. Practicing the attitude of gratitude helps build an optimistic outlook towards life which leads to happiness which in turn fosters success.
As the conversation went on, the participants asked me how I practiced expressing gratitude. I make it a point to practice expressing gratitude at work, a key pillar of mindful leadership. But there is more to expressing gratitude than just saying thank you. Gratitude is also about acknowledging all wonderful things going on in your life, all great people you have in your life, and all the blessings. So I practice expressing gratitude with my children before we go to bed. Each day is different and so is our gratitude expression for the day. While my children might be grateful for the candies they got to eat that day or a math puzzle that they were able to solve, I would be thankful for being able to make a difference in someone’s life. There are some constants too when we express gratitude – we are always thankful for a healthy body, a loving family, a roof on our head, and food on the table.
One of the participants asked me if I had a gratitude template. So, I put together a simple one for her. Use it if it works for or modify it per your convenience.
Gratitude Template
| What I am always thankful for:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
|
What good things happened today:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
|
| Who are the people whom I am grateful to for the good things that happened today:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
|
What wonderful things I am looking forward to tomorrow:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
|
As always, please like, comment, and share with your loved ones and spread the positivity.
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