Gratitude is a form of happiness.
Ungratefulness, unhappiness, and ugliness travel in the same circles.
Ungratefulness paints everything ugly.
10 gratitude robbers:
- The belief that leadership is anything other than service.
- Self-importance. Others never treat you good enough.
- Keeping score in relationships.
- Judging others by ourselves.
- Losing sight of purpose.
- Thinking short-term.
- Micro-management.
- Greed and stinginess.
- Envy at the success of others.
- Comparing an unsatisfying present to a satisfying past.
Gratitude rises up when you stop killing it.
16 ways to find gratitude:
- Include grateful-talk in meetings. Just imagine a meeting that begins, “What are you grateful for?”
- Adopt a servant’s heart. Servant leaders always find meaningful activity.
- Think of those less fortunate. It sounds perverse but it shifts perspective.
- Eject asses.
- Take a two minute breather after completing a task. Enjoy the moment. Don’t rush to the next job.
- Learn from mistakes. Stop beating yourself up.
- Expect more from yourself than you expect from others.
- Trust God. Faith fuels gratitude.
- Own your own gratitude. Stop blaming ungratefulness on others. Gratitude is about who you are.
- Enjoy gratitude from others.
- Accept people, stop fixing them. Help them develop, instead.
- Make the best of it. Stop waiting for the perfect moment.
- Think, “It could be worse.”
- Forget about fairness. Just do your best, regardless. Fairness destroys gratitude.
- Focus more on the process than results.
- Include three positive words for every negative in your vocabulary.
Bonus: Include gratitude on your schedule. Just schedule it.
Gratitude is a way of seeing. Two people experience similar circumstances. One grows ugly. One finds gratitude. It’s up to you.
What blocks gratitude in organizations?
How can leaders find gratitude?