Happy Thanksgiving! Work usually isn’t the first place we associate with gratitude. How would looking for opportunities to be thankful at our jobs this holiday week reinvigorate us?
“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” —Oprah Winfrey
We attract what we focus on. If we focus on wanting what we have, we end up content. If we focus on what we don’t have, we become a bottomless pit of want. This week, let’s look around our workplaces for quality relationships and projects we’re thankful for; then think about how we can add value to them.
“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” —Willie Nelson
That’s not just the marijuana talking. We have more going for us than we realize. Let’s take a few minutes this week to write down five things we identify as blessings from our work. Let’s pay attention to those five blessings and see how they grow.
“Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” —Charles Dickens
This week, let’s stop dwelling on our past mistakes. We can’t change them, but we can set up triggers so we don’t make them again. Failure is just information gathering. Misfortune happens to everyone. Life is famous for throwing curveballs. All we can do is prepare for them as best we can then get up, dust ourselves off, and get back on the field.
“We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” ― John F. Kennedy
Let’s look around our workplaces and identify the teammates who make our jobs easier. Let’s make it a point this week to thank them and be specific. Did you get stuck with an angry customer on the sales floor and your coworker came over to de-escalate the situation? Thank her. Let’s build our support network by expressing our gratitude.
“What separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude.” ― Brené Brown
We didn’t get this job by ourselves. We either used our network, circle of influence, or references to get where we are. Let’s take a minute this week to send a thank-you email to the person who recommended us for this position. We wouldn’t be putting turkey on the table without them.
“Got no checkbooks, got no banks. Still I’d like to express my thanks – I’ve got the sun in the mornin’ and the moon at night.” ― Irving Berlin
Sometimes we can’t think of a single thing to be thankful for. Let’s at least be grateful for another day to go to work and make a positive difference in someone’s life.
“Be grateful for what you have and stop complaining – it bores everybody else, does you no good, and doesn’t solve any problems.” ― Zig Ziglar
Don’t hold back, Zig. Tell us what you really think. He’s harsh, but correct. Let’s exude gratitude at work this week. Maybe we can start a chain reaction of thankfulness that will make everyone’s week more pleasant.
How will you express your gratitude this week? Please share your intentions in the comments section below.