As I reflect back over the last few days, (my back surgery on Friday), things going on at work, and just my life in general, I have one thing to say; and that is “THANK YOU”!
THANK YOU for:
- the prayers & responses from you, my friends, family & my volunteers at work
All is Well and the surgery went fine, (now let’s do this again on the 17th, when the next one is scheduled). 🙂
Most of my readers are aware of the power of gratitude, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a little refesher course of the benefits of saying “thank you” and being grateful! So here goes:
GRATITUDE:
- strengthens our emotions
- develops our personality
- improves our sleep (yes, this is proven, focus on what you are grateful for before bed)
- raises your self-esteem (get out your mirrors & be grateful for “wonderful, wonderful you”)
- improves your health, it actually lowers your blood pressure and your stress level
- allows you to live longer (yea it does, see above)
- increases your energy level and inspires you to exercise more (proven study; people who are grateful tend to want to exercise and exercise more than their counterparts)
- makes you more resilient, the ability to bounce back is stronger
- just plain makes you feel good
- enables you to be a more effective manager
- increases your goal achievement (more manifestation)
- improves your significant other relationships (they feel appreciated & therefore want to do more)
- and the creme’ de la creme’ the more you are thankful, the more the Universe gives you to be grateful for!
How to Implement More Gratitude into your Life:
- Keep a Gratitude Journal (I’ve been telling my students this for years) and no, it’s not the same if you just think about it, (it helps, however, it does not have the same effect). That’s what Oprah claims was her claim to fame was she started out in the early years keeping a gratitude journal every-night for five years; look at her now…
- Send out at least one “thank you” card a week, I buy at least two boxes of thank you cards every other week or so, because I’m writing a thank-you, or sending out a “thank-you tithe”, just about every-day, sometimes 3-4 in a single day. One of my volunteers at work is always saying to me “and you don’t have to send me a thank-you card” but I DO!
- Play the Hi-Lo game with your kids, or grand-kids. When sitting around the dinner table or after school ask them to tell you about their “HI” for the day, (something GOOD that happened)…then they can share a “LO” something that didn’t make them feel so good. That way they can processes though it, but always END with another “HI”. It’s the Oreo-Cookie approach we use in Toastmaster’s when critiquing a speech.
- Saying “thank-you” at work, I must say TY at work 25x’s a day, (bosses could learn a lesson from this)
- Being appreciative for the things your partner (or your kids) do, leave little notes around the house or in their lunch bags (do they still have lunch bags?)
- And Finally, one of my favorites, being grateful for the “NOT SO GOOD”. For those who know me (or read my book) you know that I buy a bottle of Champagne to celebrate the calamities of life, and toast “For some GOOD will Come of This!” (I’m due)
That should wrap it up, Happy Mother’s Day, and as always, thank you for your generosity & support, I Love You!
