Chapter 5 from “The Attitude Book” by Simon Tyler
The act of, the state of and the ensuing attitude of gratitude is an important part of all personal evolution journeys. Yet it is too often ignored or treated glibly as ‘not relevant to me’!
I have ruminated and added to this concept in a variety of ways when working with teams since The Attitude Book was published and my appreciation for the importance of gratitude has developed further. Observing the impact, changes and new results of different groups continues to emphasise the impact that simple acts of authentic gratitude have and the need to keep exploring in myself my own attitude and gratitude.
Embedding the “3 things for which you are grateful” activity into teams or group meetings to enhance a positive attitude and to remind us how fortunate we often are has had real impact in enhancing relationships and cohesiveness in teams and really helping to create a sustained change in outlook and performance.
Actively bringing these to the surface, sharing these in teams, verbally at meetings for instance, has also helped to create greater sense of trust and rapport in them and deepened personal connections.
I now often use this chapter as an end point at events to enhance a connection in the room and leave the participants feeling uplifted.
Now it’s your turn!
The attitude of gratitude is often quoted as a morally and ethically ideal way to be. When gratitude is absent from our current state, it seems out of reach and the opposite (the grizzly, grumbly version) is in its place.
Gratitude is the act of being thankful, the attitudinal form of this is when you are noticing and being thankful semi-automatically.
Gratitude can:
· Enhance relationships, emotions, health, personality and career.
· Generate social capital faster than negativity – it makes us more likeable.
· Reduce our need for and reliance on materialism.
· Make us less self-centred (or even self-obsessed).
· Increase self-esteem.
The initial effort, to embed this attitude over a few days, is always worth it. Keep it simple:
a) Three times a day (you decide the recurring times), scan your world for three things for which you are grateful.
b) Write them down.
c) Repeat, finding new items each time.
After a few days, your brain’s Reticular Activating Cortex, in effect your radar scanner, will have got the message, and will begin to do the searching for you.
If you’d like to purchase your copy of The Attitude Book then it is available at all good bookstores or click here to be redirected.