Attitude of Gratitude

I don’t know about you, but this year, here and there, I’ve experienced moments where I’ve wanted nothing more than to throw myself a pity party. Plans had to be canceled, a personal disappointment occurred, or I was simply having a bad day. It’s okay to get in these funks. Life is hard, and we shouldn’t force ourselves into fake positivity just to try to forget about the hard moments in life. However, this is where gratitude comes in.


Gratitude isn’t positivity. It’s appreciation. For the good, bad, and ugly moments and experiences that have gotten you this far. We often get so wound up in getting to the next best thing, that we forget the journey: the who, the what, and the why that brought us to now. Over the next few days, take some time to look back on and express gratitude to what has gotten you to where you are.


The Who
Let’s first discuss the who. Who has pushed you, supported you, and not given up on you, even when you wanted to give up on yourself? What sacrifices have they made to help you accomplish your goals? How can you now turn around and try to support them?


The What
What experiences have you gone through that have made you who you are? Did that one impossible project at work force you to learn a skill that has completely changed your career path for the better? Did the rough moments you faced growing up teach you to show compassion and kindness to others, because that’s what you needed at that time? What has made you who you are?
 
The Why
Why do you continue working tirelessly to do and be better? Is there a change you want to see in the world? Children you want to set a good example for, so they know that they too can achieve great things? What motivates you to keep pushing when extrinsic things aren’t enough?


While 2020 certainly turned a different direction than we had all planned, we can choose to see the beauty in the hand we’ve been given. For me, 2020 has reminded me of my priorities and what truly matters to me. What I’m thankful for. Who I’m thankful for. Why it matters. Keep pushing, but don’t forget to have an attitude of gratitude.

By Debi Douma-Herren