“Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.”
… Ward Beecher (1813 – 1887) US clergyman & abolitionist
One of the major narratives about life in the modern world focuses on achievement. We are on this planet to be successful, to be our best self and so on. We have to get better and get more of something. Fulfil our potential. Live life to the full. Part of that narrative also speaks to personal effort. All we have to do is work and make the right choices and we can have our dream life. Sounds utopian and it is. Life is messy and full of competing priorities. What might be working for us today may not work for us tomorrow, next week or next year.
For many, focusing on success means keeping your eye on the prize. However, that means focusing on what we don’t have. It is rare for such people to spend much time reflecting on what they have, who they are and how they here. Yet, when we do this, we put life into perspective.
Think for a moment about what and who you are grateful for in life.
When I do this, much of my gratitude revolves around the people close to me; those who make my life more meaningful. I also think about the joy I find in learning and the opportunities I have in life. Indeed, having watched many documentaries on the history of the planet and human kind, I find it remarkable that I even exist for if just my parents had never met, I would not be. And that is just the tip of the iceberg of my ancestry! So at a very basic level, I found myself grateful for my existence.
I have often reflected on the idea of gratitude in the workplace and wondered how often people spoke of what they were grateful for in life or in their work place. My initial thought was such conversations would be a rarity. Given the nature of organisational life, it seems to me most conversations are likely to serve either the desire for reporting or resolution of problems. One of the mantras of organisational life is to be constantly improving and being more productive. This basic belief can all too easily focus people on what is not working rather than what is. Think about the conversations you have at work and the nature of those conversations. How often do you think to appreciate your colleagues and friends, simply because they are there and they make your life that little bit better? How often do you tell them?
One of our most basic concerns is our relevance to others. We like to think what we do matters. Not just to us but to those in our communities. Yet if we are never told others appreciate us, then how do we know that they do? So I would like to invite to reflect on what and who you are grateful for in life. I also invite you to take this further and tell those who are important to you of your gratitude. If you do so, then value the experience and take it into your day.
And, above all, be grateful for life.
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