There’s an ancient Persian proverb that says, “I cursed the fact I had no shoes until I saw a man who had no feet.” I spend a lot of time talking about the importance of a positive attitude and how Dad made it an imperative in our household.
The reality is that a solid attitude has to be about more than just positivity. It also has to be heavily steeped in gratitude. The Colonel often said, “Mind your attitude, young lady. If it’s not an attitude of gratitude, it’ll trip you up every time.”
While there is a plethora of research on the physical, psychological, and emotional benefits of gratitude, I don’t believe Dad had read any of it. This is something The Colonel just knew instinctively. Being consistently grateful helps you enjoy the good moments and gives you the strength to deal with the bad moments. It helps you build stronger relationships and maintain positivity in a negative situation. No one’s life is perfect, and yet there is always something to be grateful for. Everyone has to deal with adversity, complaints, burdens, betrayals, and obstacles. Still, when we discipline ourselves to consistently look through a lens of gratitude, we are more able to see the flickers of goodness in our lives and in others. Furthermore, focusing on gratitude allows us to recognize the large and small gifts our parents, friends, neighbors, employers, and Creator have given us. It helps us maintain a necessary humility.
In the United States, this is Thanksgiving week, which is when we pause to count our blessings and remember all that we have to be grateful for. So, let me challenge you not just during this Thanksgiving week but every week and every day. What would happen in your world if you focused on being grateful? When we are keenly aware of and thankful for all we have been given, we are more willing to give to others, and that is a path to significance.
Read Lauren’s Whitepaper on The Nine Essentials of Significant Leadership.
