The benefits of adopting a grateful attitude are widely recognized and supported by many reputable scientific studies, yet the practice of gratitude remains a largely under-utilized tool personal development and marketing tool. Giving thanks is one of the most effective ways to build strong relationships, both personal and professional, and it can have an amazing impact on your mental health and general well-being. When we’re happier in ourselves, we generally function better in all aspects of day-to-day life. What’s more, this positive attitude has a tendency to rub off on other people and make them feel good, too.
Just think about it for a moment. How do you feel when you encounter a negative, ungrateful, grumpy person? You probably feel irritated or upset and descend into a negative mindset, right? And when you’re around someone who’s upbeat, kind and positive, you feel pretty great after being in their presence, don’t you? That’s because the attitude of others, whether negative or positive, is infectious. It has a significant impact on the way we feel and subsequently behave. We all have the power to positively influence the attitude and behavior of those around us, simply by choosing to be kind and grateful.
Improving your personal well-being. Harvard Health Publications states that “In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.” Well, I’m sold!
Maintaining a positive, grateful attitude can be incredibly challenging. It takes practice and dedication, so it’s not as easy as clicking your heels three times. But it really is worth the effort. Life is stressful and oftentimes full of disappointment for many people. And whilst we can’t always control what happens to us, we can control our perceptions and reactions. When life throws you lemons, make lemonade.
Rather than focusing on the things you don’t have, think about what you do have. By looking for that silver lining in every situation, you’ll learn to appreciate the little things in life that most of us takes for granted. It’s all well and good striving for more, but not to the extent that you’re living in a perpetual state of frustration, dissatisfaction and ungratefulness. You’ll never be happy because you’ll always want more.
When things don’t go your way, change the perspective; look at the situation from a new angle:
- Make a list of what you are grateful for. You’ll be amazed.
- Think about how and what you can learn from your mistakes and use this to your advantage.
- Learn to recognize opportunities where you would otherwise see failure and misfortune.
When you realize that all in not lost and that you have a lot to be thankful for, you’ll begin to feel happier in yourself. This change in attitude will have a positive impact on all aspects of your personal life and the people around you.
Achieving professional excellence. Hard as it may be to always remain pleasant and gracious, it will serve you well in your professional life. No one enjoys dealing with miserable, angry and ungracious people. If you behave in such a manner, very few people will feel inclined to help you. Co-workers or employees will find it difficult to be around you, and there’s little chance your clients or customers will feel any loyalty towards you or your company. All in all, not a great outcome is on the horizon if you behave in such a way.
Instead, be the person who influences the emotions and behavior of others in a good way. Learn to recognize, acknowledge and express sincere thanks to your colleagues or employees for their hard work and dedication. In turn, you will likely see a significant rise in motivation, productivity and loyalty. You may feel that a pay check is sufficient, but there’s no sum of money that can buy true job satisfaction or loyalty. No matter how much we get paid, we need to feel valued and important.
When it comes to your clients or customers, the key to building strong relationships lies in the experience you provide. You may offer a great service or product, but that’s not always enough. People are giving you their money; they want to feel that their custom is appreciated and valued, otherwise they’ll go elsewhere. According to Stephanie Campbell, a long-serving customer service manager at Rapid Formations: “One of the most effective ways to achieve client satisfaction and loyalty is to express genuine gratitude for their custom, no matter how small the purchase. If you make them feel good, they’re more inclined to reciprocate this appreciation by remaining loyal and telling other people how great your business is.”
Photo by Matt Jones
Rachel Craig
