You know that America is celebrating Thanksgiving this week. Being a part of this culture for three years now, I find myself in the center of all the festivities, acts of charity and hustle around family gatherings (less of the latter this year).
You could be on the skeptical side of the table complaining about the whole buzz and losing the original meaning behind it (with Pilgrims and Native Americans thanking Mother Earth and the Divine for all the gifts and abundance that have helped to survive and thrive). But it’s a great excuse to reflect on what each of us is thankful for here and now, quietly and proudly. Here’s why being grateful is so important for you and people around you.
Being grateful improves your outlook on life, your career and yourself. When we’re grateful, we feel more optimistic and in turn are able to take on new challenges. Also the related emotion quite literally warms up your heart (opens up your heart chakra). Just taking five minutes a day to maintain a gratitude journal is proven to make you five to ten percent happier. Imagine the impact if you shared those thoughts with the people you’re writing about?
Thanksgiving: Appreciate your colleagues
Grateful colleagues make you want to do more for them and this fuels a collaborative workplace, one where people trust each other and feel appreciated.
Refocus
When things get hard, one of the best ways out is to refocus. It might seem counterintuitive. But when we’re able to get out of our heads and focus on smth else, we’re reminded that perhaps what we’re going through isn’t as bad as it seems. On the energetic level you release your ego (i.e. negative emotions) and heal yourself with the positive energy.
Appreciate yourself
When we stop to thank someone, we’re reminded of how important the little things are. This can be overlooked, especially with so much going on in the world. This includes thanking yourself for being strong, skillful, open-minded (the list can be adjusted as needed) in specific circumstances. You gain the valuable knowledge or achieve smth great with that inner power and attitude.
Bottom line: regardless of where you are in the world and whether you support the Thanksgiving customs and traditions, the sentiment behind is worth taking up. Not just one day a year. But as much as you can, maybe making 5 minutes of gratitude your daily routine. And always remember about showing support and appreciation through action.
Before you know it the Universe will start rewarding you for sending out these positive vibes into the world. Happy Thanksgiving!
