ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE FOR SUCCESS

‘How do you stay so positive all the time?’  This is a question I often get asked. And the answer is quite simple.

I have developed an attitude of gratitude. That’s it. Pure and simple. Coming from a place of gratitude has changed my life over the last 20 years.  I first heard Sarah Ban Breathnach, on the Oprah Winfrey show, talking about gratitude and the difference it can make in one’s life. I paid close attention at that time because I was living in a pool of negativity and wanted to find a way out.

The ‘Simple Abundance Journal of Gratitude’ was introduce on that show 20 years ago!   I sat up and paid attention. Then I took immediate action. I ordered one of those journals from Amazon and, to this day, have ordered two each December to ensure that I was ready for the coming year. One journal was for me and the other I always gifted to someone who took an interest in the habit.

Gratitude is an attitude and it can change your life.  It certainly did for me. I’ve developed certain habits around that journal and this has made a significant difference in both my personal life and in my business.

Let me explain the top 3 reasons for this:

1. IT CHANGES THE WAY YOU THINK.

Once you commit to having an attitude of gratitude, on a daily basis, it changes the way you think. Our minds cannot hold two conflicting thoughts at the same time. When you think in terms of gratitude, that influences your behavior. As human beings, we move towards and become like what we think about. In our worlds, we have SO much for which to be grateful. We also have a tendency to take a lot of this for granted because, quite honestly, it has come easy to us. Thinking in terms of gratitude, from sun up to sun down, is a great way to go through the day.  When I was going through my separation and divorce a number of years ago, I can remember ending my day by writing in my journal ‘thank you that this day is over’. You see, it’s the way we THINK about things that makes the difference. You can express gratitude in a number of different ways – the key is, do it.

2. IT CHANGES THE WAY YOU ACT.

What you think about, comes about. Having an attitude of gratitude, on a daily basis, changes the way you go through the day. It’s a habit. Once you commit to that habit, you start to become aware at the very start of your day of the abundance in your life. It certainly did for me! In the first few pages of this journal (which I HAVE been keeping now for 20 years!), the author lists pages of examples to help get you started thinking in terms of gratitude. There are many days when, by mid-morning, I am already aware of at least 5 things for which I am grateful. This mindset truly does change the way I act – and will change the way you act.

What I particularly loved about this daily habit of writing down 5 things before going to bed is that it influenced the way I did business. In the beginning, when it was an uphill battle because I had no clients, no money, no contacts – I continued to express gratitude (some days I had to dig DEEP, LOL) for having a phone so that I could make sales calls. I gave thanks for the ability to get to networking events to develop relationships and make contacts. I was thankful for 5 working days each week so that I could hustle and get things going. There was ALWAYS something for which to be grateful – and that mindset kept me going on a daily basis to the point where I am now running a very successful and profitable business.

3. IT CHANGES THE WAY YOU LIVE.

What I know for sure is that I would much rather live my life from an attitude of gratitude than any other way. I have been around negative people before and the influence and energy were sickening (physically and mentally). Having an attitude of gratitude, and getting into the daily habit of appreciation and thanks, changes the way you live: with how you spend your time, with whom you spend your time, the energy you put out and so much more. People who are grateful for what they have are much more interesting and inspiring; that’s the kind of people I want to be with. Don’t you?

At this time of Thanksgiving in Canada, I am so very grateful to you, my readers. You have been faithful and loyal for so many years. I am grateful for my clients who put their trust and faith in me to help them grow their business. I am grateful for the incredible team I have who support me in every way possible.

I could go on and on and on – because I have developed the attitude of gratitude on a daily basis.

Life is short. My challenge to you is to get into this daily habit. You don’t need any fancy-schmanzy journal either.  Just start writing on a plain piece of paper and watch how your world begins to change, too – FOR THE BETTER!

 Then let me know when you start doing this on a daily basis, ok? – I’d love to hear from you!