If you’ve ever had a down day, you probably have realized the fastest way to feel better is look for things that you feel grateful for. When you shift your focus to the things in your life that are delightful, your spirits naturally lift. When you feel better, it is easier to find solutions to problems that felt overwhelming a short time before.
This isn’t new information. I’ve heard the benefits of gratitude from church to school to all kinds of articles I’ve read. We are reminded of it each November during Thanksgiving time. The key is remembering to shift into gratitude when things aren’t going well.
You may not know that you can use the power of gratitude to help you achieve your goals. Having gratitude makes a huge difference in how you approach your goals and how quickly you see results. In fact, I often get strange looks when I suggest to a client that they be grateful for whatever it is they want even though it hasn’t materialized yet.
Science reveals that the emotional state of gratitude tells your entire being what you want has ALREADY happened, so it bypasses any fear or worry and shifts into accepting the results as a done deal. This allows you to easily take the appropriate action to make the goal a reality!
If you are wondering how to apply this technique, start by becoming very clear about what you want. Then think about how you will feel when you have it. Let yourself feel excited and enthusiastic as you anticipate the wonderful addition to your life.
Here is an example: Maybe you want a hardworking employee who will be dependable, learn quickly, and fit into your organization. Right now, a lot of “experts” will tell you there aren’t any people out there who want the job you are offering, much less a pool of highly-quality candidates to choose from. When you dread the entire process and are confident that the end result will be less than satisfactory, that will become your reality. How do you change it? Gratitude in advance.
Start by expressing gratitude out loud for the fabulous employee who is looking for exactly what you have to offer. Yes – I said out loud. That doesn’t mean you have to yell it from the rooftops, but the act of both speaking it and hearing it back is powerful. Provide lots of detail in your gratitude. For example, this employee wants to grow with your organization, learn all they can, and delight your customers. Express gratitude for this employee constantly and with enthusiasm. Yes, it will feel awkward and false at the beginning, but the more you make yourself do it, the easier it becomes.
The hardest part for most people is remembering to do this exercise. I make a point to practice gratitude every time I’m in the bathroom looking at myself in a mirror. That guarantees I’ll do it several times a day. When I’m by myself, I speak confidently and when I’m in a public restroom with other people, it is more under my breath. Remember – be enthusiastic. Let yourself feel how exciting it will be to welcome this person to your organization each time you express gratitude and appreciation. The feeling of it is just as important as saying the words.
Then, take the action you know will get you there each day. If you are hiring, tell people what you are looking for, put a post on social media, and let your local unemployment office know about this opportunity. It may surprise you how quickly you get results that are even better than you imagined.
Charlise Latour a business coach and owner of Accelerate Your Success. She works with each client to determine what their goals are and create a plan so they can achieve them. She is actively involved in Dancing & Singing With The King which raises money to promote dance education including working with local schools to offer dance classes during the school day. This is a natural fit as she is an avid ballroom dancer.
