GRATEFULNESS

Being deeply appreciative of the benefits and blessings you have received from God and others now, in the past, and even in the future.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The practice of gratitude involves a focus on the present moment, on appreciating your life as it is today and what has made it so.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.1 Thessalonians 5:18

Skilled Characteristics


  • Positive

    Always sees life from a positive or optimistic perspective

  • Open

    Receives all kinds of feedback and critique in a positive light, showing appreciation for people’s input

  • Encourager

    Often picks out positive things to say to other people

  • Thankful

    Commonly says ‘thank you’ to people and smiles

  • Prayerful

    Takes time frequently to thank God for his goodness and love

“Among the things you can give and still keep are words, a smile, and a grateful heart.”

– Zig Ziglar



Unskilled Characteristics


  • Negative

    Has a tendency to speak negatively, complain, argue, or be grumpy

  • Argumentative

    Often looks for ways to argue with people or disagree with them

  • Unthankful

    Does not appreciate when people give him/her compliments or critical feedback – often defends him/herself

  • Refuses

    May refuse to accept compliments or gifts or thanks from others

  • Problems

    Frequently talks about problems, issues, concerns, and reasons why something won’t work

“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.”

– Cynthia Ozick



Causes of Weakness


  • Thoughtlessness

    Does not stop to think of others or to think about the positive aspects of one’s life

  • Pride

    Believes that he/she deserves all that he/she has and even more, rather than seeing it all as a gift and a privilege

  • Envy

    Is envious of others who seem to have better lives, looks, capabilities, opportunities, or possessions

  • Callous

    Insensitive, unfeeling, or out of touch with one’s emotions

  • Forgiveness

    Has a personal need to receive forgiveness before one can give oneself permission to feel happy or grateful again

“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.”

– Anthony Robbins



Advice


Review the simple application steps below and choose 1 or 2 things you can do to spur yourself on to further growth.

  • Avoid Negatives

    AVOID NEGATIVES: Avoid getting pulled into purely negative conversations. When a conversation turns unnecessarily negative either try to change the subject or leave the conversation.

  • Show Gratitude

    SHOW GRATITUDE: Proactively identify things to be grateful for and express them on a daily basis. Set a goal to tell at least one person each day something that you appreciate about them and why.

  • Think Big

    THINK BIG: When faced with difficult situations, take time to reflect and identify things you can learn from the experiences. Try to look at the situation from the perspective of ‘How can this situation benefit me in the future by what I learn from it?’

  • Control Yourself

    CONTROL YOURSELF: When someone criticizes you, keep yourself in control and remember to say ‘thank you’ for their input, whether you like or agree with the feedback or not. Plus, their input might have some valid points that could help you in some way.

  • Look for Reasons

    LOOK FOR REASONS: Look for reasons to say ‘thank you’ to people. Showing appreciation to others, if even it is just a simple ‘thank you’, can significantly improve working relationships. People love to be thanked, and it’s even more impactful if you can explain to them specifically what they did that you’re thankful for.

  • Review

    REVIEW: Each day in the morning or evening or both, take time to reflect and think about all the things you have to be grateful for. It will be sure to brighten your day, and it will likely rub off on others.