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.