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How many ways do you express gratitude in your life? Are there multiple ways or just one way? What if I told you that there countless ways to express the gratitude that include focusing on yourself, others, and the things you are grateful for in your life.
Gratitude has been at the core of who I am since I was a child. I remember when my parents took us out to dinner or to a special event and the first thing I did when I was back in the car is say thank you to them.
Expressing gratitude became a habit for me before I could even drive a car, and that was 45 years ago. It is a habit that comes with the present mindset, it is not automatic in the sense that I don’t know what I am doing. When I say thank you, it is very intentional.
Throughout my corporate career, I expressed gratitude for every raise, bonus, promotion, and new opportunity. I made sure that the people I worked with knew that I was thankful for whatever it was that I earned or received.
I remember writing personalized thank you cards to everyone one of the employees that I worked within organizations as large as several hundred. It was a habit that knew no restrictions.
When I left my last corporate job in 2017, I wrote a personalized thank you card to every one of the employees at the company. I made sure each one of them received ac are that said what was in my mind and on my heart. The feelings that I get when I express gratitude can support and lift me up when I might otherwise be down, like ending my corporate career.
I have found that while there are countless ways to express gratitude, I most often express it in one or more of the following five ways.
The first and most common way I express gratitude is by journaling. For me, journalling involves a journal or some blank paper. I have journaled on any blank paper I could my hands on, pretty much anywhere in the world. I often find gratitude writings in my books as bookmarkers.
I write a card to express my gratitude to others and to myself. I remember picking out cards for others one time and I found a greeting card that seemed perfect for me so I sent it to myself in the mail. Some might think it odd, I thought it brilliant to thank myself with a handwritten card.
I am grateful for social media and the freedom that I have to post about my gratitude on multiple platforms. I curate the quotes and memes that express gratitude and share them on my pages. I love being a part of the gratitude movement on social media!!!
One of my favorite ways to express gratitude is face to face with another person. I am full of excitement and enthusiasm when I know I can thank someone for something in person over coffee or a meal. The look on their faces more often than not inspires me to keep up with my habit.
I have been fortunate over the past two-plus years to volunteer with numerous non-profit organizations and I have to tell you, the feelings of gratitude that I get when I know I am giving of my time and talents is priceless. I love being of service to others in so many ways and remain diligent about finding those ways often.
Gratitude is one way that I know of that will change my mood and shift my mindset. When I think of the kings that I ma grateful for in my life, I cannot be angry, scared, frustrated, or discouraged. It seems I will always strive to be grateful knowing it is the antidote to the down feelings.
If gratitude is not a habit in your life, I invite you to find a variety of ways to express gratitude on a daily basis and to keep up the practice until you know you are doing it intentionally. The habit of expressing gratitude does, in fact, have life-altering powers. Test it for yourself.
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