It’s Thanksgiving! What a great day to be thankful for everything we have in our lives. But, being thankful should not just be for today. So today’s career tip is to start a gratitude journal.
“Thank you is the bridge from where you are now to the life of your dreams. Your life will change by practicing gratitude and saying thank you.” –Rhonda Byrne, author of The Secret and Magic
If you’re grateful for the job you have, even if its not your dream job, things will begin to change so you enjoy your job more and opportunities for you will suddenly appear. This is what happened to me when I was terribly stuck in a job but I was still thankful for that paycheck, an opportunity to become an Adjunct Professor at my company opened up. I got to teach a course about how to navigate your career which I LOVED. I still had to keep my day job but I was SO THANKFUL for a few hours in my day when I got to do something I was really excited about. And what happened? More teaching and training opportunities continued to come to me effortlessly.
“When you get clear about the things you want, you are giving a definite direction to the way you want gratitude to change your life.” –Rhonda Byrne, author of The Secret and Magic
Another way to show gratitude in your life is to count your blessings. When you’re grateful for the things you have, no matter how small they may be, you will see those things instantly increase. You will be happier when you count your blessings. The more gratitude you feel, the happier you will be. Studies show people who practice gratitude have closer relationships, are more connected to family and friends and have people look upon them more favorably. Even being thankful for your boss will give you more patience, understanding, compassion and kindness. You will forget about the things you use to complain about them if you are thankful for them. I once had a very tough client in my previous corporate consulting job who was not nice to me AT ALL, but I was and still am SO THANKFUL to her for showing me how to handle difficult clients and situations with class.
This is exactly why I make it a habit in my morning routine to write down three things I am grateful for each day. It just makes me happier and gives me a better outlook for the day.
