- nafisah8
Live A Life Of Gratitude
Updated: Dec 3, 2020
So, before we go into gratitude proper, how would you like a glimpse into recent happenings in the business world?
Afterall “news is to the mind what sugar is to the body”
Business magnate Elon Musk Founder and CEO of SpaceX is hoping to send 42,000 satellites to space. And also he hopes those satellites bring high-speed internet to every corner of the world— from the rain forest to Antarctica.
Stripe has acquired Paystack, a technology company based in Lagos that makes it easy for organisations of all sizes to collect payments from around the world. Not only will this aid in Stripes African expansion, but the deal is reported to be worth over $200 million (77 billion naira) in possibly the largest fintech acquisition in Nigerian history.
Now, how do you live a life of gratitude?
From a young age, we learn that saying thank you is the polite thing to do. But the impact of expressing gratitude goes far broader and deeper, in both business and personal settings. Being grateful in our everyday lives is actually a powerful strategy for improving our effectiveness as leaders and strengthening the relationships we all rely on. Harvard Medical School states that gratitude is “a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible. With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives … As a result, gratitude also helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals–whether to other people, nature, or a higher power”
Gratitude is a way for you to appreciate what you have instead of always reaching for something new in the hopes it will make you happier, or thinking you can't feel satisfied until every physical and material need is met. Gratitude helps you refocus on what you have instead of what you lack. And, although it may feel contrived at first, this mental state grows stronger with use and practice.
Is there a purpose behind this Emotion?
Do you feel that gratitude should be reserved only for momentous occasions? Sure, you might express gratitude after receiving a promotion at work, but you can also be thankful for something as simple as an appetite to eat a meal. The benefits of practising gratitude are nearly endless. If you practice gratitude regularly by taking time to notice and reflect upon the things you're thankful for, you’ll experience more positive emotions, feel more alive, sleep better, express more compassion and kindness, and even have stronger immune systems.
So yes, there’s not only a purpose behind this emotion but purposes, namely:
You can use gratitude to form new social relations or to strengthen current ones.
Acts of gratitude can be used to apologize, make amends and help solve other problems.
Alternatively, you may feel gracious because it can be an intrinsically rewarding process. Simply being grateful for being alive is a great way to motivate oneself to seize the day.
The idea that tomorrow is not guaranteed is a strong motivator for you to be your “best self” today.
Thinking about all you have to appreciate can boost your happiness and your overall sense of well‑being, according to psychologists.
“Gratitude turns bad things into good things”
For Instance,
Having problems at work? Be grateful you have work. Be grateful you have challenges, and that life isn’t boring. Be grateful that you can learn from these challenges. Be thankful they make you a stronger person. It’s hard to complain about the little things when you give thanks that your family is alive and healthy. It’s hard to get stressed out over paying bills when you are grateful there is a roof over your head.
Saying “Thank you” to someone can make a big difference in that person’s life. Calling them, emailing them, stopping by to say thank you … just taking that minute out of your life to tell them why you are grateful toward them is important to them. People like being appreciated for who they are and what they do.
Does gratitude only revolve around personal settings? Absolutely not. How can gratitude impact entrepreneurship?
Gratitude can give entrepreneurs a competitive advantage. Thus,
Networking and relationship building
Research has found that being grateful to someone is a wonderful way to make a positive first impression. It can increase the likelihood that the two of you will have a higher quality relationship. This is an effective and kind way to break down barriers with new business acquaintances. Also, it can strengthen existing professional relationships with colleagues and partners as well.
Managing stress
Entrepreneurs live with a lot of stress, and it has serious impacts. Gratitude is a powerful force for supporting our physical and emotional health. Grateful people experience fewer aches and pains, and they are less impacted by negative emotions like envy, resentment, and frustration. Similarly, they are also more emotionally resilient. Being grateful is an easy and positive way to counterbalance the many challenges that entrepreneurs face.
Gaining and retaining customers
Everyone enjoys being thanked, and they enjoy returning to places where they feel appreciated. Many business owners can tell stories about how thanking their customers--either with a simple "I appreciate your business" or offering tangible gifts like discounts--helped their bottom line.
Gratitude has been linked with higher self-esteem and an increased sense of loyalty, both of which help turn new customers into repeat customers. Saying thank you is a simple way to make your customers feel great about purchasing your product or service.
Motivating employees
Gratitude has a positive influence on managers' relationship with their direct reports. Employees feel more trusted, are more satisfied, perform better, and experience more organizational loyalty when they are appreciated.
Maintaining a happier family life
No one can build a new venture without help. Those closest to you--significant others, family members, and close friends--have likely given up time and resources to bolster your dream. We can forget to thank the people right in front of us, but they need it just as much as anyone else. Saying thank you can strengthen bonds, practising gratitude has also been linked directly with marital quality. It reduces the risk of divorce and helps couples bounce back from conflict. And when your main relationships are doing well, you will be more effective and productive in the workplace.