What Works: Gratitude Brings Abundance
Submitted by editor on Mon, 06/23/2014 - 10:29am
There are several places in this great area of ours that bring me peace and joy. These sacred places pump joy into my body faster than anything.
When I am hiking a trail with a view and sitting on the shores of Lake Tahoe, I realize how fortunate I am, as a resident of Carson City, to have dozens of cool trails and paths within a few minutes of my home. Without leaving the state, I can visit a beach that people visit from all over the world. Every day, when my feet hit the floor, often before, I thank the universe for placing me here and giving me the way, this column, to hopefully enlighten your day.
For me, gratitude is a big part of my life. I realize, when I practice it in business, I am constantly amazed by the abundance it can bring. I try to translate this belief to the clients I serve. However hokey it may seem, I advise every client to place their hand on their office door when they come in each morning and say, “thank you for the gifts this business day will bring.” There are variations on that, based on my client and their need—but you get the idea. It sets the practice of daily gratitude in motion.
Oprah Winfrey said, "Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." Gratitude shifts our perception, the way we respond to others, and the way we address life’s challenges. For example, I can look at myself as 38 and single. Or, I can be grateful that I have had some very rich life experiences which can be used to better myself, grow as a person, and become that much more of a partner when the time comes to create a healthy relationship.
Being grateful requires nothing but the willingness to accept the good in things. I am reminded of the yin-yang symbol, which shows a spot of good in the bad and a spot of bad in the good. That, my friends, is life and business in a nutshell. Recognizing that, you can bring perspective to just about any baffling situation.
Quiet your mind, breathe out, and simply say “thank you.” Then, be mindful. How did that feel to you? Even if it doesn't feel quite right yet, keep it up. Find what you are truly grateful for in life; even if it’s the fact that your business is open another day or you had a good breakfast this morning. The more you say “thank you” the more you will receive, mindfulness over your situation, priceless life lessons, and amazing abundance. What are you grateful for today? The floor is yours, Carson City.
ABOUT DIANE HANSEN
Diane Hansen is the Chief Inspiration Officer of What Works Coaching, a coaching firm that has helped people worldwide with their businesses, careers, mindsets, and profit margins. She brings to Carson City more than 17 years of experience with a wide array of clients, ranging from top corporations, motivated entrepreneurs and individuals hungry for a fresh start. Her column appears every Monday on Carson Now.
