Last week I posed the question, "What is ONE Thing you could do to be of service?" My ONE thing was to volunteer as an assistant for the CTI(Coaches Training Institute) Fundamentals workshop. I was excited to "give back" to the organization and participants because I received such amazing training when I went through the program in 2017-2018. The paradox is that I feel I received more than I gave. It was such a privilege to watch a group of amazing individuals bring their wonderful and unique personalities to the work of coaching. They all blossomed over the weekend and I know they will use what they learned to improve people's lives, including their own. It was a gift to witness it and be a part of it. I also had an opportunity to learn new things and grow in that environment. The whole experience left me feeling expanded and grateful.
So that is a good segue for this week's ONE Thing. "What is ONE Thing you can do to Grow Your Gratitude?" Gratitude is another one of those paradoxes like service. You think you are doing it for others, but it really serves you the most. An expression of gratitude could be as simple as a smile or "thank you" or as big as writing a letter (or email or text) to someone to let them know their positive impact on you. It could be a gift. It could be a party. It could sitting down for coffee or a meal with someone you appreciate. It could be journaling about all that you are grateful for. Gratitude seems so simple that it can get overlooked. But don't underestimate it's power. Expressing gratitude can shift your perspective. It can change pessimism to optimism. It can change relationships. It can change communities. I don't think it is overstating it to say, "it can change the world." Cultivating a practice of gratitude may seem small, but it can have a huge impact.
For my ONE Thing, I am going to reinstate a practice that I used to do faithfully and somehow let it lapse over time. I used to write in my journal every day 5 things that I was grateful for. I did it for years. And I don't know why I stopped. Maybe it was because I did it in a separate journal and it was full, so I just got out of the habit. Whatever the reason, I am going to simplify this for myself. I can write it in my regular journal, I can write in on a scrap piece of paper. I can do it anytime, anywhere, but I am committed to do it every day.
I will let you know how it goes next Monday. This is a practice that might not have a huge result in one week, but I think it will be a great start in reinvigorating my mindset of gratitude. What about you? Feel free to copy my idea (because it is simple and effective). If you already do this, think of something else you could do to expand it. Even when you are good at something, there is always room to grow. That's what makes life interesting. I would love to hear what you are going to do this week to Grow Your Gratitude. Feel free to share any ideas in the comments or in our Weekly ONE Thing Facebook Group!
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