Developing an Attitude of Gratitude by Cindy Stradling CSP, CPC

Staying resilient when facing obstacles is critical for anyone who wants to pursue greatness in any area of their life. This week I will focus on an important part of resilience that is important when times are good. That trait is gratefulness.

It may not be immediately obvious the connection between resilience and gratitude. The two are definitely linked, as gratitude helps you to keep a humble attitude rather than becoming over confident when things are going well.

Why would confidence causes problems? After all, if you’ve worked hard to achieve your goals, you should be allowed to celebrate, shouldn’t you?

Of course celebration of achievement is very important. However, remembering the hard work that got you there and being willing to do that work again is what keeps you there.

Gratitude and resilience during the good times involves, to an extent, never letting your guard down too much. When you’ve worked hard to realize your goals and dreams, it is critical not to allow it all to slip through your fingers because you take it for granted or get lazy.

Here are some simple ways to maintain that attitude of gratitude now matter how well your business, or other pursuit, is going. Here are some suggestions.

• Keep mementos of the difficult times. As an example: mayybe you’ll hold on to the first dollar you ever made, or you’ll keep the cheap suit you wore to every sales presentation in the early days. Choose something that is meaningful to you, remember to keep items that remind you of your roots where you can see them.

Stay connected to your business and it’s mission. As a business owner, it can be tempting to turn the day-to-day operations over to someone else once it is feasible to do so. Of course, it’s ok to take it easy a little as things become stable, but always remember how to run your own business.

• Pay it forward. A great use of the experience you’ve gained is passing it on to someone else. As you become successful, find the time to mentor someone else who is working hard to build the same sort of legacy. This will be a big help to them, serve as a reminder of your own struggles and rewards.

• Keep a journal. Daily or weekly write down 3-5 things you are truly grateful for. We often take for granted the great things in our lives.

Gratitude helps you stay appreciative and maintain perspective on the world around you. It can help keep you focused and connected during the good times as well as being resilient when times are difficult.