#Unleashing Thankfulness
Unleashing thankfulness, what a title for this year. To say that 2020 has been different, difficult and a debacle would be an understatement. We have seen more upheaval in this year then most people have seen in a lifetime. Let's recap just some portions of the roller coaster that we have been on. We are still in the midst of what is now an almost year long pandemic. This pandemic has impacted every business, profession and school in the entire country. Many have lost jobs, children have missed school, a multitude of people have been sick with COVID-19, mental health concerns are at a peak, and sadly many people have passed. This pandemic has also significantly impacted our economy, with many businesses downsizing or closing and has caused the stock market to see-saw. As if this were not enough, we have had killer hornets, crazy sandstorms, swarms of locust, uncontrolled brush fires, unprecedented floods, volcano eruptions, earthquakes, riots, civic unrest, a contentious election and a lot of divisiveness and hostility. So much chaos in one short little year.
With all this sadness and negativity you would think what is there to be thankful for? Well, the answer is simple...everything! Gratitude and appreciation doesn't need to be reserved for just the big things. Everyday has the ability to be filled with good things and things that can be appreciated. Simply waking up with a roof over your head and a meal is a reason to be grateful. Not all are afforded this luxury that we often take for granted. Our family and friends that often bring us joy are also reasons to be grateful. Again, not everyone is surrounded by people they care about and who care about them. Being able to pay your bills, get a great parking spot, a warm comfortable bed, a nice meal are all good reasons to be thankful. Don't save your gratitude for just the big things when there are a million little things to be thankful for.
Everyday, begin your day with gratitude and end your day with gratitude. List all the big and small things that you are grateful for and that make your life better. Write it down for extra emphasis. Seeing everything on paper that you are thankful for can be quite impactful and eye opening, especially when we are going through a year where there seems to be less of everything. Open your eyes in the morning and give thanks for what you have and close your eyes at night in gratitude.
“You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you” ~Sarah Ban Breathnack
By taking inventory of all you are thankful for and truly appreciating all you have, a mental shift starts to take place. You begin to see things in a positive way because you recognize that although you may not have everything you want, you have more than you realize. The shift in thinking creates new patterns in your thought process where you will automatically see and acknowledge when good things take place in your life. When you come from a place of positivity and gratitude you will actively seek other things to be thankful for and place less focus on the things that do not bring you joy, success or happiness.
The practice of thankfulness and gratitude should also be incorporated into practice in your professional life and in your business practices. Taking the time out to acknowledge the good things taking place in your business and sharing that gratitude with your customers will be the catalyst for other good things to enter into your business. Customers will be more likely to return to you and/or refer you to others, if they feel appreciated. Potential business associates, employees and vendors will also be more inclined to work with you if they are valued. Additionally, focusing on what makes you happy, content and grateful within your business will allow you to see the areas that need improvement and attention. You can then work on changing those areas of discontent into something that brings you joy and satisfaction, or if need be eliminate those areas in your business that are not performing as they should. If there is an area of your business that does not bring you joy, satisfaction, substantial revenue and a feeling of gratitude, you should ask yourself, is this portion of the business necessary to keep in place? If the answer is no, then make the change necessary to eliminate the source of negativity.
Being grateful for all the positives big or small and creating an action plan that is actively worked on, will change the negatives into positives. Gratitude, action planning and consistency is an incredible formula to achieve success in both your personal and professional life.
Managing your business during these difficult and ever changing times can be difficult. It can also be fun, creative, refreshing and a source of new opportunity. Finding new and better ways to serve your customers and your community can also be re-energizing and rewarding. As you go through the gratitude activity process and strategize new and creative ways to deliver your goods or services, please consider working with HIVE Connex. We can assist with rebranding, creating new messaging, and work with you to update your business plans with new and improved strategies and objectives to keep your business thriving and successfully forward moving.
For more information on turning you business negatives into positives, coaching, mentoring, marketing yourself, branding, strategic planning, business planning, and training, please visit our website at www.hiveconnex.com or email us at hiveconnex@gmail.com.