Today I received flowers from a grateful client. It felt really good to be acknowledged and every time I pass by and smell their lovely perfume my heart lifts a little. It’s been a tough couple of days and such an unexpected gesture sure made me feel a whole lot better.
As coaches we talk a lot about gratitude and how that can be a helpful and positive focus for our thinking – an attitude that allows us to truly appreciate what we have. It can even enable us to look for the gift hidden within difficult times. Being grateful can also make us more open to receiving more and help us to concentrate on what is working in our lives instead of getting stuck in what we think is missing.
What we often forget is that expressing gratitude is not just an attitude but also an action. Saying ‘thank you’ or giving a smile as recognition for a job well done or a small kindness shown can be a real encouragement to the person we thank. It takes so little to acknowledge someone but the impact on the person receiving that affirmation can be huge.
A word of thanks to a small child who is still developing their social interaction skills can help build a strong sense of confidence in that little life. A smile of understanding for a tired Mum doing her best with a fractious child at the end of a long day can help make her feel valued and worthwhile.
Sometimes a small gesture can turn a life around. Therese of Lisieux, a young nun who understood the beauty of small loving acts and thoughts, once said ‘one word of encouragement is often enough to raise up a saddened wounded soul’.
How have you expressed gratitude today?
