#Grateful April 16

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Today’s #Coach4aday post is on becoming GRATEFUL.

A few days ago, I began to think about what I had changed since I retired in 2018. Creating a consulting practice, playing a lot more golf, and travel were all tangible things that have increased over the past five years. Yet, what really stood out was the self-analysis that I had become intentional about becoming grateful.

Making that Change

Like many improvements in our lives positive results often come from a series of small decisions or habits. Increasing gratitude for me certainly happened because of that methodology. If I had to concoct a recipe on how it happened, it would include the following ingredients or steps.

1. Reading the book “Atomic Habits” on how small changes performed consistently improve us.

2. Deciding in January 2020 to complete 30-Day Challenges. Each one completed increases a sense of enjoyment.

3. Keeping a gratitude journal: Each morning I write down three things I am are grateful for. This results in a shift from negative to positive things in my life.

4. Practice mindfulness each morning: Being present in the moment and fully aware of my surroundings causes me to appreciate the little things in life that I don’t want to take for granted.

5. Gratitude Fridays. Thanks to my friend Jim Herlihy I took his concept of calling people on Fridays and turned it into a habit I call Gratitude Fridays. I just send them a short text or quick call to tell them thanks. This cultivates a sense of gratitude for the people in my life.

By incorporating these habits into my daily routine, I have increased feeling grateful.