If you read my blogs regularly, you’ll be aware of my love for quotes. This week, I am writing about the power of gratitude, and I want to start this blog with a quote:
“Gratitude and attitude are not challenges; they are choices.”
This means that you and I have a choice every single day: whether we will be grateful for what we have, or we can continuously strive for more.
THE COST OF NEVER-ENDING AMBITION
I have always liked working and playing with ambitious individuals as they are always pushing the boundaries, but some people have a drive that is out of control, and nothing will ever be enough. Usually, this drive is work-related, and it makes people lose touch with reality. Quite often, they tend to lose their families and their health. The statistics around the death of men after retirement are absolutely shocking, and I suspect it is because many men choose money above their personal health.
So, what now? I have given you the problem and not the solution to it. The thing is, there isn’t a single solution to this problem as everybody is different, and we all have different dreams and aspirations. However, there are a few things I believe we can have in common, and one of them is gratitude.
FINDING BALANCE THROUGH GRATITUDE
Thankfulness and gratitude are very similar, but thankfulness is more of a feeling, whereas gratitude is an emotion that arises when you are thankful for many things in your life and the lives of your friends and family members. One of the things we often take for granted is our health, and this should not be the case. We must be grateful for our health every single day and make sure we make wise decisions on a daily basis when it comes to our well-being.
Another thing we often take for granted is our work. How often do we wake up and say, “Ah, I don’t really feel like working today. Maybe I should call in sick and just spend the day in bed?” If you wake up in the morning with a grateful heart because you are healthy and willing and able to work, it will change your whole attitude around work and the day ahead.
HOW TO STAY GRATEFUL: THE POWER OF GIVING
So, how do we stay grateful for what we have without becoming complacent? The only way to remain grateful is to start giving of your time and resources to people who have absolutely nothing. Only by giving do we begin to realize how privileged we actually are and how important it is to be generous. Start your day with a prayer of gratitude for all the blessings you have, and I can assure you that your day will be better, and it will become easier for you to give.
May this week ahead be one of gratefulness for what you have and not one where you are chasing your tail in the rat race of life!
GET IN TOUCH
If you would like to get in touch with me about my key note presentation, Debunking Motivation, please send an email to corne@cornekrige.com. Visit my website to review my speaker sheet for more info. I also share my story on my social media pages on Facebook and LinkedIn.