A friend of mine once told me a story about a blind man who was referred to a psychologist because he was suffering from depression.The man, with a sad face, drooping shoulders and tired gait walked into the therapist’s office.
After listening attentively to the sad man pouring his heart out, the psychologist asked him to perform a simple task. The task was to make a list of all the things he was grateful for and bring the list back the following week to their next session.
The following week, the man, walked into the therapist’s office with a huge grin on his face and dropped four thick notebooks on the desk. The surprised psychologist asked the now very happy man for the purpose of the notebooks on his desk. The reply from the blind man was, “This is the homework you asked me to bring last week.”
The skeptical therapist picked up the notebooks and quickly went through every one of them.
He noticed that the notebooks contained a list of all the things the blind man was grateful for.
The therapist began to read out loud: “I’m grateful for the warmth of the sun, which I can’t see but I can feel on my face. I’m grateful for the coolness of the morning dew on the grass, which I feel on my bare feet. I’m grateful for the refreshing early shower I’m able to enjoy every morning. I find gratitude in the smell of coffee, which wakes me up in the morning, the taste of eggs and bacon in my breakfast, the sweetness of orange juice, the laughter of my family as we enjoy our meals together.
I’m grateful for the cool and gentle breeze on my face I feel every time I sit outdoors in the park. For the sounds of all the birds I can hear in my backyard I am grateful.
I’m grateful for the refreshing and tingling sensation in the back of my throat from the fizz of the cold soft drink I enjoy on a hot afternoon.
I’m grateful for my family and friends who I can count on every day. I’m grateful for the rain, the cold, the heat, the day and night. I’m grateful for the changes in seasons, for the clothes on my back, for the bed and my soft pillow I enjoy every night. I’m grateful for all the good night sleep I can enjoy without worries. The list went on and on.
The psychologist began to weep, as he realized how ungrateful he himself had become, and of all the things he had over time taken for granted. All the small things, the details that weave together the mosaic of our everyday life.
How can feeling gratitude empower you and your business or career?
From my own personal experience, I can tell you that being grateful has brought me a tremendous return on my investment.
My journey with our business Vision Kitchen has been wonderful, challenging and rewarding. I have gotten to work with an amazing group of people who I can now call my friends.
Being grateful has enabled me to perceive new opportunities both personal and in business.
Gratitude has helped me have a better attitude towards difficulties while working with clients.
Practicing gratitude has empowered me numerous times to continue fighting when the going has gotten tough. It has empowered me to allow my optimism to shine through in the midst of difficulties.
I read an article titled The Business Case for Gratitude, in it, its author Jeff Charles shares how he began to witness positive results as he kept a gratitude journal. He found that it was easier to complete tasks and accomplish goals.
I couldn’t agree more.
Gratitude is a state of being, it’s an attitude. And it can become a way of life. It will impact those around you, including your co-workers, colleagues, partners, clients, and those closest to you, your family.
In the long term, it might even increase your ROI. And we can all be grateful for that!
What are you grateful for?
Tell me what you think, and share your own experience of practicing gratefulness.
Thank you for your support!
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