BLOGS & RESOURCES
Finding Solid Ground: How Gratitude Transforms Uncertainty
Uncertainty looms large in today's world. Elections approach, markets fluctuate, relationships evolve, and global events unfold at dizzying speeds. In such times, gratitude might seem like the last thing on your mind. Yet, it might be exactly what you need most.
The list of uncertainties in our lives seems endless— especially in the aftermath of COVID. As I write this post, it's one week before the Presidential Election in the United States. Talk about uncertainty— .
I felt compelled to share this post... NOW as the uncertainty looms. I hope you know— whatever the outcome of the election is, the uncertainty will remain... and probably grow. It's not going away simply because the election ends.
Navigating uncertainty is a skill you (and I) need to develop because uncertainty is here to stay.
Whether you're navigating career changes, managing financial concerns, addressing family dynamics, or adapting to social transformations, the challenges can feel overwhelming.
Why Gratitude Matters More in Uncertain Times
When everything feels unstable, gratitude can serve as your anchor. It grounds you in what's real, what's present, and what's working— even as you navigate choppy waters.
Think about it: In uncertain times, your natural tendency is to focus on what might go wrong, what you might lose, or what you can't control. This focus often leads to anxiety, fear, and reactive responses— none of which serve you or your relationships well.
Gratitude offers a different path. Not by ignoring reality or dismissing valid concerns, but by widening your lens to include what remains solid and true.
Finding Certainty in Uncertainty
Even in the most uncertain times, some things remain constant. It's helpful to focus on these enduring elements in your life:
Personal Constants:
The love and support of family and friends
Your personal values, beliefs, and faith
The timeless wisdom handed down to us
Your ability to learn and adapt
Daily rituals that ground you
The simple pleasures that bring joy
Your capacity for growth and resilience
Professional Constants:
Skills you've developed
Knowledge you've gained
Relationships with colleagues and mentors
Your work ethic
Experience handling past challenges
Community Constants:
The strength of your community connections
Shared experiences that bind people together
Traditional celebrations and gatherings
Local landmarks, familiar places, and sacred spaces
Acts of kindness from strangers
The rhythm of seasons changing
Natural Constants:
The sunrise each morning
The cycles of nature
The comfort of familiar spaces
Your breath and heartbeat
The steady ground beneath your feet
These constants provide anchors of certainty in uncertain times. They remind you that while circumstances may change, fundamental aspects of life remain steady and true.
Practical Ways to Practice Gratitude During Uncertainty
Start with Personal Reflection. Begin each day by noting what remains stable and good in your world. This practice helps maintain perspective when uncertainty looms large.
Express Appreciation to Others. Recognize the people who make a difference in your life. A simple "I notice and appreciate how you're handling this" can transform someone's day.
Celebrate Small Wins. In uncertain times, even small progress matters. Take time to acknowledge and appreciate forward movement, no matter how modest.
Create Certainty Through Rituals. Establish regular moments for gratitude. These predictable touchpoints can provide stability when other things feel unpredictable.
Start or Join a Gratitude Circle. There's profound power in sharing gratitude with others. Regularly expressing appreciation builds a supportive community, helping everyone handle uncertainty more resiliently. The shared experience of gratitude multiplies its impact and creates islands of certainty in uncertain times. If you don't have a circle, please join me in the IGFY Circle. (Circle code is L1FCQ9).
Traps to Avoid
Gratitude in uncertain times isn't about:
Pretending everything is fine when it isn't
Dismissing valid concerns or fears
Using appreciation to avoid addressing real issues
Forcing positivity when authentic acknowledgment is needed
Instead, it's about:
Maintaining a balanced perspective
Building resilience through appreciation
Creating islands of certainty in seas of change
Strengthening connections when circumstances might pull us apart
The Power of Living with Gratitude
When you choose gratitude during uncertain times, you:
Build personal resilience
Create deeper connections with others
Maintain clearer perspective
Find joy in small moments
Remember that you've navigated uncertainty before
Stay grounded in what matters most
Remember, gratitude doesn't eliminate uncertainty— but it can help you navigate it with more wisdom, grace, and effectiveness.
As you move through this uncertain season, consider: What remains certain in your world? Who deserves your appreciation? What small wins can you celebrate?
In times of uncertainty, gratitude isn't just nice— it's necessary. It's an anchor that helps you stay grounded, connected, and focused on what matters most.
Why not PAUSE right now as you finish reading this and send a gratitude text to someone who came to mind as you read this post? Tell them, "I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU… here's why!
The Multiplier Effect: Why Gratitude is Better Together
Five years ago, I accidentally stumbled upon a truth that would change everything I thought I knew about gratitude.
When I say stumbled, I mean stumbled.
I didn't read it in a book, find it in a study, or discover it in a class.
Let me explain.
In July 2019, we hosted our first Gratitude Challenge. We sent a daily prompt by email and invited people to respond and share their responses on social media if they wished.
Several shared. When people engaged in sharing, a few received responses. There were small ripples happening.
However, sending the prompts by email presented its own set of challenges. Some people weren't getting the emails...for a variety of reasons.
We set out to solve our email delivery challenge. That's when we stumbled upon a community solution.
🤔 What if we made a community website and invited people who want to join the challenge to join us there?
We did. The creation of a community site successfully addressed the issue of sending prompts via email.
That was great news and a welcomed relief. 😮💨
EPIPHANIES HAPPENED!
But then came the epiphany. Actually, there were several epiphanies. Let me focus on two for now.
First, something amazing happened when people were sharing their responses to gratitude prompts in the community. Reading other people's responses to the same prompt helped us understand it better and made our conversations and interactions more interesting.
Expressing gratitude in a group helps you see things in new ways, makes you more grateful, and brings people closer together.
We noticed that people began interacting with what other people had shared by commenting, offering support, or sharing similar experiences. These interactions spread positivity and connection beyond the initial expression of gratitude.
Second, we discovered that gratitude is truly universal, transcending cultural, linguistic, and religious boundaries.
Regardless of background or belief system, participants found common ground in their expressions of appreciation. Gratitude's universality expanded and strengthened our community, connecting us on a fundamental human level despite our diverse backgrounds.
Those were mind-blowing🤯 and heart-expanding experiences💗. We've continued building on these epiphanies and experiences.
A NEW DISCOVERY
Fast-forward to May of this year. I discovered GratitudePlus, an app that seemed to embody everything we had learned about communal gratitude. It wasn't just about personal journaling; it was about sharing appreciation within circles of like-hearted individuals.
Excited by the potential, I dove in, joining and created two gratitude circles. Today, I'm on the verge of celebrating a significant milestone: my first 100-day streak on GratitudePlus. It happens tomorrow!
This 100-day gratitude streak isn't just a personal achievement. It's a testament to the power of sharing gratitude in community.
Over these 100 days, I've witnessed again how sharing gratitude in a community setting amplifies its benefits. The daily practice of expressing gratitude, seeing others' expressions, and engaging in this shared experience is transformative.
FRESH INSIGHTS ON SHARED GRATITUDE
I invited members of our gratitude circles to share their insights and experiences to celebrate the power of shared gratitude as many of them approach their own gratitude milestones. I posed two questions:
What's been the most surprising or unexpected benefit you've experienced since starting a daily gratitude practice?
How has your daily gratitude practice changed the way you interact with others or perceive the world around you?
The responses were rich and illuminating. With their permission, I'm sharing these valuable insights with you.
As we analyzed the experiences shared by our gratitude community members, four powerful themes emerged. Practicing gratitude together can have a transformative impact on our inner worlds and our interactions with others. The themes shared below exemplify the incredible impact of expressing gratitude within a community. From heightened awareness to profound personal growth, these themes encapsulate the multifaceted benefits of communal gratitude:
Increased Mindfulness and Presence
Shift in Perspective and Outlook
Improved Relationships and Interactions
Increased Confidence, Courage, and Self-Awareness
Let's explore these themes by listening to our community members and understanding how gratitude has improved their lives and led to personal growth.
Theme 1: Increased Mindfulness and Presence
Devin Keane : "I've felt more aware than I ever have… Gratitude has caused me to have an increased presence in the moment."
Valerie Probstfeld: "It allows me to be present in the moment… Gratitude shifts our perspective to the present moment."
Alyssa Towns : "I've caught myself pausing and feeling more present, recognizing how interactions and people make me feel."
These responses highlight how a daily gratitude practice can increase mindfulness and presence in daily life. It's about being more aware of the present moment and savoring the experiences and interactions with others.
Theme 2: Shift in Perspective and Outlook
Christy Kern: "It's less about 'look at all these awesome things in my life' and more about collectively bearing witness to the grace tucked within each day."
Valerie Probstfeld: "It is like putting on a different pair of glasses. One sees the world from an entirely new perspective when you actively search for gratitude."
John Horsley: "Multiple unexpected surprises… I’ve often crawled into the ‘shoulda’ trap which reinforces doubt and shatters present confidence. Instead of shoulding on myself (lol) I’ve started being grateful for the learning and thinking about its application."
These responses show how a daily gratitude practice can shift one's perspective and outlook on life. It's about focusing on the good, finding the lessons in challenges, and approaching life with a more positive and optimistic mindset.
Theme 3: Improved Relationships and Interactions
Sondra Norris: "The opportunities, the conversations, the massive increase in the number of conversations and people I've now met."
John Horsley: "I approach things with such calmness and peace… I've been able to approach difficult conversations well, make hard decisions with grace and humility."
Devin Keane: "It's allowed me to connect much more deeply with people, as long as they are open to that."
These responses demonstrate how a daily gratitude practice can improve relationships and interactions with others. It's about being more present, empathetic, and kind in our interactions, leading to deeper connections and more meaningful relationships.
Theme 4: Increased Confidence, Courage, and Self-Awareness
Dr. Gina Anderson: "The most unexpected benefit for me personally is it has opened my own courage to be completely transparent."
John Horsley: "My self-confidence has improved because I’m living in the here and now without regret from the past and anxiety from the future."
Sondra Norris: "I have experienced a huge increase in how I believe in and act from my intuition."
These responses highlight how a daily gratitude practice can increase confidence, courage, and self-awareness. It's about being more authentic, living in the present, and trusting one's instincts.
Please add your responses to these questions in the comments below.
AN INVITATION TO GRATITUDE IN COMMUNITY
As we reflect on the power of shared gratitude and its ability to enrich our understanding, enhance our experiences, and enliven our conversations, I invite YOU to take two simple actions to experience this for yourself:
Start Your Own Gratitude Circle: Whether it's with family, friends, or colleagues, create a small group dedicated to sharing daily gratitude. This can be as simple as a group text, chat, or a regular meet-up. Or, you can use GratitudePlus. Remember, the key is consistency and openness. NOTE: I can help you do this in your company and tie it into other gratitude initiatives and group experiences – contact me.
Join the I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU (IGFY) Circle on GratitudePlus: If you're ready to dive into a broader community of gratitude practitioners, I warmly invite you to join our IGFY Circle on the GratitudePlus app. Here, you'll find a supportive environment to express your gratitude, gain new perspectives, and connect with others on a similar journey. To join, simply download the GratitudePlus app and search for the 'I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU' circle. Send me a message letting me know you've joined us!
By taking these steps, you're not just cultivating personal gratitude; you're becoming part of a movement that's spreading positivity and appreciation across the globe. Remember, gratitude is better together. Let's enrich, enhance, and enliven our gratitude practice as a community and IN a community.
Join me here next week as we dive into the idea of INFUSING gratitude into your life and leadership! I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU... thanks for joining.
An Amazing 5-Year Journey
It’s Monday, June 17th!
WOW… what a sight to see on the calendar. And, again this year June 17 is a Monday, as it was 5 years ago in 2019.
Something amazing happened on June 17, 2019. At the time, I had a hunch that the four words I heard were an invitation of divine origin.
I had NO idea what saying YES to that four-word invitation on June 17, 2019 would mean… for me… or the world.
We were coming up on the 100th episode of the Higher Purpose Podcast. Over the preceding 16 months, my life had been transformed by the Power of Gratitude. I didn’t have the PoG label for it then, but I was profoundly aware of the impact of gratitude in my life.
Through the kindness of Maryann Kerr, I met Steve Foran about 60 days earlier — April 19th to be precise (thanks LinkedIn 😉). Steve had just written a new book, Thriving to Surviving: The 10 Laws of Grateful Leadership and had gifted me a copy.
Actually, I remember his kindness in sending me two copies. Jason Meucci ended up with the gift copy.
I had this idea of having Steve join me for Episode 101 of the Higher Purpose Podcast to “ground the next 100 episodes in the good soil of gratitude.”
That episode was set to air on July 2, 2019.
Back to that fateful Monday morning of June 17, 2019. Sometime during the early hours of the morning that include gratitude, prayer, journaling, Bible reading, and meditation I heard a simple 4-word invitation.
Heard…that’s an interesting word. I didn’t hear an audible voice. It could not have been more clear or compelling had it been audible.
What I heard arrived as an invitation — not a mandate.
HOST A GRATITUDE CHALLENGE?
Those words animated, energized, and excited me!
My immediate answer was YES!
But I had NO IDEA what a Gratitude Challenge would or could look like.
Immediately, I grabbed my phone and called Steve…
WHY? Because I knew whatever this was… it was bigger than me and I needed help to pull it off.
I still remember calling Steve and asking, “Hey, what do you think of joining me and us hosting a Gratitude Challenge as part of the podcast episode?”
I had rehearsed all of the possible responses Steve might offer. I had tried to anticipate all of his objections so I could mitigate them and entice him to join.
His immediate response stunned me.
“Count me in!”
Say what?
He did not raise a single objection.
Now what? What’s our next step?
I wasn’t prepared for THAT!
Suddenly, I was in scramble mode. I said, “Let me call my friend Christy Kern and see if she’s willing to join us and we’ll hop on a Zoom later today.”
Christy responded in similar fashion to Steve. I do remember her saying something like, “I’ve been thinking it’s time we offer something else.” The year before, Christy and I cocreated the 90-day journey we called, The Extraordinary Experiment.
While that was a great experience, we did 90 days is a bit of an audacious endeavor to start with right out of the gate.
Early in the afternoon of June 17, 2019, the three of us met and brainstormed what would become the 10-Day Gratitude Challenge.
The things that would happen over the next 21 days — well, there are plenty of topics there worth their own posts.
Let me fast forward to June 17, 2024… FIVE YEARS LATER and do a short THEN and NOW Contrast.
THEN…
What would happen if we invited people to a 10-day gratitude challenge?
We worked like crazy to recruit 100 people by Friday, July 5 to launch on Monday, July 8.
Then, on Saturday, an amazing guy, Steve Browne heard about the challenge and asked if he could share it. In 46 hours, another 194 joined in. We closed registration and hosted the first session with 294 people.
The next day, we had 100 people on a wait list.
We started the second session with 349 people.
Then, things got crazy.
We ended up hosting 22 sessions of The Gratitude Challenge and had 2,800+ people join from 73 countries.
Saying YES to that four-word invitation, “Host a Gratitude Challenge?” set me on a path…and launched a journey.
NOW… June 17, 2024
We’ve just announced Don’t Wait To Thank…a month-long invitational initiative for July.
Our aspirational goal? Can we see ONE MILLION people touched by the Power of Gratitude…in a month.
Five years ago, it took 20 months to reach 2,800 people. Now, we’re wondering can 1,000,000 people experience the Power of Gratitude in 31 days.
With your help, it can happen!
Here’s where you can learn more!
Want to embrace the healing power of gratitude? Join me in participating in the #DontWaitToThank Challenge this July to create deeper connections with those who touch our lives. Let's not wait for a special occasion to express gratitude! 🌈💕 Sign up here: https://www.imgratefulforyou.co/dont-wait-to-thank
Because THEY don't happen often...
Those words...
That phrase...
It keeps ringing in my ears and whirling in my mind.
I heard it a little over 12 hours ago.
I can’t seem to shake it.
I don’t know if I want to shake it.
I DO WANT TO CHANGE IT...
That’s why I’m writing this post.
WE CAN DO BETTER!
WE MUST DO BETTER!
“Because THEY don’t happen often...”
Those were the last words I heard deplaning yesterday's flight from Houston to Atlanta.
It’s what Delta Air Lines Flight Attendant Kelly said to me.
WHAT doesn’t happen more often?
It’s really kind of sad.
It’s an indictment about US...
...our lack of empathy.
...our lack of connection.
...our lack of compassion.
...our lack of humanity.
I hesitate to write about it.
I’ve been in a debate with myself for a few minutes now.
Then, I remembered words spoken by my friend, Jason Meucci some months ago.
He called what I’m doing a crusade.
I hadn't thought of it that way. Not at the time he said it...and not much after either.
Until now.
Now, is when I need to hear those words...
...to write this post.
If you think this is MY story, you are sadly mistaken.
I’m a messenger. A flawed one at that.
It was almost two years ago when I was in a conversation with Suzie Consoli and she was prodding and prompting me to come up with something to present to a potential client.
What resulted was the I’M GRATEFUL FOR YOU MOVEMENT.
Yesterday, I was in Houston to share the message and spread the IGFY movement with Dr. Gina Anderson and the amazing team and clients of Luma Brighter Learning.
As I boarded Delta flight 2694, I slipped the Flight Attendant an I’M GRATEFUL FOR YOU card and a bag of chocolates as a gratitude gift.
She thanked me.
An hour or so later, I made my way towards the lavatory at the front of the plane.
It was occupied, so I had to step into the galley to wait.
As I did, guess what I saw?
Posted there was the envelope with the note tucked inside.
“Is it okay if I take a picture?” I asked the flight attendant standing there.
“Sure, but why?”
“It’s for a research project.”
He looked a little confused.
I said, “It’s about the gratitude card and the impact it has.”
“Oh, you’re the guy! I ate four of the chocolates already."
We shared a laugh and that was that...
Or so I thought.
As I was exiting the plane after landing in Atlanta, I looked up in the galley to see if the card was still there.
It was...but now it was out of the envelope and the note was visible.
Now, another flight attendant, the one I handed the card to was standing there thanking passengers as they deplaned.
“Oh, may I take a picture of the card?”
“Sure.”
As I did, she thanked me and said how it made her day.
So, I pressed my luck and asked, “May I take a picture of you with the card since it meant that much to you?”
“I don’t really like pictures.”
"Me either, what’s your name?”
“Oh, I’m Kelly.”
I snapped the photo and was about to deplane.
“Wait, can I take a picture too?" Kelly asked.
“I want to remember this day...
BECAUSE THEY DON’T HAPPEN OFTEN.”
As I type those words now, tears well up.
Days when YOU FEEL seen, heard, valued, and appreciated as a human...don't happen often!!! ‼️😱
Friends, WE CAN CHANGE THAT.
WE CAN MAKE TIME TO SEE PEOPLE...
And let them know we SEE THEM.
When you take a moment and express your gratitude to another human being...YOU ARE TELLING THEM:
I SEE YOU!!!
I VALUE YOU!!!
WHAT YOU DO MATTERS!!!
You don’t have to use an IGFY card to do that. You can put it on a sticky note, an index card, or a blank sheet of paper.
It’s the message that matters...not the medium.
Unless, of course, you remember as I did the moment I typed this line, the immortal words of Marshall McLuhan, “the medium IS the message!”
Imagine a world...
where SEEING people,
CONNECTING with people, and
COMMUNICATING our gratitude to them and for them is the new normal.
Let’s make moments like this HAPPEN MORE OFTEN! ARE YOU IN?
IF YOU’VE READ ALL OF THIS... I HOPE YOU KNOW... I’M GRATEFUL FOR YOU.
In today's world, it's more critical than ever to make sure your employees feel truly valued and appreciated. And despite the vast majority of leaders believing they thank their team often, most employees often wonder if their efforts are truly acknowledged.
Our Gratitude Framework allows people and companies to integrate gratitude into their cultures without exorbitant amounts of time, resources, or investment. Contact us today to begin your journey towards a culture of gratitude. Together, let's create a work environment defined by appreciation and fulfillment.
Want to co-brand I’M GRATEFUL FOR YOU Cards for your company? Discover more about it here.
The Transformative Power of Gratitude: Start Your Journey NOW!
Maybe you’ve heard or read claims about gratitude being a game changer in people's lives. Perhaps you've wondered if it's true that practicing gratitude can help YOU feel more content, joyful, and fulfilled.
Can you really change your life by recognizing and appreciating the good things around you?
We invite you to join us in exploring the transformative power of gratitude through our Beginner's Guide to Growing Gratitude. Join this 5-day journey to learn how to cultivate a more appreciative mindset and enjoy the benefits of gratitude.
Over the course of these five engaging and informative days, you'll learn to:
Pause, notice, and express gratitude effectively
Train your mind to be more present and appreciative
Uncover hidden blessings in your life
Communicate your appreciation to amplify its effects
Express the gratitude you have for people to them
Don't miss this opportunity to unlock the true power of gratitude and start experiencing the life-changing transformation that awaits you.
Join us today to discover the positive impact of adopting a more grateful perspective on your happiness, relationships, and well-being. 🌱❤️
It’s our gift to you. Start here…start now
Be with us in a transformative journey towards gratitude.
Sign up now to join our guided daily journal in experiencing the ultimate power of gratitude.
Through FLOURISH, we provide a supportive journey exploring abundant, meaningful gratitude that fosters resilience against life's adversities, generates deep-seated contentment, and motivates consistent personal transformation, all wrapped in an inspiration-filled, engaging shared experience. One that you can start whenever you’re ready…including NOW.
Discover more of FLOURISH here.
Getting through 4 years of hard stuff
Four years ago today…⌛️
WOW!
Can you believe it was four years ago today when the WHO declared the COVID-19 as a global pandemic?
Over the past four years…
We’ve ALL experienced varying degrees of difficulty and trauma.
We ALL lost something…or someone…and some people have lost a lot.
We’ve ALL been through hard stuff over the past four years.
…and yet,
Here we are…
Getting through…
Granted, some are getting through better than others.
Some are still in the middle of hard stuff now.
But even in the midst of all the challenges, there is still so much to be grateful for. As Max Lucado reminds us, "Gratitude gets us through the hard stuff… Gratitude always leaves us looking at God and away from dread."
Here are a few things to be grateful for, even in the midst of the pandemic:
⚕️Our health and the health of our loved ones
🏡 A roof over our heads and food on the table
🌱 The opportunity to learn and grow from this experience
💕The kindness and compassion of others
🌤️ The hope that things will get better and brighter days await us.
Gratitude is not always easy, but it is always worth it. When we focus on the good things in our lives, we are more likely to feel happy, hopeful, and resilient.
Take a moment today, this week to reflect on the people or things you are grateful for.
Think about something you treasure more now than you did four years ago.
PAUSE and FEEL your gratitude.
Think about the people that have helped you survive… and thrive over these past four years.
Express your gratitude. Connect with them… through a call, a text, a note, a post, or a hug.
Tell them you value them and appreciate them…that your life is better and brighter because of them in it.
Journal about the people, places, and things that come to mind this week.
Bring it up in conversation.
Gratitude will help you to get through the hard stuff and to focus on the good things in life.
Be with us in a transformative journey towards gratitude.
Sign up now to join our guided daily journal in experiencing the ultimate power of gratitude.
Through FLOURISH, we provide a supportive journey exploring abundant, meaningful gratitude that fosters resilience against life's adversities, generates deep-seated contentment, and motivates consistent personal transformation, all wrapped in an inspiration-filled, engaging shared experience.
Discover more of FLOURISH here.
Experiencing Gratitude
“Thanks for the invitation, but NO, I won’t do that! I don’t think that’s the right approach.”
That conversation took place more than four years ago now, but I remember it like it was last week.
A dear friend asked if I would lead a webinar for their global group of leaders.
I was thrilled. I was delighted. At the invitation… but not at the idea of a webinar.
A webinar on gratitude didn’t seem like the right approach.
At least not in the traditional sense of a ‘sit and get’ meeting where the audience listens while the speaker shares wisdom and knowledge.
I’ll do something… but not a webinar.
Okay, so what WILL YOU DO?
I don’t know. Give me a few days to think about it.
I remember the day… and the place where the idea for a Gratitude Encounter™ arrived on my morning walk.
It’s built on one BIG idea—
GRATITUDE EXPERIENCED IS BETTER THAN GRATITUDE EXPLAINED.
• An intellectual understanding of gratitude is great… but it’s not transformational.
• A daily discipline of listing three things you’re thankful is a great idea… it’s a good practice
But again, it’s EXPRIENCING gratitude… that’s what changes everything.
I’d love to hear about YOUR experience of experiencing gratitude.
Are you excited to build a habit of cultivating gratitude in your daily life?
Sign up today to join our guided daily journal in experiencing the ultimate power of gratitude.
Through FLOURISH, we provide a supportive journey exploring abundant, meaningful gratitude that fosters resilience against life's adversities, generates deep-seated contentment, and motivates consistent personal transformation, all wrapped in an inspiration-filled, engaging shared experience.
Discover more of FLOURISH here.
There is MORE in the NOW
More…
The relentless pursuit of more.
The continual climb…
grabbing for the next rung on the ladder
It’s an apt description of what’s valued in today’s world. Climbing and clamoring for…
more possessions,
more experiences,
more accomplishments,
more knowledge,
more money,
more novelty,
more, more, more.
All that push for more…
…it takes a toll on your soul.
What if…
…for a moment today, you do what Lori Deschene of Tiny Buddha recommended?
PAUSE…
Stop climbing…take a deep breath (then another…and another)
NOTICE how far you’ve come on your journey…as you do…
APPRECIATE the view … from where you are NOW.
APPRECIATE YOU for the decisions you’ve made, the actions you’ve taken to get where you are…NOW.
APPRECIATE the PEOPLE who helped you along the way. The PEOPLE who believed in your before you believed in yourself…or when you stopped believing in yourself.
EXPRESS THANKS…
APPRECIATION…
and GRATITUDE
in a call, a note, a text, a hug,
a coffee or tea, a high five.
ENJOY THE VIEW…
The view of NOW.
Be with us in a transformative journey towards gratitude.
Sign up now to join our guided daily journal in experiencing the ultimate power of gratitude.
Through FLOURISH, we provide a supportive journey exploring abundant, meaningful gratitude that fosters resilience against life's adversities, generates deep-seated contentment, and motivates consistent personal transformation, all wrapped in an inspiration-filled, engaging shared experience. One that you can start whenever you’re ready…including NOW.
Discover more of FLOURISH here.
The Need to Always PUSH
What if the mystical breakthrough isn’t as mysterious as we often enshrine it to be?
At times, life does not turn out how exactly we planned it in our mind. It offers you another path, but not to sway you from achieving your goal, but a redirection in accomplishing it. Usually, it never comes easy— different circumstances, challenges, and obstacles. However it always leads us the path of success or learning.
With a lot of opportunities for people with entrepreneurial mindset also comes with different setbacks and oftentimes, doubts whether it is worth the risk or not. Should I take a leap of faith into the unknown possibilities? Or let all of our thoughts become a bottomless pit of what ifs?
It is normal for us to have doubts and what ifs. We think of the possibilities of what could be ahead of us, and a wishful thinking of how should things fall perfectly in place to make all of the risks worth it. How nice would it be if everything turned out exactly how we envisioned it to be.
As entrepreneurs, we think about… we fantasize about breakthroughs — the myth of the overnight success.
The BIG break!
That magical, mystical, miraculous moment when everything changes in one snap— where everything laid out perfectly the way we have plotted it out in our vision.
What if, it’s not as miraculous as it seems?
The real miracle might not be the moment of breaking through — but the moments you kept pushing through when quitting was the easier option!
Failure is a myth and quitting is never an option. Failure gives us an opportunity to learn and grow. Instead of dwelling on failures, see them as feedback and lessons. Instead of quitting when you fail, see it as a chance to try again with a different approach. No wasted chances, only lessons learned. Always push yourself to take action until something happens. With perseverance, optimism, and gratitude, it will lead you to see something you’ve never seen before— something unexpected, something miraculous, the fruit of all your hard work and labor.
The feeling of achieving success despite all the doubts, risks, challenges, and obstacles is a sweet memory that could never be replaced. It is a unique and valuable feeling of joy and gratitude, a life lesson and a core memory to be treasured.
Think of your entrepreneurial journey as your next inspirational talk to an audience who is like you, an entrepreneur with vision, perseverance, optimism, and gratitude. The struggles you are facing now are nothing compared to your victory in the days, weeks, and months to come.
Until then, always continue to PUSH — Persevere Until Something Happens.
Breakthroughs happen and behind all of it is your consistent PUSH.
Are you excited to build a habit of cultivating gratitude in your daily life?
Sign up today to join our guided daily journal in experiencing the ultimate power of gratitude.
Through FLOURISH, we provide a supportive journey exploring abundant, meaningful gratitude that fosters resilience against life's adversities, generates deep-seated contentment, and motivates consistent personal transformation, all wrapped in an inspiration-filled, engaging shared experience.
Together, let us PUSH ourselves in cultivating our entrepreneurial mindset with the transformative power of gratitude, and definitely something magical will happen.
Discover more of FLOURISH here.
The Significant Mindset Shift
Ever had a day, when your first thought was "I didn't get enough sleep"?
I'm guessing you have. We all do.
Did you know that for millions of people in the modern world, "I didn't get enough sleep" is usually their first thought of EVERY DAY!
Then, hours later, as they are wearily collapsing back into bed, their last thought, more often than not, is "I didn't get enough done!"
If those two thoughts bookend your day... I can only imagine how many other thoughts of NOT HAVING, DOING, or BEING ENOUGH bombard your mind.
I've BEEN there... way more times than I care to count.
I used this slide for the first time yesterday in the Grateful Leader, Thriving Business Masterclass to visually, and viscerally, illustrate the Scarcity Loop.
There is an option.
Gratitude is the escape button.
When you catch yourself swirling the drain, caught in the sucking vortex of not having, being, or doing enough...
PAUSE...
Find something, somewhere that is good, beautiful, or lovely...and focus on it for a few moments. Express gratitude for it.
Break the cycle...
Shift your mind from scarcity to abundance.
Struggling with this significant mindset shift? Writing your thoughts out with the help of gratitude can help you make the switch from scarcity to abundance.
You’re not alone in this journey. Sign up today to join our guided daily journal in experiencing the ultimate power of gratitude.
Through FLOURISH, we provide a supportive journey exploring abundant, meaningful gratitude that fosters resilience against life's adversities, generates deep-seated contentment, and motivates consistent personal transformation, all wrapped in an inspiration-filled, engaging shared experience.
Discover more of FLOURISH here.
Seeing Through Different Lenses
When challenges come or a crisis arises, it's so easy to lose perspective…
— for the challenge of the moment to loom so large in your focus
— to think all hope is gone
— to believe EVERYTHING is going wrong.
Rarely, if ever, is that the whole truth!
Even on your worst days, in the darkest of times, there is still some good good going on…something to be grateful for.
They call it ‘selective attention’ our cognitive bias that causes us to focus on certain information while ignoring other information.
In some situations - like impending physical danger - selective attention is vital, it saves your life.
In other situations — receiving bad news, losing a job, a financial setback — selective attention robs your hope.
When we focus on everything that's going wrong, we can easily lose sight of the things that are going right. And some things are still going right…even on your worst day.
This can lead to a sense of hopelessness and despair.
But when we take the time to appreciate the good things in our lives, we can shift our perspective and find hope.
That is part of the power of gratitude!
Gratitude helps us to focus on the present moment. When we're grateful, we're less likely to get completely overwhelmed by the past or worry about the future.
Gratitude helps us to appreciate the good things in our lives , nature, or the world. Even in the midst of challenges, there are always things to be grateful for.
Gratitude helps us to connect with others. When we express our gratitude to others, we strengthen our relationships and build community.
Gratitude helps us to cope with stress and adversity. When we're grateful, we're more resilient and better able to handle difficult situations.
Fight your hopelessness and despair with gratitude, and see how it changes your perspective.
See the world with a fresh and grateful perspective everyday!
Sign up now to join our guided daily journal in experiencing the ultimate power of gratitude.
Through FLOURISH, we provide a supportive journey exploring abundant, meaningful gratitude that fosters resilience against life's adversities, generates deep-seated contentment, and motivates consistent personal transformation, all wrapped in an inspiration-filled, engaging shared experience.
Discover more of FLOURISH here.
The Bearer of Change
Are you a world-changer, difference-maker, purpose-powered, people-focused, love-inspired, values-based leader?
Or aspire to be?
I’m blessed to know plenty of people in those tribes. To hang out with them, learn from them, and co-create awesome things together.
Here’s something simple you can do right now that fits all of those labels and more.
It also makes a profound difference in the world.
When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect towards others. —Dalai Lama
In our fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in our own lives and forget to appreciate the people around us.
But when we take the time to SLOW down (the PAUSE), NOTICE the good in someone or the good they create in the world and EXPRESS our gratitude…
We not only show our appreciation for others, but we also strengthen our relationships and create a more positive and respectful environment. That makes for a better and brighter… kinder and more gentle world.
Will you TAKE 5 (minutes) time today to reflect on the people and things you're grateful for.
Let someone know how much you appreciate them.
And watch how your life changes for the better.
Change starts within you and cascading it to others.
Sign up today to join our guided daily journal in experiencing the ultimate power of gratitude.
Through FLOURISH, we provide a supportive journey exploring abundant, meaningful gratitude that fosters resilience against life's adversities, generates deep-seated contentment, and motivates consistent personal transformation, all wrapped in an inspiration-filled, engaging shared experience.
Be the bearer of change and carry the torch of gratitude towards others.
Discover more of FLOURISH here.
The Cycle of Giving and Receiving
Are you as gracious and generous of a receiver as you are a giver?
I hope you are.
Candidly, I’m not — or haven’t been. Especially when it comes to praise, appreciation, and gratitude.
I had a lot of unlearning to do. Unlearning about pride and a warped sense of false humility.
Hopefully, I’m getting better.
I started to notice it a couple of years ago as I became more vocal in expressing gratitude to others.
Something happens when you express you express gratitude to others…
They return gratitude to you. (The boomerang effect of gratitude is real!)
The more gratitude I began to express to others, the more frequent gratitude was being returned to me.
The unpleasant truth?
I couldn’t deflect the gratitude coming my way fast enough.
Suddenly it was gratitude poker…
Someone said, “Kevin, I’m grateful for you…”
Internally, a betting began…
Was I playing Texas Holdem…with gratitude as the chips.
The silent thoughts — OH, I’ve got to ‘call’ their gratitude and raise it.
“I’m grateful for you too…” (wait, am I trying to out-grateful their gratitude?)
It was painful to realize.
If, or when we get serious about growing gratitude…we need to become as gracious, eager, and ready to receive it as we are to give it.
This quote from Maya Angelou,
“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”
Giving and receiving create a virtuous cycle!
Don’t rob someone of the joy of their giving because you aren’t willing to receive what they are cheerfully giving. That includes gratitude!
Try this. The next time someone gives you a compliment or extends gratitude to you…resist your urge resist or deflect and try this super simple two word response…
THANK YOU!!
That’s all you need to say… and it’s what you do to receive.
Don’t rob someone of the joy of giving… or expressing gratitude. Don’t try to out-grateful them.
Receive it.
Try it today. See what happens when you receive the gratitude (and compliments) coming your way.
After all, as Steve Foran, CSP wrote, “You are worthy and you have much to be grateful for.”
Are you excited to build a habit of cultivating gratitude in your daily life?
Sign up today to join our guided daily journal in experiencing the ultimate power of gratitude.
Through FLOURISH, we provide a supportive journey exploring abundant, meaningful gratitude that fosters resilience against life's adversities, generates deep-seated contentment, and motivates consistent personal transformation, all wrapped in an inspiration-filled, engaging shared experience.
Discover more of FLOURISH here.
The Endless Sea of Gratitude
What’s the difference between dipping your toe in the kiddie pool or deep diving into the endless sea of gratitude?
Only one is life-changing!
Imagine waking up each morning with a heart overflowing with appreciation, finding joy in the simplest moments, and radiating positivity that changes how you see whatever comes your way in life and ripples out and touches the lives of those around you.
That’s the invitation the sea of gratitude extends us.
Dive in today!
For years, I had a weak, anemic gratitude practice where I quickly (and glibly) recited three things I was thankful for. On most days, it was the same three things.
My friend, that’s just splashing around in the kiddie pool.
Recently, I’ve had the joy of engaging in conversation with people wrapping up a YEAR or longer of daily diving into gratitude.
When I ask about the experience, one of the things they all say, there IS SO much to be grateful for!
Dive into the endless sea of gratitude!
Will you accept the invitation to dive in the endless and abundant sea of gratitude?
Sign up today to join our guided daily journal in experiencing the ultimate power of gratitude.
Through FLOURISH, we provide a supportive journey exploring abundant, meaningful gratitude that fosters resilience against life's adversities, generates deep-seated contentment, and motivates consistent personal transformation, all wrapped in an inspiration-filled, engaging shared experience.
Discover more of FLOURISH here.
The Cascading Effect of Positivity
How do you FEEL about the people, thoughts, and opportunities you are experiencing so far in 2024?
Are creative ideas coming your way?
Have you met amazing people?
Participated in enriching experiences?
Enjoyed inspiring conversations?
I hope so.
If you are, it’s probably a good sign about the thoughts that occupy your mind.
“A grateful mind is a great mind which eventually attracts to itself great things.”
When I read this quote from Plato this morning, I marveled…and was mesmerized that 2,200+ years ago — centuries before we were studying neuroplasticity, postive psychology, neurotransmitters, and energy fields — Plato was aware of a connection that modern sciences continue to explore and validate.
Your thoughts have an active role in your experience of life and the world.
What if, by starting your day taking a few moments and grounding in gratitude you are priming and preparing your mind for good things to come your way?
Gratitude creates a ripple effect on your social interactions and behaviors…
Gratitude attracts amazing people your way.
Those people make introductions.
They extend invitations.
They share ideas… or respond to your ideas.
If you want to attract great things your way, start your day with gratitude!
Unsure how to start your day with gratitude? Don’t worry, we got you!
Sign up now to join our guided daily journal in experiencing the ultimate power of gratitude.
Through FLOURISH, we provide a supportive journey exploring abundant, meaningful gratitude that fosters resilience against life's adversities, generates deep-seated contentment, and motivates consistent personal transformation, all wrapped in an inspiration-filled, engaging shared experience. Begin your day with a meaningful perspective with gratitude.
Discover more of FLOURISH here.
That One Special Thing
What’s ONE thing you can do right now to make this a great week?
It’s early Monday (7:15 on the East Coast of the US). People everywhere are starting the new work week. Some of you are already wrapping it up.
Some people greet Monday with groans and moans. Others welcome Monday with high hopes. Many start Monday with affirmations and mantras.
What if you took 1 minute now to say thanks to someone?
How might that shift something for you?
Julienne B. Ryan says, “If you can do only ONE thing today, let it be saying thank you.”
Take a minute now and think who has made your life brighter or you load lighter…tell ‘em thanks with a text, a call, a note, a hug or a high five.
I’ve got a few people I’m going to thank now…
Are you excited to build a habit of cultivating gratitude in your daily life?
Sign up today to join our guided daily journal in experiencing the ultimate power of gratitude.
Through FLOURISH, we provide a supportive journey exploring abundant, meaningful gratitude that fosters resilience against life's adversities, generates deep-seated contentment, and motivates consistent personal transformation, all wrapped in an inspiration-filled, engaging shared experience.
Discover more of FLOURISH here.
The Ripple of Living in Gratitude
What if you could help others see (and experience) beauty in the world?
YOU CAN!
It’s part of the ripple of LIVING IN GRATITUDE, or what Nina Zietman described as “walking through life with the eyes of gratitude”.
You not only carry peace, contentment, and joy with you. It emanates and radiates from you — through you.
Other people experience and encounter what you carry…they ‘feel your vibe’.
Your vibe attracts or repels.
It uplifts or it tears down.
It inspires and encourages…
or it deflates and discourages.
IMAGINE inviting others to see and experience beautiful things in life simply because you took time to behold and appreciate those things.
Help people experience beauty today!
Change starts within you and cascading it to others.
Sign up now to join our guided daily journal in experiencing the ultimate power of gratitude.
Through FLOURISH, we provide a supportive journey exploring abundant, meaningful gratitude that fosters resilience against life's adversities, generates deep-seated contentment, and motivates consistent personal transformation, all wrapped in an inspiration-filled, engaging shared experience. One that you can start whenever you’re ready…including NOW.
Discover more of FLOURISH here.
The Choice of Seeing
You’ve got a choice today.
What will you choose to think about and focus on today?
Actually, you have 70,000* choices — thoughts that come your way and want to make a home in your brain (* see Healthy Brains Global Initiative (HBGI) & Cleveland Clinic).
We must use selective attention to choose what thoughts we will entertain and focus on. We can’t manage 70,000 thoughts.
Remember, energy flows where attention goes.
Sometimes we develop tunnel vision — good, bad, or neutral.
Something, often a crisis event steals the spotlight and grabs the microphone— seeking to command the attention of your brain… and the energy of your body, the focus of your day… your life.
Because, as author and poet Annie Dillard brilliantly observed, “How we spend our days is how we spend our lives.”
ONE amazing benefit of embracing and expressing gratitude is the POWER OF GRATITUDE to “lift our eyes off the things we lack so that we might see the blessings we possess.”
Being grateful helps us to see, spot, or find something good going on even in the midst of tough times and bad things — which are standard fare in 2024.
Growing gratitude helps create a back channel of good and a thread of virtue that helps create calm in chaos and hope on dark days and in difficult moments.
Take a moment now, to see and appreciate something good in your life, environment, or circle of contacts.
It will reward you with rich dividends later.
Are you excited to build a habit of cultivating gratitude in your daily life?
Sign up today to join our guided daily journal in experiencing the ultimate power of gratitude.
Through FLOURISH, we provide a supportive journey exploring abundant, meaningful gratitude that fosters resilience against life's adversities, generates deep-seated contentment, and motivates consistent personal transformation, all wrapped in an inspiration-filled, engaging shared experience.
Discover more of FLOURISH here.
The Three-Step Way to Exercise
Do you think gratitude is a trait you are born with?
That some people are naturally grateful and saying “Thank You” automatically rolls off their lips and they never take anyone or anything for granted?
And, if you don’t have ‘the gratitude gene’, then you’re allowed to take people and kindness for granted.
Not so fast!
What if being grateful and thankful are responses you can learn? I love that Larissa Gomez described gratitude and thankfulness as “strength training for the heart”.
Want to experience more gratitude?
Here are three simple things you can do NOW — all in less than a minute.
PAUSE: take 2 - 3 deep breaths.
NOTICE: look around you, what do you see? Or think back on the last hour, who has shown you an act of kindness? Where have you experience goodness or beauty.
EXPRESS: say thanks! Whether you speak it out loud, send a text, or write a note — you can express your gratitude.
Congratulations! You did all of that in less than a minute.
Set an alarm and do it again in an hour or two.
Then do it again.
Rinse and repeat.
You’re making progress.
Keep going.
Are you excited to build a habit of cultivating gratitude in your daily life?
Sign up today to join our guided daily journal in experiencing the ultimate power of gratitude.
Through FLOURISH, we provide a supportive journey exploring abundant, meaningful gratitude that fosters resilience against life's adversities, generates deep-seated contentment, and motivates consistent personal transformation, all wrapped in an inspiration-filled, engaging shared experience.
Discover more of FLOURISH here.
The Seven-Day Gratitude Challenge
When was the last time you stopped to think about the things you think about?
Better yet, do you remember the first thought you had this morning when you woke up?
If you are like millions of people, your very first thought of the day as you groggily awoke was --
I didn’t get enough sleep!
That happy thought is immediately followed by a grunt or a sigh and a sense of dread,
I have so much to do today or I don’t have enough time (energy or money).
Wonder what kind of day you will have when those are your first thoughts of the day?
I’ll wager a bet... it won’t be your best day ever!
I’ll join author Lynne Twist and wager a guess of what your last thought of today will be.
I didn’t get enough done!
Thoughts of scarcity bookend most days for millions of people.
You do realize energy follows attention, right?
If, or when, you start your day with those kinds of thoughts, the good day you’ve dreamed of having was just hijacked!
The worst part?
You are both the hijacker and the hostage!
That’s why it is important to notice the things you think about!
Since energy flows where attention goes, it is wise to direct your attention.
YOU have the power to direct, to command your attention.
Jeff Dixon observed,
“Sometimes we focus so much on what we don’t have that we fail to see, appreciate, and use what we do have.”
Imagine this.
Imagine waking up and your first thought of the day being a thankful thought that you alive and given the gift of living this day!
Not everyone who went to sleep last night awoke this morning.
But you did.
Even if you didn’t sleep as well or as long as you would have liked -- YOU WOKE UP!
TRAIN YOUR BRAIN!
What if, instead of your first thought being, I didn’t get enough sleep, you say, I’m grateful to be alive... to have the gift of this day?
That would set you on a different course... a better course.
For thousands of years now, millions of devout Jews have prayed the Modeh Ani as they awake... before they get out of bed they pause for what in Hebrew is a 12-word prayer that takes about 12 seconds to pray.
In this prayer, they thank God for the gift of this day and remind themselves of God’s faithfulness.
The first words of the Modeh Ani -- when translated literally are,
“Thankful am I...”
“Thankful am I, living and enduring King, for You have graciously returned my soul within me. Great is your faithfulness.”
Starting your day like that sets you on a course... a course of abundance and expectancy.
What if, you take a 7-day challenge?
For the next 7 days let your first thought of the day be one of gratitude and thankfulness.
As your eyes begin to focus, choose to focus on something good… that you have a safe place to sleep, that you are loved, cared for, and care for others.
As you focus on something good, you’ll find other good things to focus on.
Train your brain to find the good in your life and you’ll find more good things in life.
From seven days to a lifetime— let’s take our habit of cultivating gratitude to the next level!
Sign up today to join our guided daily journal in experiencing the ultimate power of gratitude.
Through FLOURISH, we provide a supportive journey exploring abundant, meaningful gratitude that fosters resilience against life's adversities, generates deep-seated contentment, and motivates consistent personal transformation, all wrapped in an inspiration-filled, engaging shared experience.
Discover more of FLOURISH here.