Category Archives: Gratitude

“When you take things for granted, the things you are granted get taken.”

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“When you take things for granted, the things you are granted get taken.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by specphotops

How true is today’s quote for you?

Please don’t skim over this one or move on too quickly to your busy day.

Take a 2-5 minute pause now—or at a break you give yourself today—to examine some or all of the items on the following list, for yourself and others in your world:

• Health
• Relationships
• The Environment
• Social Justice
• Democracy
• Faith
• Finances

EXERCISE:

Consider replying to this post with your thought and feelings.

What additional categories would you add to this list?

What specific area and what specific action will you take to more fully demonstrate your gratitude for all you’ve been given?

“Be grateful for people’s complaints. Turn a complaint into a question.”

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“Be grateful for people’s complaints. Turn a complaint into a question.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unslpash by Analia Baggiano

We all complain from time to time. I’m sure you see a bunch of whining and complaining within your various communities. How often do you think or even say some expletive aloud, to silence all the negativity?

Effective coaches and communicators know the value of questions, especially open-ended questions that can have the power of an “off” switch of negativity and an “on” switch of possibility.

Consider the following questions, and perhaps make up a few of your own:

  • How would you like things to be?
  • What could you do to improve the situation?
  • What ideas do you have to resolve this issue?
  • Where could you look for solutions to this challenge?
  • What alternative approaches can be taken to improve things?

EXERCISE:

How can you find more silver linings and gratitude in the complaints you currently experience?

How can the right question at the right moment be used to move your world forward today?

“Perhaps we never really appreciate the here and now until it is challenged.”

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“Perhaps we never really appreciate the here and now until it is challenged.”

—Anne Morrow Lindbergh, American Author and Aviator

How often do you count your blessings? The other evening, I found that I could not sleep, and trying harder wasn’t doing the trick.

I remembered that my Calm Meditation App provides a wide variety of sleep stories to help when those zzz’s just won’t come.

While scrolling through the choices, I came upon a 30-minute gratitude story, read by Ann Acton. Her beautiful, calming voice and the guided journey she took me on transported me through memories and experiences I’ve had, and others accessible through her mindful and heartfelt imagery.

EXERCISE:

How can you more fully embrace and appreciate all the goodness and abundance of life?

How can and will this capacity help you live a much more richly rewarding life, regardless of the challenges that may face you?

Please listen to this snippet of the gratitude sleep story, and let me know what you think by hitting “reply” to this post.

Friday Review: Gratitude

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FRIDAY REVIEW: GRATITUDE

How have you made the expression of gratitude an integral part of your daily life? Here are three gratitude-related posts you may have missed.

 

“If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share.”

 

 

 

 

“I thank you for your part in my journey.”

 

 

 

 

“Do you want to be happy? Let go of what’s gone, be grateful for what remains, and look forward to what is coming.”

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Image from Unsplash by Priscilla du Preez

Today is the American Thanksgiving holiday – a day in which we all take time to honor and express our gratitude for the abundance we enjoy – in material things, but also in those things
that can’t be bought. Friends, family, good health, and so much more.

My gratitude goes out to each of you, faithful readers of The Quotable Coach series. I hope you continue to find these messages worthwhile, and that they bring you both motivation and a few nuggets of wisdom.

Do you want to be happy

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“Do you want to be happy? Let go of what’s gone, be grateful for what remains, and look forward to what is coming.”

—Author Unknown

Image of five clock on a wall, showing different time zones

Image from Unsplash by Luis Cortes

Through my mindfulness efforts over the past few years, I realize that I live in three different time zones. At certain times, I reflect on the past and hold on or grasp for what seems like “the good one days.”

The bulk of my days, I try my best to remain present, in the moment, so that I can make the most of the here and now, and be grateful for all I have.

Of course, we would not be human if we did not demonstrate a healthy curiosity about the years ahead, knowing that our actions today can manifest our visions for the future.

EXERCISE:

How and in what ways can you increase your own happiness and life satisfaction by letting go of what’s gone, being grateful for what remains, and looking forward to what is coming?

Thanksgiving 2018

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Dear Friends:

Thanksgiving Day is more than a holiday, a great meal, and big football games to me.
Thanks-Giving—gratitude—is a way of life, a discipline and for many, a spiritual practice. Today I give thanks for all of you—my friends, followers, clients, and colleagues. You have enriched my life by allowing me into your mind, your heart, and your world. May this Thanks-Giving bring you laughter, love, and gratitude for all that you have and all that comes to you over the next year.

Here are a few Thanksgiving posts from years past. May each of them give you reason for thought and celebration:

 

“Thanksgiving is a time of togetherness and gratitude.”

 

 

 

 

“He who receives a benefit with gratitude repays the first installment on his debt.”

 

 

 

“I am grateful for what I am and have. My Thanksgiving is perpetual.”

 

 

 

 

One looks back with appreciation

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“One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings.”

—Carl Gustav Jung, 20th Century Swiss founder of analytical psychology

I recently watched the Netflix documentary, Genius of the Ancient World. The three-part series focused on The Buddha, Socrates, and Confucius.

Surprisingly, they all lived about 2,500 years ago, but worlds apart geographically. Many of their teachings and influences are still very apparent in our world today.

Who are the brilliant and soul-touching teachers from your past? Who are the current teachers and mentors that continue to make a meaningful difference in your life?

Where have you, and are you, that brilliant and perhaps more importantly, soul-touching teacher for others, personally or professionally?

EXERCISE:

Reflect on the questions above, and determine some meaningful way to show your gratitude for the teachers who influenced your world.