“It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.” ~ David Steindl-Rast

Practicing the art of gratitude is an ancient tradition that sparks joy and incites the power of ‘enough’.

Happiness is a common side effect of continual thankfulness: the more you acknowledge the blessings in your life, the more you’ll see your life as a blessing.

Here are 4 ways you can make gratitude a daily practice in your personal life and in your business.

Make Everyone Feel Like a Star Employee

Positive affirmations mean a lot to your employees – especially coming from you! Showering your team with compliments and acknowledgements of their work goes a long way towards making them feel like a valued employee.

By affirming even their daily tasks, you communicate that the work that they are doing matters to you and to your company.

Giving your employees a ‘thank you’ can be as easy as a conversation in passing. Other ways you can share the love include:

• Calling out their accomplishments in front of your team during a meeting
• Tagging a Post-It Note of encouragement to their desk
• Sending out a small gift or monetary bonus with a ‘thank you’ to your team
• Handwritten cards of appreciation for your team
• Sharing your gratitude on social media or team platforms

Feeling like they’re making a difference is important to your team. Be sure that they hear that regularly and often from their supervisors.

(And be sure you’re telling yourself that too!)

Take Time for Gratitude

Having a set time to pause and reflect on your daily blessings can go a long way towards changing your day.

Consider taking time at the start of your meetings or as an icebreaker during Zoom calls to share with each other the joys and challenges of life.

In addition to identifying ways that you are thankful, you’ll also get to know your coworkers at a deeper level. Making connections and fostering friendships are incoming!

Speak Life

Words are powerful.

Taking time to let your employees know that they are valued and appreciated goes a long way at your workplace. A team member who feels that they are an important part of the team will work as though they are.

Be sure to call out the positivity you see in your employees – even if those positive elements are part of their responsibilities.

Here are some examples of affirmations you can use to make your team feel valued and appreciated:

• “You’re really putting in extra time for those reports. Thank you for making that effort!”
• “I see the work you’re doing and I just have to say: you’re doing a smashing job!”
• “Thank you for being such a joy to work with. You always brighten this place up and put a smile on my face.”

Remember, the key is to thank your employees regularly and often to instill in them a feeling of accomplishment. Watch as you find your employees easing into the workplace around them and enjoying what they do!

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

It can be hard not to worry when deadlines are fast approaching, quarterly goals are more of an idea than a reality, and your workload starts overflowing on your desk.

It’s in these times that practicing gratitude is an essential experience.

Instead of allowing yourself to dwell on the issues at hand, be sure to keep in mind your perspective.

A client meetup may have not gone so well. That’s ok! These things happen, but keeping your mind focused on encouragement and thankfulness is a way to avoid the doldrums.

In light of the big picture, life is so much more. Consider the most important parts of your life: your temporary challenges at work are likely to pale in comparison to the joy around you.

That’s not to say that these obstacles aren’t stressful. Your thoughts and feelings are valid. And so are the blessings around you!

In the midst of the chaos, don’t lose sight of the fact that we’re all here for a moment. Be sure to take time to thank God for your biggest blessings.

From Our Family to Yours

As Thanksgiving and the holiday season quickly approach, take time to practice gratitude in small ways by acknowledging the joy around you. Meditate on these gifts, even when life seems chaotic and challenging.

Especially when life seems chaotic and challenging.

For more pro tips on cultivating a successful and collaborative workplace, check out our blog and find creative ways to upgrade your day-to-day.

Warm season’s greetings from all of us at Matcha Design. Happy Thanksgiving!