Building a Gratitude Practice
In keeping with our August Professional Gratitude Campaign, we’ve been sharing much about the “WHY” of a gratitude practice, and now we’d like to share the “HOW.” In this post, we share some helpful — and easily implemented ideas on how to practice gratitude.
In keeping with our latest August Professional Gratitude Campaign, we’ve been sharing much about the “WHY” of a gratitude practice, and now we’d like to share the “HOW.”
Here are some helpful — and easily implemented ideas on how to practice gratitude:
Keep a gratitude journal, and add to it every evening before bed and read aloud in the morning.
Send a note to a loved one, telling them how grateful you are for their presence in your life.
Send a positive, uplifting text to a teammate, classmate or co-worker, thanking them for something they have done for you or the community.
Before eating, express gratitude for the food in front of you and take the time to slowly and truly savor it.
Observe, touch, smell, appreciate and walk in nature.
Say “thank you” as often and to as many people as you can especially those that provide the necessary services that contribute to your daily comfort.
Check-in with your family and friends and tell them what you appreciate about them and thank them for choosing to be in your life.
Write a positive review/testimony for a business or entrepreneur to share your gratefulness for their excellent service.
FINALLY, in Counseling Space Wellness Hub for women-leaders style, we ENCOURAGE you to close your eyes and picture the women who made a positive impact on the success of your business and/or career. NOW, continue to express gratitude to those women who helped you LEVEL UP in any way possible!
Let’s spread the love and pass it on!
Yours in Gratitude,
Leslie M. Garcia
Gratitude and the Value of Saying "No."
What does gratitude and saying “no” have in common?
As we discovered in one of our earlier posts, gratitude elevates our self-esteem, empathy and mental strength. And studies have shown that those who rank higher on the gratitude scale are more sensitive and empathetic towards others. And we can assure you that this extends to ourselves as well!
What does gratitude and saying “no” have in common?
As we discovered in one of our earlier posts, gratitude elevates our self-esteem, empathy and mental strength. A 2012 University of Kentucky study showed that those who rank higher on the gratitude scale are more sensitive and empathetic towards others. And we can assure you that this extends to ourselves as well! Other studies have shown that gratitude also reduces our tendency towards making social comparisons, which is essential in this age of overnight business successes, insta-stardom and selfies!
This re-wiring of our brains and bodies to primarily see and observe the best in others and ourselves makes us more mindful about where and how we expand our mental and emotional energy.
Therefore, it is much easier for the grateful person to say “no” to self-doubt in all forms.
As a Wellness Hub for women business owners and leaders, we understand the doubt that may have almost stopped you from business ownership or pursuing a professional leadership position. The self-doubt that fed you false statements about your abilities and the stability of your future. Where would you be had you been convinced of these lies?
Yes, THANK GOODNESS that you were able to overcome the doubts and naysayers by saying “NO” and affirming “YES!” See more in the video below.
Here are TWO BONUS resources if you are still working to dispel the little voice that whispers hesitantly in your head:
Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box by The Arbinger Institute. Written as a novel, Leadership and Self-Deception is specifically written for leaders — like you — looking to get the most out of their work by getting their mind right.
Counseling Space’s fast and fun Professional Gratitude Worksheet!
Know someone who would benefit from reading this message or using these resources? Please PASS IT ON!
Now ask yourself, are you grateful for saying “no”? If you can think of a woman business owner, who was part of your army fighting self-doubt, nominate her for our August Professional Gratitude Campaign!
Here are the rules [DOWNLOAD and SHARE the RULE CARD and SEE the AWESOME PRIZES below!]:
Let’s keep the positive feedback loop momentum going!
Yours in Gratitude,
Leslie M. Garcia
Gratitude as a Career and Business Boost!
Previously, we’ve discussed how gratitude improves your social life by making you happier and energized and, therefore, more approachable and open to welcoming others into your circle! Here is another bonus for you: gratitude comes with professional benefits too! In this post, we explore how.
While the Professional Gratitude Campaign (see video) is still active and strong, Counseling Space wants to honor all the boss ladies we serve at the Counseling Space Wellness Hub for women leaders by taking some time to focus on how Gratitude Improves Your Professional Skills.
Previously, we’ve discussed how gratitude improves your social life by making you happier and energized and, therefore, more approachable and open to welcoming others into your circle! Here is another bonus for you. The professional benefits of gratitude are that it:
1. Makes you a more efficient manager
2. Increases your goal achievement
3. Amplifies your productivity
How? For one, your team will be much more enthusiastic, creative and solution-oriented when they are appreciated and praised rather than criticized.
Secondly, when trying to build a team, business, legacy, or empire, it is so easy to fall into the trap of focusing on all the things you didn’t do rather than on the things you actually accomplished no matter how small! A gratitude journal, for example, works to remind you just how many resources around you go unnoticed or under-appreciated and prompts you to turn your attention from what could have been to WHAT IS truly going well!
How much easier is it to keep going and preserve your productivity when you feel supported and successful, no matter what?
Professional Gratitude is a unique, inexpensive and effective way to boost your confidence in your career by focusing on your professional wins, assessing how you made these wins, and noting what you learned about yourself in the process. And the last step is to always remember to THANK YOURSELF just as much as you thank your team.
And if our gratitude posts are making you feel some type of way, we INVITE YOU to thank a businesswoman who helped you get to where you are right now! There are so many #levelstowellness and gratitude is at the base of it all!
Thank a woman business owner who helped you LEVEL UP, by taking part in our Professional Gratitude Campaign.
Here are the rules [DOWNLOAD and SHARE the RULE CARD and SEE the AWESOME PRIZES below!]:
Remember, gratitude is a massively underutilized tool for improving your life, business and career satisfaction!
Yours in Gratitude,
Leslie M. Garcia
Gratitude, What is it Good For? A Perky Personality … and a Perfect Spa Day?
You may be wondering, “Could there possibly be more science-backed gratitude benefits?” The answer is: Yes!
Here’s another: Gratitude Develops Your Personality. This is because gratitude trains our minds to perceive the positive first rather than the negative.
You may be wondering, “Could there possibly be more science-backed gratitude benefits?” The answer is: Yes!
Here’s another: Gratitude Develops Your Personality.
You might be thinking that Counseling Space is on a gratitude overload, but gratitude does mold your personality for the better! Gratitude makes us more humble, selfless, and optimistic. This is because gratitude trains our minds to perceive the positive first rather than the negative. Because of this capacity, many studies have shown that gratitude can even play a major role in mitigating trauma. A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that gratitude was a major contributor to resilience following the September 11 tragedy.
Now, we’ve given you enough to think about during the Counseling Space gratitude series. On our end, we are extremely grateful as we cultivate a Wellness Hub for women leaders, where mental wellness will also be tied to gratitude.
In turn, we INVITE YOU to express gratitude to a businesswoman who has helped you LEVEL UP by joining the boss ladies who are already taking part in our Professional Gratitude Campaign.
If you’re interested in nominating a businesswoman who has helped you LEVEL UP, here are the rules [DOWNLOAD and SHARE the RULE CARD and SEE the AWESOME PRIZES below!]:
And, YES, you AND your nominee both have a chance to win!
In the meantime, can you promise to take a minute each day this month and write what you are grateful for? We would love to hear your responses!
Yours in Gratitude,
Leslie M. Garcia
Gratitude, What is it Good For? The Gift of a Caribbean Getaway!
As we stated in our last post, when gratitude is at play, EVERYONE is a winner! That’s right, Gratitude Improves Your Social Life!
When you’re in your best emotional and physical health, you’re relaxed, balanced and able to handle things in a much more understanding, compassionate, helpful, and kind manner. And who doesn’t love a person that allows them the safe space to just be?
As we stated in our last e-mail, when gratitude is at play, EVERYONE is a winner! That’s right, Gratitude Improves Your Social Life!
When you’re in your best emotional and physical health, aren’t you the best partner, caregiver, friend, parent, sibling that you can be? You’re relaxed, balanced and able to handle things in a much more understanding, compassionate, helpful, and kind manner. And who doesn’t love a person that allows them the safe space to just be?
Hopefully, our words have generated pleasant thoughts about all the amazing people who have helped you get to where you are today. Parents, family members, mentors, coaches, teachers, best friends, social workers … and counselors!
As part of our August Professional Gratitude Campaign, we invite you to publicly thank ALL the women entrepreneurs who have helped you — or are helping you to live what you originally believed to be an impossible dream! See video below.
If you’re interested in nominating a businesswoman who has helped you LEVEL UP, here are the rules [DOWNLOAD and SHARE the RULE CARD and SEE the AWESOME PRIZES below!]:
And, YES, you AND your nominee both have a chance to win!
Also, STAY TUNED for our next posts on the other benefits of gratitude that are backed by science!
THANK YOU to all who have submitted nominations and are spreading the good news and grateful vibes. Let’s keep it going!
Who do you want to thank today?
Yours in Gratitude,
Leslie M. Garcia