“If you can’t change your fate, change your attitude.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Gratitude: Changing Our Thinking ... Bees appreciate the flowers that give them nectar...
Today, on my way to a meeting, I stopped at the security desk to show my ID. There was a short line and I noticed that each person just handed their ID to the security guard on duty, and without a word of hello or thank you on either side, sauntered off into the sunset… focused on a meeting or two. “I know it’s 9:00am but why can’t we even acknowledge each other?” I wondered. When it was my turn, I offered a cheerful good morning and, smiling broadly, handed him my ID card. Without even a glance, the guard took my card and saying not a word, copied the necessary information and then, unceremoniously handed me back my card. My call to have a pleasant day was also ignored…
#Trust30 is an online initiative and 30-day writing challenge. The #Trust30 Prompt: At any given point in time, you’re only one thought away from changing your thinking. What thought can you change today?
As I walked off to my meeting, I started to think about what struggles and frustrations had taken the joy out of his job/day. I wasn’t angry at him just sad that in a tough economy where many can’t find work, he chose to not see the blessing in having a job. If he didn’t like the job, a cheerful attitude or a new way of thinking about the job could bring wonderful opportunities his way. Like Brian Tracy once said, “Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.” Unless we change how we think about our current situation, by seeing the blessings in it, we won’t notice the new doors that are opening for us. As the prompt above suggests, we can change our thinking … it takes a little effort.
“When you are grateful fear disappears and abundance appears” Anthony Robbins
Gratitude: Changing Our Thinking ... Gratitude = Happiness. what more do we need?
Gratitude by Lucy Maud Montgomery (via famouspoetsandpoems.com)
I thank thee, friend, for the beautiful thought
That in words well chosen thou gavest to me,
Deep in the life of my soul it has wrought
With its own rare essence to ever imbue me,
To gleam like a star over devious ways,
To bloom like a flower on the dreariest days
Better such gift from thee to me
Than gold of the hills or pearls of the sea.
For the luster of jewels and gold may depart,
And they have in them no life of the giver,
But this gracious gift from thy heart to my heart
Shall witness to me of thy love forever;
Yea, it shall always abide with me
As a part of my immortality;
For a beautiful thought is a thing divine,
So I thank thee, oh, friend, for this gift of thine.
At my meeting, I decided to truly listen to everyone present and acknowledge their point of view. If you attend meetings a lot, you know that there is always a contrarian present, and the usual suspects who want to either push their own agenda alone or digress. Today, instead of irritation, I chose the path of appreciation. Each person had a need and deserved to be heard; we were all there for a common goal. Above and below, I have added a few poems and a story on having an attitude of gratitude and I hope they speak to you the way they did for me. What thought can you change today?
