Giving thanks is a pure act with an amazing array of side benefits. Cultivating an “attitude of gratitude” has been linked to less anxiety and depression, and building multiple aspects of wellbeing from happiness to the capacity for love. Take a look at “A Serving of Gratitude May Save the Day” to see John Tierney’s Thanksgiving recipe for holiday bliss.
On a somewhat related note, I have been thinking a lot lately about how grateful I am for the work of happiness scholar Matt Killingsworth and his findings on mind-wandering. In his article, “Does Mind-Wandering Make You Unhappy?” Killingsworth found that people disengage from the present moment by mind-wandering 47% of the time. Yes, that’s right: 47%.
While we work, do daily chores, go to school, and even dine with family and friends, our minds travel somewhere else. Unfortunately, that somewhere else is often not a happy place. Our minds tend to wander into worry, frustration, regret, anger, sadness, disappointment, and dismay (the land of Deficit-Based Thinking.)
But, as you Asset-Based Thinkers know, it doesn’t have to be this way. You have the remote control connected to the channels in your mind. You can shift out of Deficit-Based Thinking (DBT) into Asset-Based Thinking (ABT) by shining the spotlight of your attention on the positive facts that are happening in the present moment, as well as good times past.
So this Thanksgiving holiday, why not focus on the positive facts about what you are grateful for like treasured family members, friendships, and colleagues, achievements, recognitions, contributions, gifts, surprises, and windfalls (just to name a few!)?
Here are a few of my posts on gratitude to help you you engrain these moments of good into your working memory. By harvesting your blessings and dwelling on them, you are sure to create the best Thanksgiving ever.
- Leaders Build Trust and Stronger Relationships with Gratitude
- Give Yourself An A!
- The Key to Employee Engagement? Appreciating Effort
- What is Working Here?
- Expand Your Capacity for Wisdom
Happy Giving Thanks Day everyone!
Kathryn D. Cramer, PH.D.
Founder and Managing Partner, The Cramer Institute
