Thursday, April 21, 2016

Gratitude is the best attitude



“A person who feels appreciated will always do more than expected.”

 But we seem to have forgotten that.  Is it just me, or have we become a grumpier, more demanding society?

I ask because lately I’ve noticed how quickly people are to criticize, to point out faults and what’s not working, instead of appreciating or showing gratitude for what is.

Part of the problem lies in our use or abuse of email as a way of communicating our disgruntlement.  Perhaps the writer doesn’t realize just how her message sounds and perhaps too, we can read too much into the words chosen.

That said, I do find that people are often too preoccupied in what they want, and when they don’t get what they want, like the spoilt toddler, they have a tantrum thinking perhaps that will sway the decision and change the outcome.  Eh. No.

It’s too bad really because it is such a waste of energy, negative energy at that and I don’t find myself drawn or wanting to be around folks that give out such troubling vibes.

My advice?  Take a chill pill. 

Look at the big picture and perhaps reflect on the other person’s perspective.  If something is wrong, I’ve always found that being pleasant and polite gets you a lot further.  When we treat people with respect and value their time and expertise, they are more likely to work harder to fix the problem.

Gratitude and giving back is our theme for our upcoming conference on May 17.  I'm hoping people will listen and take notes.

As Andy Wooten suggests – “It doesn’t cost anything to tell someone thank you.” Try to say thanks to everyone that you can today.”




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