From Pilgrims to Union soldiers, Thanksgiving is a day when we all can be united in showing gratitude.  

It’s time for Thanksgiving in the United States, a time when we as a nation take stock and express our gratitude for what we have.  We look into our lives, values, freedoms, relationships, goals, and situations to identify the positive.   In a world of criticism, cancel-culture, anger, distrust, and polarizing politics, we as a nation can sit together at a massive table, carve a turkey, dish out some stuffing, cranberry sauce, candied yams (sweet potatoes), and massive slices of pie and be thankful for what we have.  

The origins shared in American schools about the pilgrims, Plymouth Rock, and salvation from kind Native Americans make a great story (particularly if you have ancestors from the Mayflower), but national days of Thanksgiving were announced regularly before it was formally established by President Abraham Lincoln after the battle of Gettysburg.  The key value of each declaration was the same:  be grateful for what we have.  Unique to every other holiday, this day is dedicated to the idea that we all have something for which to be grateful.  

Gratitude Builds Positive Relationships

The highest valued connections we have as a society are our social relationships.  It’s through our social relationships that work gets done, businesses are built, cities are run, countries thrive, and the global economy hums.  Positive social relationships increase overall health and well-being, decreasing deaths from smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity.  The reliable method of building and fostering positive social relationships is expressing gratitude. 

Sharing your gratitude for someone expresses the value you see they bring to your life.  Think about that for a minute.  You can express to someone the value you see in them.  Just how amazing is that!  In a world where we are so divisive and willing to see the worst in people when you choose to see the best in someone, it can change their life.  It’s a pity that people often undervalue the impact of expressing gratitude.  

What’s just as amazing is the personal impact of sharing gratitude with others.  Those who express gratitude are generally more happy, have an overall increased sense of well-being, and have an increased sense of life satisfaction.  Simply by sharing their gratitude, either verbally or written, one can change perspectives for a more positive outlook.  

I was amazed by the amount of research done on this subject and the impact gratitude can have on both the giver and the receiver.  It seems to be the most powerful method of building each other up.  It’s a small wonder that many companies attempt to build a culture of gratitude to create a better overall company culture.  It’s an easy, cost-effective, powerful cultural practice that can have a real impact if done sincerely.  It satisfies a person’s Social and Recognition needs, building a strong push toward motivating through Passion.  

“The reliable method of building and fostering positive social relationships is expressing gratitude.”

Personal Challenge:  Express Your Gratitude to Someone

We are coming into the Holidays which encompasses the majority of December.  I challenge every one of you to express your gratitude to someone and then write down something for which you are grateful every day.  Keep a journal of your gratitude, and measure the change in your outlook throughout the month.  

Share your gratitude with others, and then journal your personal gratitude to make a change.