Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.
William Arthur Ward

So far this month, we have moved from the “Musings of a Grandmother” to nurturing gratitude in ourselves. Our focus this time is how we promote or show gratitude to others.

We know from our study of the brain that over 80% of our thoughts are typically negative (the human condition) and that one degree of shift can make a huge difference. Expressing gratitude and appreciation is one way to support that shift. By intentionally building something positive into our thought processes, we can reframe a situation from what we do not have to what we do have. We know of one team who intentionally works against the human condition to go negative first. Their practice is to generate everything positive about an idea before anyone troubleshoots the idea. This reframe has brought new options and possibilities to the team along with greater appreciation of one another for the discipline of thinking positively first.

When I asked one school leader how she and her team were celebrating their early success, she replied, “Sadly, we failed to celebrate because we moved on to the next thing.” How are you intentionally resisting this tendency in your work with others? Here are a few options:

• Begin a meeting with an expression of gratitude. In our work, we have seen teams pause to begin their PLC work with an expression of what they are grateful for – personal or professional. This strategy short circuits the brain’s tendency to go negative first. It urges the brain to a more positive thought process.
• Identify a buddy with whom to share your gratitude. Sharing what you are grateful for can have a multiplying effect.
• Text your appreciation to a person or a team of people. Using our technology is a smart way to recognize effort, attitude, or results.
• Compliment someone. This is clearly a Status move. It lets another person know that you “see” them along with the Certainty of what is appreciated.
• We demonstrate gratitude by ____________________.