Lightening The Load Through Gratitude

I recently delivered a workshop on cultivating cultures of well-being for hundreds of leaders across the APAC region for a large multinational financial services organisation.

I shared my key learnings from the global executive role I held at Bupa supporting the activation of their purpose “Longer, healthier, happier lives” for their 86,000 employees around the world.

It was also great to share some of the strategies that help me to thrive day-to-day.

One of the strategies I spoke about was a very specific gratitude practice I call on whenever work feels hard or scary – which as a solopreneur happens pretty much every day!

The practice is a simple one.

I think of my grandma in the year 1938 and I remind myself how lucky I am to be working.

1938 was the year that, at the age of 22, my grandma was forced to leave a job she loved at the local council in Condobolin.

Until 1966, under the “marriage bar”, women employed in the Australian public service were required to give up their jobs once they married.

I have the clipping from the local newspaper article that announced my grandma’s ‘retirement’.

The article states: “Many tributes were paid to Miss Warne when occasion was taken to officially farewell her prior to her retirement in preparation for her forthcoming wedding. She had been a great girl for the council. She was described as having proved her worth. Miss Warne in responding spoke very nicely saying “all the nice remarks of me make it even harder to leave.” “

It’s so easy to take things for granted.

Every single day I have the opportunity to harmonise my two big loves – love for my family and love for my work.

Remembering the sacrifices grandma made to have my mum makes even the toughest of days feel like a privilege.

THE POWER OF GRATITUDE

Research highlights the significant role of gratitude in the workplace, demonstrating its ability to create a positive and thriving work environment.

By expressing and practicing gratitude, it’s possible to not only experience improved well-being but also foster stronger team cohesion and boost overall organisational success.

Gratitude acts as a catalyst for employee engagement, cultivating a sense of belonging and appreciation.

This Harvard Business Review article highlights that when people feel grateful, they’re willing to devote more effort to help others.

Gratitude helps us to remember who we really are.

How might gratitude empower you to embody a more vibrant expression of your true nature?

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity… It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Melody Beattie