Cultivating Gratitude as a Skill by Olusola Joshua Opaleye

"Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” – Melody Beattie

Personal development efforts are more effective when approached holistically. Acquiring new skills without addressing the necessary emotional growth is like giving a car a fresh coat of paint without fixing its faulty engine - it may look good on the surface, but it won't run smoothly or efficiently.

The faulty engine of many individuals is a gnawing sense of dissatisfaction with their current circumstances and identity. Despite outward appearances of success, they may be grappling with raw frustration and a sense of despair that lingers in their heart all day. Others may justify these feelings by comparing themselves unfavorably to those who seem to be doing better.

The skill that amplifies the value of all other skills is the deliberate cultivation of Gratitude. Unlike innate talents, gratitude doesn't come naturally to anyone; it requires intentional effort, much like a farmer tending to their land. Through consistent practice, we can cultivate a grateful heart, unlocking the full potential of our skills and experiences.

Gratitude is an attitude of intentionality where an individual focuses on the things that are positive in his life, expressing appreciation for them. Gratitude is developing a graceful attitude in the face of whatever situation and circumstances.

Gratitude is seeing the cup as half full rather than half-empty. It is focusing on what you have much more than what you don't. It is looking at the advantage much more than the disadvantage. Gratitude says, "It could be better, but it could also be worse."

Gratitude is the place from which anyone can start to greatness. It is the place where you can affirm what you have and identify what you need to get to where you desire. When gratitude is lacking, an individual will cast his pearls to the swine because he sees no value in whatever he has, thereby missing out on opportunities for growth.

How then do we cultivate Gratitude?

Gratitude demands intentionality, hence the need for daily reflections. Taking a few minutes each day to reminisce over past events will certainly help in putting things in proper perspective and help in the identification of the good things in each situation or circumstance. Daily reflection aside from helping in building an attitude of gratitude will aid the individual in the art of strategic thinking and meditation.

Writing down at least three positive things to be thankful for each day in a Gratitude Journal is a powerful strategy for cultivating gratitude. Consistently practicing this habit will transform your mind to focus more on the good than the bad. As a bonus, your journaling and writing skills will also improve.

Take it a step further by intentionally expressing gratitude to God for the positive things in your life, and to someone you are grateful for - let them know how their presence and kindness have impacted you. Don't forget to be grateful to yourself too - acknowledge your strength and resilience in the face of challenges. When you express appreciation to yourself, despair gives way to hope and courage.

Reframe challenges by looking for the silver lining in difficult situations and expressing gratitude for the good in them. This helps build resilience in the face of adversity.

Finally, incorporate gratitude into your spiritual practice - balance your requests for what you need with consistent appreciation for what you already have.

Cultivating gratitude is a multi-faceted skill that also develops journaling, meditation, strategic thinking, and emotional intelligence - all highly valued skills in today's 21st-century companies. By cultivating gratitude, you acquire many skills for the price of one, making it a worthwhile investment in your personal and professional growth.

If you are aged from 18-40 years and you like the idea of belonging to a community of excellent and righteous young men or you are even above 40 and you’d like to be one of our mentors, feel very free to join the Real Boys Forum (RBF) by clicking on https://bit.ly/therbf.

#ojopaleye #realboysforum #personaldevelopment