Giving Thanks - The Power Of Gratitude

Hello everyone! Here we are in October and fall is upon us – pumpkin spiced latte anyone?! It’s time to dig out those comfy knit sweaters, appreciate the changing colors and embrace those early evenings.

Although, personally, I’m not quite ready to switch to a slower pace of life just yet. In last month’s Monthly Hustle, I told you about my super busy schedule, and it has not eased up!

After fitting in some time with my family in the UK, I headed over to Amsterdam for DPW, an incredible conference all about making the industry’s digital aspirations for procurement a reality. I had a blast hosting the DPW livestream and interviewing some incredible procurement professionals – did you see my behind the scenes pics on LinkedIn?

I’ll be doing it all again later in the month at NMFTA’s Digital Solutions Conference. I’ll be reporting live from Texas and diving into one of the megatrends for 2024 – cybersecurity. So if you’re at the event as well, come and say hi! And, next month, I’ll be in San Franscisco at Blume Envision, moderating two panel discussions, as well as carrying out lots of live interviews. I am here, there and everywhere (!), so make sure to sign up to the Let’s Talk Supply Chain newsletter to find out what I’m up to, and discover the industry events you should be attending too. 

And it was really incredible to find out this month that I had been recognized for all of my hard work. I was named one of the Top 200 Content Creators (No. 82) on LinkedIn by Favikon, and I secured the No. 1 position on the Top 50 Creators list for Manufacturing, Logistics and Supply Chain in Canada. I really couldn’t have achieved this without all of you, and the incredible community that we’ve built together, so this month’s Monthly Hustle sees me reflecting on gratitude.

 In June’s edition of the Monthly Hustle, I talked about how easy it can be to get caught up in being busy, focusing on ticking tasks off the to-do list and not on the important things that are going on all around us. And when you’re living in the hustle, you can sometimes be guilty of getting a little too self-focused.

It’s so important to remember that none of us is an island, and rarely are our achievements only our own. Whether it’s a hard-working partner staying home to raise the kids whilst you focus on your career, or a dedicated team working alongside you to help you meet your goals, where would any of us be without the contributions, support and love of others?

But how often do we tell those people in our lives just how thankful we are?       

Usually it’s not as often as we should.

So, as we head into colder, darker times, where we could be at risk of feeling a little gloomy, let’s talk about gratitude. 

How Do I Practice Gratitude?

Gratitude is a tale of two halves: we need to affirm the good things we’ve received, then acknowledge the role other people play in those good things. Easy!

And you start by just paying attention. Here’s a little technique you can practice every single day.

Choose an interaction where you need/want to say thanks, and take a closer look. How do you say thank you? Is it an automatic response, or do you really mean it? How do you feel when you say it? Does your body play a part, or is it already moving onto the next interaction? What are you actually grateful for?

Asking yourself these questions, being present in the moment, and truly feeling and engaging with your words and emotions will help you feel genuine thanks, for all of the small things.  

And the more you notice the people, things and situations that you’re grateful for, the more you’ll find to feel grateful for. It’s a positive cycle!

Why Practice Gratitude?

Gratitude is a powerful tool. Practicing gratitude can help us to:

• Boost mood
• Improve mental health
• Improve physical health
• Strengthen relationships with others
• Make healthier choices
• Communicate better
• Build resilience so we deal better with adversity
• Create a deep sense of wellbeing.

And, over time, celebrating the small wins, finding joy in the little things and appreciating all the little nuances of humanity, can shift our entire perspective and encourage us to see the good where we might not have done before.

Ways To Practice Gratitude

There are so many ways you can practice gratitude in your day-to-day life, but these are some of my personal favorites.

Keep a Gratitude Journal. Writing down moments of gratitude encourages you to notice them instead of letting them pass you by. It boosts positive recall, and appreciating the, sometimes mundane, aspects of life makes it super easy to do on a daily basis. You finally managed to get your favourite brand of candy, that’s usually sold out, from the store? Write it in the journal!

Share Your Gratitude. Never underestimate the power of saying thank you! Expressing gratitude can strengthen relationships. So the next time somebody in your life does something you appreciate – tell them!

Don’t Forget The Bad. Remembering the tough times gives context and reminds you just how far you’ve come.

Ask Questions. Think about your relationships, and think about what you’ve given and received.

Engage Your Senses. The smell of your favorite flower, the sound of birds singing in the morning, the touch of your child’s hand. Gratitude is more than just the thanks you give someone for helping you out.

Take a picture. We’re visual creatures and prone to forgetfulness! Visual reminders can be wonderful triggers for gratitude, whether it’s an amazing trip or your favorite meal.  

Write it down. In July’s edition of Monthly Hustle, I talked about setting goals, and about how goals become so much more powerful if you make a commitment to them by writing them down. Gratitude is the same. Make a promise (for example ‘I promise to take the time to appreciate three different things every single day’), write down that promise – and you’re much more likely to stick it.  

Practice what you preach. You can’t talk about gratitude and expect it from others unless you live and breathe it yourself. I like to send notes and little gifts to people throughout the year as a way to express my thanks. And expressions of gratitude don’t have to be expensive or extravagant – it’s the thought that counts.  

And so I want to end this month’s newsletter by, of course, saying thank you. To all of the people I’ve worked with this year and the events I’ve attended. To the people I’ve met and those that have shared their insights in interviews. To my team and my community. To my husband, bonus kids, family and friends. Life is a journey, and it’s not always easy. But I absolutely love what I do, and it’s all of you that help to make my dreams a reality every single day.

And I encourage all of you to take pleasure in the small things, appreciate everything around you and give thanks. Because giving thanks is the easiest way to happiness.

“Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.” – Oprah Winfrey. 

Until next time,

Sarah

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