Consider your ability to be grateful for EVERYTHING that comes into your life! Giving thanks is really quite simple — yet in our daily rush we tend to focus on the “Yet To Do” and forget to be grateful for the “Ta Da’s!” big and small. A successful, happy life requires continuous growth. And gratitude ensures growth. How?
1. Gratitude raises our awareness.
It’s humbling to realize all the connections, all the people whose talents and contributions play a role in providing what we enjoy every day from our food, streets and buildings to the success of our development efforts. This humility deepens our gratitude. Consider the vast numbers of our major givers who express how humbling it is to be recognized for their support. Then they talk about their joy! Humility and gratitude are partners in happiness and success. Reflect upon what you have accomplished at a set time every day. Best if you keep a running list.
2. Gratitude recharges our energy.
Gratitude empowers us to embrace “failure” however you define it — a “no” to your major gift ask, an overwhelming inbox, an argument over metrics and process — anything that robs us of energy. Gratitude links physical and mental well-being. When we can view a negative simply as an event that a) provides us with information to apply to the next call, b) gives us new ideas for how to present or package a giving option differently so it’s a better fit for the donor, or c) enhances our understanding of another’s view, then gratitude deepens and provides immunity to anger, envy, resentment, fear and depression — all energy-drainers.
3. Gratitude enhances our self-worth and strengthens our spirit.
You happen to life, life does not happen to you. Finding something good in each and every day harnes ses the power of gratitude. Are you a crap magnet? Do you run around complaining, making excuses, blaming others? The more you do the more of the same you attract to you! Instead share the positives, shower others with appreciation and fill their emotional bank account right up to the top! Then notice the strength of your spirit!
Some people are garbage trucks. They live day today full of garbage — frustration, disappointment, anger — and as their truck fills up they need a place to dump it and sometimes that’s you. Don’t take it personally. Don’t take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.
BE GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING that comes your way — the good, the bad and the ugly — trusting that its meaning will become clear… even if you can’t see it right now. We can be grateful because we are happy or we can simply be happy because we are grateful.
Want to raise a lot of money yet this year? Keep your eyes wide open and be grateful for the power and joy of philanthropy. Armed with gratitude, you will have the awareness, energy, self-worth and spirit to make the connections between our donors and our missions that will generate the giving meant to be!
