In case you haven’t heard, gratitude is a thing.
All of the cool kids are talking about it.
There are journals, podcasts, books, and gurus just for gratitude.
There is even a whole science behind gratitude, (Name). Did you know that?
Here’s what researchers have found: it’s more than just a feel-good practice!
📊 The Stats That Prove Gratitude Works
- Rewires the brain: The prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain associated with decision making, reward processing, and emotional regulation — is strengthened by gratitude. This means positive thinking becomes more automatic.
- Boosts happiness by 25%: People who regularly practice gratitude experience a +25% increase in happiness levels.
- Lowers stress and anxiety: Gratitude interventions significantly reduce cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and increase resilience to stress.
- Improves sleep quality by 10-15%: A study showed that some participants slept better and longer when they wrote down things they were grateful for before going to bed.
- Enhances relationships and leadership effectiveness: Employees who feel appreciated by their leaders are 50% more productive and engaged. (Hint: the same applies to husbands 😉)
How Can Gratitude Boost Your Leadership?
Great leaders don’t just drive results. They create environments where people want to contribute. And gratitude plays a significant role in fostering trust, engagement, and motivation.
🔥 How Gratitude Elevates Leadership:
✔️ Increases team morale: Employees who feel valued are 4.6x more likely to feel empowered to perform at their best.
✔️ Encourages loyalty: Leaders who express gratitude see a higher retention rate, as appreciation fosters a positive workplace culture.
✔️ Strengthens emotional intelligence: Practicing gratitude helps leaders become more empathetic, leading to better communication and problem solving.
✔️ Inspires innovation: A culture of gratitude creates psychological safety where employees feel comfortable taking risks and contributing new ideas.
✨How to Build a Gratitude Habit (Without Making It One More Thing On Your To-Do List)
I recently did a talk for 140 women titled “Upleveling Your Career with JOY.” During the Q&A portion, a woman asked me what I had done in my personal life to incorporate more JOY into my every day.
My Answer: Gratitude.
Hands down. This was the game changer.
Why? For all of the above reasons.
It makes me feel better.
It changes how I think.
Let me give you a real and very personal example.
Seven years ago, I was fairly early on in my second marriage. I went in with eyes wide open. We dated for four years, were engaged for two more, went to therapy together, and made sure we put all of our cards on the table.
But there was a festering resentment that kept getting bigger and bigger: his ex-wife and the enormous amount of alimony he paid her. Now, I knew this ahead of time. But the more I focused on the problem, the bigger the problem got. And the bigger the problem got, the less I could see the blessings in my life.
Something had to change. This way of thinking was stealing my JOY.
So I started writing 5 things I was grateful for every morning. I included my marriage that I dreamed of, prayed for, and manifested. I included my healthy children, the friendships that fill my soul, and my house, which has become a home and a place of refuge. I included my “sisters” who took me in as their own. I included my stepdaughter and the two grandchildren she has blessed us with, the time we get to spend with them, and how we’ve become an amazing, blended family. I included my dad, my sister, and my brother, and the fact that we’ve managed to survive and love each other even though our mom has moved to heaven. I included mentors, coaches, and even the kind woman at the grocery store.
Before I knew it, I was grateful for so many things in my life that I honestly forgot how resentful I was about my husband’s court-ordered obligation.
If you’re just starting a gratitude practice, here is what I would recommend:
✨Pick a time: Choose the time of day that works best for you and try to be consistent.
✨Write down 5 Things: Every day, write down five things that went well that day and why they mattered. Your brain will start to rewire and focus on the positive.
✨Express Appreciation: Make it a habit to recognize at least one team member every day for their contributions, either privately or in a team setting. Try this with your partner and kids, too. It works wonders!
✨Leverage “Gratitude Priming” Before Meetings: Start meetings by acknowledging a recent win or expressing appreciation for your team’s effort. This shifts the energy of the conversation.
✨Write a Gratitude Letter: Research shows that writing a letter of appreciation (even if you don’t send it) has long-term benefits on happiness and well-being.
Gratitude and the Ripple Effect of JOY
As high achievers, it’s easy to believe that joy comes after success. But the truth is, gratitude brings joy now. And when we operate from a place of joy, we show up as better leaders, partners, and human beings.
How do you incorporate gratitude into your daily life and leadership style? Do you have a situation like an ex-wife that is consuming your JOY? Could a gratitude practice help? Let me know in the comments!
Glad to be doing it with you!
