Mission Beautiful Australia {MBA} Magazine MBA Issue 1 March. 2014 | Page 28

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8 Tremendously Important Ways That
Gratitude Can Change Your Life

Share these reasons with your child. And then take the
opportunity to teach them, instead of criticizing them.

6. When you face a major challenge, be grateful for it.
Many people will see something difficult as a bad thing.

It’s amazing how one simple, easy, positive action

you that it’s a great thing to do. If you get mad at your co-worker, for

can change so much in a person’s life.One of the

example, because of something he or she did … bite your tongue and

things that has had the biggest effect on my life is the

don’t react in anger. Instead, take some deep breaths, calm down, and

realization of the power of gratitude. Simply giving

try to think of reasons you’re grateful for that person. Has that per-

thanks.It has affected everything. It has made me a

son done anything nice for you? Has that person ever done a good job?

opportunity to grow, to learn, to get better at something.

more positive person. A more productive person. A better achiever. A

Find something, anything, even if it’s difficult. Focus on those things

This will transform you from a complainer into a

better husband and father and son and brother (at least, I like to think

that make you grateful. It will slowly change your mood. And if you

positive person who only continues to improve. People

so). A happier person. I’m not perfect, but gratitude has made me bet-

get in a good enough mood, show your gratitude to that person. It will

will like you better and you’ll improve your career. Not

ter. Can it change your life as well? I can guarantee it. You might not

improve your mood, your relationship, and help make things better.

too shabby.

get the exact same benefits as I have, but there’s no doubt in my mind

After showing gratitude, you can ask for a favor — can he please re-

that the simple act of gratitude on a regular basis will change anyone’s

frain from shredding your important documents in the future? And in

7. When you suffer a tragedy, be grateful for the life

life, positively and immediately. How many other changes can claim to

the context of your gratitude, such a favor isn’t such a hard thing for

be that quick, that easy, and that profound? Let’s take a look at some

the co-worker to grant. 4. Instead of criticising your significant oth-

of the ways you can incorporate gratitude into your life, and how it

er, show gratitude. This is basically the same as the above tactic, but

If something goes wrong, it’s a reason to complain,
it’s a time of self-pity. That won’t get you anywhere.
Instead, learn to be grateful for the challenge — it’s an

you still have. I’ve recently lost an aunt, and my children
recently lost a grandmother. These tragedies can be
crippling if you let them overcome you. And while I’m

will change your life. These are

I wanted to point out how grat-

not saying you shouldn’t grieve — of course you should

just some examples, based on

itude can transform a marriage

— you can also take away something even greater

or relationship. If you constantly

from these tragedies: gratitude for the life you still

criticize your spouse, your mar-

have. Appreciation for the fleeting beauty of life itself.

my experience and the experiences of others I’ve talked with,
and not all will apply to your life.
But pick and choose the ones you
think will work for you. 1. Have
a morning gratitude session.

“If the only prayer
you said in your
whole life was,
“thank you,” that
would suffice.” Meister Eckhart

riage will slowly deteriorate — I
promise you. It’s important to be
able to talk out problems, but
no one likes to be criticized all

Love for the people who are still in your life. Take this
opportunity to show appreciation to these people, and
to enjoy life while you can.

the time. Instead, when you find

8. Instead of looking at what you don’t have, look at

yourself feeling the urge to criti-

what you do have. Have you ever looked around you and

cize, stop and take a deep breath.

bemoaned how little you have? How the place you live

Calm down, and think about all

isn’t your dream house, or the car you drive isn’t as nice

the things in your life you’re grateful for. You won’t get to everything

the reasons you’re grateful for your spouse. Then share that gratitude,

as you’d like, or your peers have cooler gadgets or better

in one minute, but it’s enough. And it will instantly make your day

as soon as possible. Your relationship will become stronger. Your

better, and help you start your day off right. Can you think of a better

spouse will learn from your example — especially if you do this all the

2. When you’re having a hard day … make a grat-

time. Your love will grow, and all will be right in the world. 5. Instead

itude list. We all have those bad days sometimes. We are stressed out

of complaining about your kids, be grateful for them. Many parents

from work. We get yelled at by someone. We lose a loved one. We

(myself included) get frustrated with their children . They are too slow

in the way of shelter or clothes, who don’t own a car

hurt a loved one. We lose a contract or do poorly on a project. One of

to do things, they have a bad attitude, they can’t clean up after them-

and never will, who don’t own a gadget or even know

the things that can make a bad day much better is making a list of all

selves, and they pick their nose too much. Unfortunately, sometimes

what one is, who don’t have a job at all or only have

the things you’re thankful for. There are always things to be thankful

parents will communicate that frustration to their children too often,

very menial, miserable jobs in sweatshop conditions.

for — loved ones, health, having a job, having a roof over your head

and the kids will begin to feel bad about themselves. Many parents

and clothes on your back, life itself. 3. Instead of getting mad at some-

Compare your life to these people’s lives, and be grateful

have done this, and while it’s not perfect, it’s a part of parenthood. But

one, show gratitude. That’s a major switching of attitudes — actually

there’s a better way: follow the method above of calming down when

a complete flip. And so this isn’t always easy to do. But I can promise

you’re frustrated, and thinking of reasons you’re grateful to your child.

Take one minute in the morning
(make it a daily ritual) to think of
the people who have done something nice for you, to think of all

use of one minute?

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MBA

| MISSIONBEAUTIFULAUSTRALIA.COM

jobs? If so, that’s an opportunity to be grateful for what
you already have. It’s easy to forget that there are billions
of people worse off than you — who don’t have much

for the life you have. And realize that it’s already more
than enough, that happiness is not a destination — it’s
already here.
MARCH 2014

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