Telling The Story & Coaching The Practice Of Gratitude

In the business and art of coaching, I am often amazed by the tendency that I see

in people to naturally focus on what that have not yet done or finished, while completely ignoring their amazing achievements and the blessings in their lives! What delights me each time is that when these clients are listened to and their achievements are acknowledged, they just shine and gratitude comes naturally!

How often we experience negative situations, or feel overwhelmed by political or natural disasters; most of which we have no control over yet they have such a profound negative effect on our lives. Yet the slightest shift to acknowledge our own gifts and the gifts of others, the smallest change that celebrates the presence of now, the choice to bring gratitude into our lives as a deliberate practice, can make all the difference.

A few years ago, my partner went away for the weekend on a boy's adventure. It was something like a cross between extreme camping, survivor and scout camp! He was dismayed to discover that they would not be eating very much during their 2 day mission, that it got pretty cold at night and one of the other 'boys' snored so loudly that he woke every one up several times each night, including himself! But he came back delighted with lots of stories he could tell and quite a few that he could not! He also brought back a wonderful practice that he promptly introduced into our household.

During our evening meal, each night, we ask each person at the table "who would like to say thank you?" Having practiced this every night since his trip, I can tell you it usually works like this. Someone always says thank you for the food on the table, and the sunshine or rain. Someone usually says thank you for our good friends and our lovely family (and what we did with them today). Someone usually says they don't have a thank you and is reminded that even in the worst of days there is always something to be thankful for. Our littlest boy usually says, 'thank you for Mummy and thank you for Daddy...' and then gets all shy and stops talking! And sometimes, someone at the table thanks someone else at the table for an act of kindness that they did that day.

Last Saturday night, my mother, brother, one of my sisters and I celebrated my Mum's birthday. Along with a few other members of our family we celebrated over a month late. It had taken that long to find the date that we could all manage. It turned out that it was on the day that my father would have celebrated his 80th birthday (13+ years after he passed away). We had a wonderful meal and lively chat but we forgot to say our 'thankyous'. So I thought I would say it now.

Thank you for the wonderful food on the table. Thank you for the mild evening and cool breeze. Thank you for my amazing family, each one that found the time to meet together. Thank you that I have the best memories of my dad and even though we lost him too soon, I know that I am truly blessed.

In these troubled times of horrific oil spills, environmental crises, economic uncertainty and political & humanitarian disasters, it is even more important than ever to remember that we are truly blessed and there is always something to say thank you for!

by: Lisa Bloom

POST COMMENT

How-tos For White-sand Beaches Bahamas Hotels In Nassau Celebrate Bahamas Hundreds Of Islands Natura Things That Tampa Downtown Knows How To Offer A Man: Hotels, Eating Places, Beaches, Things To Do, P Insider Information Sights And Delights Pristine Beaches Sprawling Beaches Experience Hawaii Fragran Tucson Chiropractic Chiropractor - Why So Many Headaches? Christian Life Coaching: A Cure for Spiritual Apathy Bleaching Cream for Melasma Green Valley Chiropractic Chiropractor - Headaches From Where? Phuket: Explore Beaches And Enjoy World Class Resorts Life Purpose Coaching Building Muscle Mass - A Simple But Effective Strategy to Build Muscle Please Use A Tissue Or Handkerchief When Sneezed Realizing Your Full Potential And Reaching Your Desired Goal In Life The Efficient Information To Paradera, Aruba Festivities With Input On 4-star Hotels And Beaches