I was on the way to the office this morning and I saw the police arresting a man. It was obvious that it was not a regular traffic stop because there were four police cars, and they had the man in handcuffs. When we are not having a good day, it can be easy to forget that there are many people experiencing worse.
During the holidays or at the end of the year, most people spend time being thankful and reflecting on the previous year. But living life with gratitude should not be limited to an annual event, it should be a daily choice. Living life with a perspective of gratitude, will keep us from being discouraged by our circumstances.
This week when I was reflecting on my own gratitude, I wrote a list of six daily choices we can make which create our attitude. These choices happen by default if we are not consciously aware of our intent. These choices also affect our lives, our success, and people around us. Here is the list:
1: Gratitude: Having a sense of gratitude every day keeps us grounded. It helps us keep perspective on all our challenges. It is also a great tool for stress relief.
2. Passion and Energy: Think of a person that you admire because they always bring energy and passion to any challenge they face. Their approach to life is a choice. Prepare for your day with a choice to bring energy to everything you do.
3. Serving and Compassion: Your can choose to live your life for yourself, or you can choose to have a high level of compassion for others. Servant leaders develop and serve their team rather than expecting to be served. Genuine concern and compassion for others is also a choice.
4: Forgiveness: A grudge has only a negative value in your life. Failure to forgive can create a roadblock in your own success which has nothing to do with the other person. Choosing to forgive is a powerful daily practice.
5: Abundance: Many people chase opportunities from a scarcity mindset. But keeping an abundance mindset will open many more opportunities. If you get stuck thinking there is only one option, or one path to success, you will live life limited. Thinking abundantly is a choice.
6: Growth: Choosing to approach each day as an opportunity to grow as a person allows you to embrace failure. Growth doesn’t happen by accident. It happens through evaluated experience, reading, classes, and discussion. You have to choose to take advantage of the opportunities.
This may seem like a lot of daily choices to make. But I have learned the more intentional you are about your daily decisions, the easier it becomes!
If you do not have a routine to prepare for your day that includes setting your attitude, there is no better day to start than today.