Written by: Abbey Dyer-Amonette, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
We recently celebrated Thanksgiving here in the US and as a holiday, it is one that makes people across the nation pause to give thanks. But that makes me wonder why we don’t pause more often.
I was talking with a colleague in India recently and we were talking about how things are running at 90 miles an hour almost every day. Between school, work, TV streaming, smartphones, laptops, social media, etc. Is that why we don’t take more time to pause?
Slowing things down is what my grandparents use to reference. And I didn’t think it made any sense. Why would we want to slow down progress and innovation? Now as a mom, corporate businesswoman, Entrepreneur, I get it.
I don’t just get it. Now when coaching clients, I recommend it. I suggest slowing down and putting a daily practice of reflection in place. Another way to describe reflection or taking that pause we talk about at Thanksgiving is gratitude.
Practicing gratitude can help us feel happier and more successful. Studies have shown over and over how success is driven by mindset. Gratitude and success, so beautifully intertwined.
So how do we go about starting our practice of gratitude that benefits your mindset?
Here are some ideas to get that started as early as today:
Gratitude Journal – Keep a small notebook or piece of paper by your bedside and write down three things you’re thankful for before you go to bed. Then in the morning, read those three things. When you focus on the good in your life, you’re going to feel more successful. Great news, you can start right now for $0 and about 5 minutes of your time.
Record It – Now that almost everyone has a smartphone or laptop, another way to record your gratitude is to literally record it. If you don’t want to write down your feelings, you can record them.
Celebrate Small Wins – When you check off tasks from your action list, you should celebrate. Don’t look at how much you still need to do. Instead, look at what you have done and feel grateful for the opportunity to have completed them.
State it to the Universe – Even if you’re not writing it down or recording, you can still state your gratitude to the universe. The universe is smart. It returns what you put into it. I find myself thanking the universe multiple times a day as it provides me support.
Share It with Others – When you are feeling grateful, tell others about it. When you share your feelings of thanks with others, you can feel it more completely. Call, text, put it on Instagram, whatever works for you.
Whenever you feel gratitude, consider an action. Write it down, record it, celebrate smalls wins, say it out loud or share it with others. The more you take action and focus on what makes you grateful, the happier you will feel.
It may seem silly, but it’s backed by science. Your thoughts control your feelings, and you control your thoughts. It’s that simple.
Here is a bonus:
We talked earlier about meditating ahead of doing difficult tasks. Another important tool for productivity and developing your success mindset formula is affirmations. These can be implemented in as little as one minute per day.
Every day brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes, and dance. – Oprah
Abbey Dyer-Amonette, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Abbey Dyer-Amonette is an Entrepreneur and Success Strategist. After several traumatic life experiences left her with self-doubt and anger, she found purpose and positivity by creating strategies to develop and maintain a success mindset. She is dedicated to helping others move past blocks and limiting beliefs, to create a life and business that lights them up. Dyer-Amonette has been a corporate leader for 20+ years, coaching and mentoring leaders with a Fortune 100 company. She also has a handmade product business that creates leather goods and jewelry inspired by nature.
