What is gratitude?

Gratitude is the quality of being thankful and appreciative of what you’ve got, rather than what you haven’t got.

It’s the difference between looking for the positive rather than focussing on the negative.

It involves recognising and acknowledging the good things in your life, both big and small, and feeling a sense of thankfulness for them.

It’s a very underrated yet powerful emotion that’s been shown to improve overall well-being, mental health, and relationships with others.

Now, I’m not sure about you, but I’d prefer to have more joy than grief in my life.   And even in the grief, it makes a difference to be able to see the joy.

“When you feel like everything around you is falling apart, looking for something to be grateful for enables you to see the light at the end of the tunnel which you otherwise wouldn’t be able to see.”

How to start having “Gratitude” in your life – even if you’re a sceptic

1. Start a gratitude journal: This is a simple way to reflect on the good things in your life, no matter how small they may seem. Writing down a few things each day that you’re thankful for can help shift your focus away from negativity and towards positivity.
2. Practice mindfulness: Being present in the moment can help you appreciate what’s happening around you. Take a few moments each day to observe your surroundings and be thankful for what you see and experience.
3. Make a gratitude jar: Write down things you’re grateful for on pieces of paper and put them in a jar. When you’re feeling down, pull out a few and read them to remind yourself of the good things in your life.
4. Thank someone each day: Take a moment each day to express gratitude to someone in your life, whether it’s a friend, family member, or coworker.
5. Practice positive affirmations: Use positive language and affirmations to focus on what you’re grateful for. Repeat statements such as “I am grateful for the people in my life who support and care for me.”
6. Volunteer: Giving back to others can help you appreciate what you have and the positive impact you can make on others.
7. Look for the good in difficult situations: Even in challenging times, there are often things to be grateful for. Focus on the lessons learned, the strength gained, or the growth that resulted from the experience.
8. Express gratitude for small things: Appreciate the little things in life, like a beautiful sunset or a delicious meal. Don’t overlook the small joys that make life worth living.
9. Surround yourself with positive people: Spend time with people who have a positive attitude and are supportive. Their positivity can be contagious and help you cultivate a more grateful mindset.
10. Practice forgiveness: Holding onto resentment and anger can weigh you down and make it difficult to be grateful. Practicing forgiveness can help you let go of negative emotions and focus on the positive aspects of your life.

Remember, having an attitude of gratitude doesn’t have to be a new-age concept.    It doesn’t mean you’ve suddenly become all hippie-like.

It’s simply about acknowledging and appreciating the good things in your life, and finding ways to cultivate positivity and thankfulness.

Forgiveness is the cousin of Gratitude

You can’t really be fully grateful if you’re still holding onto resentment – life according to Julie.

Just like drinking from a poisoned chalice, holding onto anger and resentment is harmful to us.

It can lead to stress, anxiety, depression, and other negative emotions that can impact our mental and physical health. It can also affect our relationships with others, as we may become bitter and closed off, unable to trust or connect with others.

Forgiveness, on the other hand, is like pouring out the poison and replacing it with something healthy. It allows us to let go of negative emotions and move on from the hurt caused by someone else’s actions.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting or excusing the transgression, but rather, choosing to release the hold it has on us and choosing to move forward.

The energy you expend in holding onto resentment is directly proportional to the energy you deny yourself of joy, happiness and freedom.

In a sense, forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves.

It frees us from the burden of carrying negative emotions and gunk around with us all the time.

Releasing the resentment also allows us to focus on the positive aspects of our lives.

Of course, it doesn’t guarantee the other person will change or apologise, but it does give us the power to change our own lives for the better.

As Nelson Mandela said:  “Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die”.

The power of reframing to express gratitude

What is reframing?

Reframing is a psychological technique that involves looking at a situation or problem in a new way, with a different perspective or frame of reference.

It involves deliberately shifting your focus away from negative or unhelpful thoughts and feelings, and looking for positive or more constructive aspects of the situation instead.

Reframing can help you to feel more positive, find solutions to problems, and reduce feelings of stress or anxiety.

It is often used in cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and other forms of psychotherapy, as well as in personal development and self-help.

Steps to Reframe a Situation or Event

Identify the situation:

Take a moment to clearly identify the situation or experience that you want to reframe. This could be a difficult experience, a challenging relationship, or any situation that is causing you stress or discomfort.

Notice your thoughts:

Pay attention to the thoughts that come up when you think about the situation.

• Are they negative or positive?
• Are they helpful or unhelpful?

Becoming aware of your thoughts is the first step to reframing them.

Challenge your thoughts:

Once you’ve identified your thoughts, challenge them.

Ask yourself if they’re really true or if they are just assumptions or beliefs you’ve created.

For example, if your thought is “Nothing ever works out right” challenge it by asking yourself, “Is that really true? Have there been times when something has worked out right?”

Find a new perspective:

Look for a new perspective or way of viewing the situation.

This could be a positive aspect of the situation that you may not have considered before or a way of reframing the situation to focus on the learning or growth opportunities.

Practice self-compassion:

Remember to be kind and compassionate with yourself as you work through the process of reframing.

It can be challenging to change our perspective, and it’s okay to feel frustrated or discouraged at times.

Take action:

Once you’ve found a new perspective, take action to implement it into your life.

This could mean changing the way you approach the situation, adopting a new habit or behaviour, or simply shifting your mindset.

Introducing & incorporating gratitude in your veterinary clinic

Incorporating gratitude in the workplace can be challenging, especially when dealing with sceptics.

Here are some ideas to help you introduce gratitude in your vet clinic

Start a gratitude initiative:

Start a gratitude initiative by encouraging your team and colleagues to share something they’re grateful for each day.

This can be done through a group chat, whiteboard in the office, or even during team meetings.

Share success stories:

Share success stories and acknowledge employees who have gone above and beyond their duties.

This can be done in team meetings or through email newsletters.

Make sure its appropriate to the person involved – especially if they’re not a fanfare type person.

Give thanks:

Encourage managers and leaders to give thanks to their team members for their hard work and dedication.

This can be done through personalised thank-you notes or recognition in team meetings.

Celebrate milestones:

Celebrate milestones and achievements, both big and small.

This could be a work anniversary, introducing a new technique or service, or even a birthday.

Foster a culture of appreciation:

Foster a culture of appreciation by encouraging employees to give thanks to one another.

This can be done through peer-to-peer recognition programs or even informal shoutouts during team meetings.

Encourage volunteerism:

Encourage employees to volunteer their time and skills to their – or your clinic’s – favourite charity or other cause.

This can be done through team volunteer days or by offering paid time off for volunteering.

Persevere with Workplace Gratitude

Remember that incorporating gratitude in the workplace takes time and effort, but the benefits are well worth it.

By fostering a culture of appreciation and recognition, employees will feel valued and motivated to do their best work.

What is a Peer-to-Peer Recognition Programme?

Peer-to-peer recognition programmes at your clinic might involve nurses recognising nurses, support staff acknowledging the efforts of other support staff, and vets showing appreciation for their colleagues

How to implement a Peer-to-Peer Recognition Programme

Choose your platform:

Decide on a platform for the program, such as a digital platform – like your WhatsApp or Slack group or intranet, or a physical recognition board in your clinic.

Set criteria:

Agree to the criteria for recognition, such as teamwork, creativity, leadership, innovation, customer service.

Encourage participation:

Encourage everyone to participate in the program by recognising their colleagues for the good work they do.

Provide guidelines:

Provide how-to guidelines on how to give effective recognition, such as being specific, timely, and genuine.

It kind of misses the mark if the recipient has no idea what it was they’re being appreciated for if it’s something ages ago.

Provide rewards:

Provide appropriate rewards for those who receive recognition, such as gift cards, movie vouchers, time off, or something else that’s appropriate.

Measure success:

Measure the success of the program by determining KPIs – key performance indicators – on whether it was successful.

Make it appropriate

Remember that a peer-to-peer recognition programme should be tailored to your specific clinic, culture and needs.

By encouraging your team to recognise each other for their hard work and dedication, you can create a more positive and appreciative workplace environment.