For years now, my morning routine has been the same. Get up early, pray, workout, and start the day. Within that prayer aspect of the morning, I always try to start with gratitude.
When I start my prayer time with gratitude, my perspective changes. When I am thankful, I am not anxious, worried, or apprehensive. When I am thankful, I am aware of little things that mean so much that often are taken for granted.
When I am thankful, I see the tasks in front of me as opportunities. My attitude changes from “have to” to “get to”. The task hasn’t changed, but my perspective is completely different starting from a place of gratitude.
Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Can you look at each new day as a gift? Each day is a new opportunity. Sure, some days will be harder than others, but it’s still a day of opportunity. There will be disappointments, loss, and pain at times, but there is something about the sun coming up that reminds us of the hope surrounding a new day.
I have learned a few things over the years that have helped me focus on gratitude first.
- Pay attention to the small things: Don’t take anything for granted. Sometimes, we are reminded of the value of small things in life when we can’t experience them.
- Don’t be consumed with expectations: When we place expectations on people, outcomes, or performances, we can become consumed with things we don’t control. Gratitude allows us to focus on the experience not the outcome.
- Don’t get caught in the comparison trap: Comparison leads to discontentment. Gratitude drives comparison out of our thoughts.
- Mindset matters: I can choose to either focus on where I am lacking or where I am thriving. Gratitude takes me to a positive place when others remind me of my shortcomings.
I choose to start my day expressing thankfulness in prayer. I am then better equipped to pray for others from a thankful, hopeful, and positive mindset.
I was recently reminded of the value of our health (feeling good). I am writing this article on Sunday night, and it’s day four of my dealing with an upper respiratory infection. I fly out early Tuesday morning to do my first international workshop.
150 business leaders from all over Mexico are coming together for the day-long event. I call it “A Day of Difference”. They have translators and a system to convey the message very timely. I have never had a host be so excited to have me come speak.
I am very thankful for the opportunity, thankful that I was able to see a physician this past weekend to get help, and very thankful that I was able to slow down over the weekend and get some rest.
There is still some concern that I can be effective for an entire day, but it’s an opportunity to invest in the lives of 150 people that I may never see again. I am going with a heart filled with gratitude and hopeful I can connect well with them.
By the time you read this article, I am hopefully boarding a plane and heading home. Hopefully heading home thankful that we were able to make a difference in the lives of 150 leaders in Mexico.
Start your day with thankfulness and watch how your perspective changes your day!
Doug equips leaders to make organizations better. He has two leadership books available on all online platforms. Whether you are looking for a speaker for your next event or a leadership coach to develop people and build an authentic team, contact Doug at doug.strickel@gmail.com and learn more about PLUS.
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