From Expectation to Appreciation: How My Perspective Is Shifting in the Workplace

Since my early days of work in 2005, I've felt blessed to be surrounded by incredible individuals whose dedication, creativity, and resilience constantly inspire me. Recently, I've noticed a common thread among some of them – a genuine sense of gratitude and a lack of expectations.

They don't chase recognition or always expect specific outcomes. Instead, they find joy in the process, appreciating the opportunity to contribute and learn. They approach tasks with "ikhlas" – a beautiful Indonesian word that embodies sincerity and acceptance. It's about giving your all without attaching your happiness to the results.

Exploring the meaning of Gratitude

In trying to explore the real meaning of gratitude, I've found that adopting a gratitude attitude requires realizing how much you already have rather than fixating on what is lacking or what you have yet to attain.

Certainly, we should set goals in our lives. We should not be easily satisfied and should strive to become the best version of ourselves, but we should also enjoy the process along the way.

From my perspective, what if we never achieve our goals? What if the journey leads us in unexpected directions, whether better or worse? Are we going to discard all the good things we already have just to pursue something that might be worse or find ourselves in a situation we don't want to be in?

We should always cherish the moment, acknowledge the universe with the utmost respect, and recognize that we are where we are today for reasons that may only become clear in hindsight.

Let's protect ourselves from disappointment, realizing that we already possess what we need, and sometimes, due to a lack of gratitude, we lose everything, only to later realize it was the best thing we ever had.

...we are where we are today for reasons that may only become clear in hindsight.

The Right Amount of Gratitude

The challenge lies in maintaining a balance between gratitude and a healthy dose of ambition in our lives. Again, what's on the other side of the scale opposite goals and ambitions? Gratitude, I believe. The paradox is, we can never have too much gratitude, even if it tilts the scale off balance. It's strange, isn't it? But hey, it's a lesson I've learned. You may have a different perspective and different life lessons and journeys.

Mixing Gratitude with "Ikhlas"

I've also endeavored to learn how to embody "ikhlas". It's a continual learning process, and I'm still on my journey. Yet, by observing and learning from the ordinary people around me, I'm gradually grasping the power of this mindset. It allows me to:

• Focus on the present: When I'm not fixated on achieving a specific outcome, I can fully immerse myself in the task at hand, appreciating its nuances and complexities.
• Embrace challenges: Instead of approaching difficulties with dread, I can see them as learning opportunities, fostering resilience and growth.
• Celebrate small wins: Recognizing and appreciating even the minor milestones fuels my motivation and keeps me focused on the bigger picture.
• Maintain inner peace: Detaching my happiness from external validation creates a sense of calmness and contentment, enabling me to navigate the inevitable ups and downs of professional life.

The paradox is, we can never have too much gratitude, even if it tilts the scale off balance. It's strange, isn't it? But hey, it's a lesson I've learned.

While I'm still on this journey, the insights I've gained from my colleagues, friends, and even strangers I've met along the way have been invaluable. I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn from them and strive to incorporate these lessons into my own work ethic.

Is anyone else on a similar journey of practicing gratitude and "ikhlas"? I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.