Never Been a Better Time for Gratitude

These are uncharted waters. There is much uncertainly for all of us. Our emotions wax and wane daily and we are all likely taking time alternating between being the support and needing support. These difficult times call for all of us to work together for the greater good and help each other through the challenges of the upcoming weeks. Doing this is going to require focus, discipline, compassion and a great deal of gratitude. 

Gratitude is not simply for others; it is also about being kind and grateful to ourselves. There is a saying along the lines of “how we treat ourselves is a reflection of how we treat others”.  While that makes sense, it doesn’t completely resonate because as healthcare professionals we tend to treat others better than we treat ourselves. As highly empathetic caregivers, we generally put others first and ourselves last.

Have you put much thought into how you treat yourself? Are you kind to yourself (self-kindness)? Are you compassionate to yourself (self-compassion)? Are you grateful to yourself (self-gratitude)? As I continue to sharpen my focus on kindness, compassion, and gratitude, there are many times that in hindsight, I think I am overly hard on myself. I can even think of the times that I haven’t shown myself the compassion, kindness, and gratitude that I deserved. This makes me think that I am not at all unique and makes me wonder how many of us don’t practice self-kindness, self-compassion, and self-gratitude.  

Part of our practice of showing gratitude to those around us for their efforts and to recognize their hard work requires that we show ourselves the same gratitude. Yet so often we fall short on creating gratitude for ourselves. In a conversation on this topic with Vicki Hess, MS, RN, Employee Engagement Expert, she shared that "We always hear about how important it is to slow down and take care of ourselves so we can support others. Yet many are so overwhelmed with everything that they have to do each day that it’s tough to come up for air and be grateful.” 

Hess goes on to say that “one thing that works well is to create Gratitude TriggersTM which reminds you to stop and be grateful. These can be at work or at home (or anywhere in-between). I frequently ask nurses to share what routines they use to pause and bring gratitude into their lives. Their examples include sitting down to a meal, walking the dog, pulling into a parking spot at work, washing their hands…and the list goes on.” Now, even the smallest opportunities present themselves for gratitude. Hess suggests considering this best practice for yourself, “Develop one Gratitude TriggerTM that you could utilize to remind yourself to stop and think about what you are grateful for because implementing this process can literally change the way you think, work and play.”

Another option may be to use a gratitude journal which is one of the most popular ways to practice gratitude and allows for reflection for not only self-gratitude but also self-compassion (Vetter, 2018). Now, is a good time to think about your own practice and start a gratitude journal. Lately, I find myself grateful on a more frequent basis. It's a good reminder for me to write it down and reflect on it. Otherwise, I find myself taking things for granted. 

Practice gratitude at least once a day and like most behaviors, over the course of time, it will become hardwired. Show yourself some gratitude and self-compassion, you deserve it. Much gratitude for all of those who are on the front lines of the pandemic and ensuring our safety and caring for those who are sick.

Be kind and be well.

Vetter, A. (2018). How Gratitude Can Make You a Better Person in Business and Life. Inc.com. Accessed on March 10, 2020. Accessed at https://www.inc.com/amy-vetter/why-celebrating-your-wins-no-matter-how-small-is-good-for-you-your-business.html.

A special thank you to Vicki Hess, RN, MS. Top 5 Healthcare Speaker, and author, guides healthcare professionals who want to create an environment where employees are engaged, customers are happy, and goals are achieved. Ms. Hess works with organizations and associations to positively impact employee engagement through consulting, workshops, retreats and keynote presentations. Her unique views on employee engagement are evidence-based, relatable and real-world www.VickiHess.com.