Tenets for Thanksgiving: Why Gratitude, Grit, and Grace Move the Needle

Tenets are good nutrients. Without them, we lack the resilience to stick and move when things get tough and murky. And though we rarely pause to reflect on their contribution to our daily affairs or routine settings, we default to our tenets during great existential reckoning or navigating unfamiliar spaces. Like the GPS unit in our phones, tenets often require updates. Otherwise, the clear guidance we seek during trials and tribulations over long durations leaves us scratching our heads.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, taking stock and counting inventory on the trinity of tenets that define this historic day feels right.

Gratitude

Taking stock of the things that often seem mundane and guaranteed can shift our perspective toward simple appreciations. If we constantly focus on our desires, we often create more desire. To combat this black hole, counting the blessings of our stable income, sufficient savings, modest investments, or business ownership can reduce impulsive behavior and reinforce a state of mindfulness. It’s been said that a grateful life and a joyful life are the same. Brene’ Brown said:

“It’s not joy that makes us grateful; it’s gratitude that makes us joyful.”

Grit

The energy we muster to walk forward in life daily comes in various forms, and the word Grit captures this essence. It echoes of determination, resilience, and discipline. In financial matters, it’s easy to lose focus?—?or better?—?to make someone else’s focus our focus. A money story encompasses many things, but central to any healthy financial strategy is the ability to carry out our vision despite career setbacks, budget constraints, or coveting our neighbor’s goods. Angela Duckworth is the master of the Grit domain. She believes that Grit transcends talent, intelligence, and education, and instead relies on effort more than anything else.

“Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out?—?not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years?—?and working really hard to make that future a reality.”

Grace

I’m attracted to people who maintain a spirit of grace, regardless of achievement or trauma. They operate in a default state of gratitude, and grit comes naturally, although it’s mostly unspoken. In matters of money, grace may be the binding agent that saves us more than anything else?—?especially from ourselves. It encourages forgiveness and flexibility when frantic decision-making trumps sound reason. It promotes generosity, and after a continuity of experiences, we begin to understand that we only keep what we give away. But maybe most importantly, it’s the ultimate remedy for stress relief. Grace, by one definition, portrays a courteous, kind, and pleasant disposition, which requires less focus on ourselves and our money wishes, but instead a focus on others. My friend Doug Lynam sums it up nicely:

“It’s not the size of your portfolio that matters, but the quality of your compassion. Money is just a spiritual sponge?—?it absorbs the intent of the user. This means we need to be mindful and ethical in our financial habits, not simply hate or idolize money.”

Harvesting the Tenets of Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving, challenge yourself to practice gratitude, embrace grit, and extend grace in your financial decisions. How might your money story change? Can a practice of gratitude shift your money story? How does grit align with your expectations for investing in markets? Better yet, how have you experienced grace in capitalism?