UP YOUR GRATITUDE AND GAIN CONFIDENCE ALONG THE WAY

I don't know about you,?First name / my friend, but Thanksgiving has become my favorite holiday since I moved to the US. I love the idea that it's as much a holiday for friends to share as for families, and I am generally a huge fan of gratitude and it's many benefits.

This year, I have a lot to be grateful for:

• I am very grateful for the beautiful condo my husband and I found and moved into this summer. It's a truly magic place!
• I am beyond grateful that everybody has been healthy this year and we didn't lose anybody.
• I am very grateful for the professional opportunities I've had this year, with talks at in-person conferences on both coasts, at global virtual conferences, and at international tech and mobility companies.
• Last but not least, I am grateful for the time I've got to spend with old and new friends. If it's true that we are the sum of the 5 people we spend most time with, I must be pretty cool – because my power squad most certainly is! ??

Considering the state of the world, I could add a lot more things to this list but I'll leave it at this.

I hope my list encourages you to draw up one of your own too and share it with your loved ones (and maybe me as well!).

Interesting fact about gratitude:?

As a regular practice, it can even support you in getting more confident! ??

Why's that??There are a couple of different reasons:

#1 – If you acknowledge and?value what others do for you, you also learn to value yourself and your achievements as others recognize them.

#2 – People who are very grateful tend to compare themselves less socially. So they are less resentful, angry or frustrated when someone else has a better job, more money, a nicer house, or whatnot.

#3 – Also, gratitude can be a way to put ourselves in an uncomfortable, vulnerable position, and confidence arises when you trust yourself enough to be vulnerable.

#4 – If you reflect on what you are grateful for, especially in tough times (and who hasn't had those in the past couple of years?!), you also remind yourself about what you went through and managed along the way.

Of course, showing gratitude is always a beautiful practice – but isn't it neat that you can build confidence along the way??

I'd call that a great win-win!

Speaking of gratitude, I want to say thank you to you as well. I appreciate you – your feedback, your support, your interest in the topics near and dear to my heart.

On this note, Happy Thanksgiving for all of you who celebrate –?and curious as I am I would love to hear what you are grateful for right now.