This time of year we hear so much about what people are thankful for, and we love the idea of celebrating thankfulness. In fact, we can get so bogged down in the negative aspects to our lives that it’s a good reminder to be thankful for the positive aspects of our personal and professional lives. Here are ways we think are a good idea to celebrate being thankful at work for the season and beyond.
Being thankful for things at work can mean being grateful for little and big things. For instance, take note of your surroundings. Is the place you work safe and secure? Be thankful for that. Many times, especially in the past, that wasn’t the case. What about parking or is it close to a public transit stop? Be grateful for that. Do you have air conditioning and heating? That’s something to be grateful for. What about your workspace? Is it comfortable? What about creature comforts? Does your office have a water cooler? That can make a huge difference in your day, having access to fresh, filtered water.
Now, let’s think about the larger aspects to be grateful for. How are your coworkers? Is there at least one you’re thankful for, who perhaps is a friend or a mentor? You’ll see your coworkers more than your family sometimes, so learning to be thankful and grateful for the people surrounding you every day can be a game changer at work. Look at everyone with this mindset and you may surprised at how someone who was less than your favorite person becomes crucial to you after viewing them through a thankful lens.
Are you thankful for work assignments? If you didn’t have them you probably wouldn’t have a job at all. Are the tough ones making you better? And the easier assignments giving you time to be creative? Be thankful for that.
As you can see, there are many ways to reframe our thoughts to be more thankful, and as a result your world view can change over time too. Let’s take this season to test it out and see what happens. Here’s to being more thankful!