Here’s a Short Prescription for Gratitude

Because we need it.

In our endless quest to accomplish and become more productive, we often find ourselves focusing on the negatives. We look for areas that need improvement and things that just aren’t up to our standards.

We tell ourselves, “this is not good enough”.

Dissatisfaction is a highly effective motivator that helps you achieve more. It leads to innovation and ultimately, it challenges the status quo. On its own, being strategically dissatisfied at work can even get you a raise and promotion. As ugly as that might seem, it’s true.

When dissatisfaction is so useful, I believe the goal isn’t to eliminate it entirely.

The unsurprising by-product of dissatisfaction is that it often leaves you unhappy. It becomes a learned and transferable skill that eventually creeps into other areas of your life.

Many of us believe gratitude and positivity are optional. The desire and necessity of succeeding in the short term can take priority over our long term mental and physical health.

Often, we consider mental health as a luxury we can’t afford. In reality, it is essential. We just don’t realise that until it takes its toll.

In the same way that we need dissatisfaction to succeed, we need gratitude to keep us going.

Too much dissatisfaction, negativity, and work leads to physical and emotional burnout.

It’s important to recognize and celebrate when we achieve our milestones. You don’t have to pop a bottle of champagne every time. However, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on your accomplishment and enjoy it before moving on so quickly.

When we only prioritize productivity and output, we do nothing to create happiness. Success in itself doesn’t lead to happiness. If we’ve learned anything from the hedonic treadmill, we understand it’s possible to get caught in the trap of blindly pursuing more.

When things don’t go our way, it’s not always personal. You can make right or wrong decisions regardless of whether you are happy or sad. Sometimes, how you feel doesn’t impact the decision or outcome. But it impacts you and those around you.

So wouldn’t you rather be happy?

A big part of being happy is being grateful, and finding joy in the little things. Appreciate that you have the luxury of choice where others might not. Be grateful for small wins because they add up.

Don’t lose sight of the bigger picture and your real priorities. It’s too easy to get caught up in the minutia of life to fully appreciate what we have and how far we’ve come.

Finding success in business or entrepreneurship is great but don’t let dissatisfaction ruin other aspects of your life and well-being.

Add a little gratitude to the mix.