NCC staff makes the best of gratitude campaign |09 November 2013
The gratitude campaign launched earlier this year by the National Council for Children (NCC) seems to have impacted its staff positively.
Members of staff have found that cultivating an attitude of gratitude has helped to make their workplace more productive, friendly and enjoyable. Gratitude is simply catching, said Jean-Claude Matombé, NCC’s communications coordinator.
“It creates great positive energy in ourselves and has helped us to recognise the strength and gift of others. We find that many people have a hand in our success, from the leaders and colleagues who inspire us, to the person who keeps our office and workplace clean,” said Mr Matombé.
When we focus on and express what’s good in others, he added, it builds our connection to them. Others feel valued for their work and cared about as individuals.
“Even in the midst of extremely challenging circumstances, we can usually find things to be thankful for,” said Ruby Pardiwalla, director of NCC.
“These moments can bring wisdom, perspective and even direction to our lives. There are also a multitude of other things to be grateful for such as relationships, beauty in nature, opportunities, experiences, and future hopes,” she added.
Gratitude can play a large part in how an experience is perceived. A few months ago an NCC staff injured his knee in a volleyball practice session and getting to work was proving to be difficult.
“I couldn’t really do anything for at least four weeks,” said Rodney Nicole. “I was sitting there feeling sorry for myself thinking ‘why this had to happen to me?’ when a young man crutched by with only one leg. I think that was God telling me at this moment that I am really blessed in my life. While I might not be able to walk for a while, that young man would never be able to do so for his whole life. I needed to start looking at all that I did have in my life instead of all that I was missing. I am not saying that I was happy that I couldn’t walk for the next month, but every time I needed a reminder about all that I had I would look back on that moment and it helped me so much,” explained Mr Nicole.
We all have so much to be grateful for. Even in times when it seems that nothing could be worse, there is always a reason to be grateful. And when you feel a sense of gratitude, you feel a sense of happiness and content.
NCC’s challenge to you today is to learn to look for the good in every situation and live with an attitude of gratitude, said Ms Pardiwalla.
“Each day is another day to bring joy to others, a day to do good work, a day to act with integrity, a day to learn something new. Start each day by reminding ourselves of all the blessings we have in our lives, and to consider how we can share those blessings with others can bring us not only greater happiness and satisfaction, it can also help the world become a better place,” added the NCC director.
Take some time to reflect on your abilities, talents, and positive attributes, and appreciate the things, people, and personal gifts/talents you have instead of focusing on what you don’t have.
Think of somebody who has done something kind to you that you have never thanked. It could be a teacher, a grandparent, a friend, an employer, a co-worker, or a parent. Write that person a letter about what they did for you and how it made you feel and then deliver it to them.
Feeling grateful to or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life.
Developing an attitude of gratitude is a gift to ourselves and our children that will have a lifelong impact and will never stop blessing our lives.