“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer.” Maya Angelou
Be grateful for what you have.
Often, when we hear this, it can feel like a dismissal of our aspirations: “You already have enough; why ask for more?”
So we learn to stop seeking; we may even stop expressing gratitude out of frustration (or petulance or both). I didn’t get that one thing that I wanted, so I won’t be grateful for anything.
To our detriment.
When it comes to achieving our potential, gratitude is a powerful catalyst. Neuroscience tells us:
- It increases the production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, enhancing our mood.
- It activates brain areas linked to decision-making and empathy.
- It lowers stress hormones like cortisol, promoting calmness and better sleep.
- It diminishes symptoms of depression and anxiety.
- It fosters resilience, training our brains to focus on the positive.
When we are grateful, we feel good. When we feel good, it’s easier to change and grow, regardless of where you are on a new S Curve.
––At the start of a new curve, find gratitude in the novelty of the beginning.
––In the sweet spot, appreciate the visible growth and progress.
––In mastery, be thankful for the journey and the change it brought.
I’ll go first; here’s what I am grateful for.
Launch Point: I’m grateful to wrestle with parenting children who are becoming adults. I often don’t think I do it very well, which tells me I’m at the launch point. But because I value my relationship with my children, I am grateful to be on this parenting curve.
In the Sweet Spot: It can be tough to acknowledge our progress without feeling boastful. Yet, I’m grateful for my work, my co-founder Amy, our team, and the people we collaborate with. I feel a sense of mission, of values alignment, and most of the time, I feel the work we do is useful. It is exhilarating.
In Mastery: Mastery isn’t about being the world’s expert but achieving personal goals. For example, decorating our home brought me joy, a sign of mastery in this personal project.
What Launch Points, Sweet Spots, and places of Mastery are you grateful for?
What you pay attention to, you get more of. Be grateful, all along the curve, and there will be more to be grateful for.
This week’s podcast features Austin Hillam at his Launch Point. Austin, married to our former colleague Jennifer Brotherson, left school to launch a toy when he was 21 and has appeared on Shark Tank. It’s fun to hear about his entrepreneurial journey in real-time.
As always, I am grateful you are here!
All best,
Whitney
P.S. Are you looking to invest in others and accelerate your own growth? The Smart Growth Certification program equips you to engage in meaningful conversations about growth as well as exclusive access to the S Curve Insight Tool––a diagnostic that provides powerful insights into an individual and a team’s experience of growth.
P.P.S. Do you want to work with a fun, creative, and driven team? Great news—we’re hiring! If you are a team player, enjoy fast-paced work environments, and like to tackle a wide variety of tasks, we’d love to work with you. Not only are we passionate about company growth, but we also feel the same way about our employees. Click HERE to learn more about our current job openings for the Marketing Manager and Operations and Sales Administrative Assistant roles!
